The room is all essentially one colour which makes it gloomy. You need some contrast. Simply going white want help. Try sage green on the lower cabinets and add some brighter accessories and picture on wall. But really it is about what will lift your mood in the space

Thanks for the comments they have been very helpful. I am also considering replacing the around the stove as well a green type colour. Any other suggestions? And also looking at replacing the central kitchen light with maybe a pendant ,any suggestions?

White cabinets always look good with terracotta floor, but there are a lot of kitchens that use a timber cabinet with terracotta which works well also. Track lighting would certainly lighten up your area.

If your cabinets are in good condition , you could update the handles for a modern look, add a beautiful new tap and maybe swap out your timber blind for a white one.. it all depends on how far you want to go.

The bench and flooring remind me of Spanish/Mediterranean style, which is one of my favourites. I had ChatGPT combine an inspiration pic with your kitchen pic. It’s not a white kitchen but I like it.

that’s gorgeous bigreader , love the timber with the floor tiles.

Thx Julie. It’s making me rethink my love for white kitchens.

Thanks Big Reader and Julie. We are having Polytec Blonde Oak Woodmatt around the other side of the bench top and will sweep around the end. Big Reader if you would like to can you please gpchat to do the same but with Polytec Classic White and Porcelain, I would really appreciate this. Julie the cabinet surfaces, hinges, handles, and kickboard are all showing wear and tear. The photos I posted are showing these well. It's a 26 year old kitchen and very loved and used, we would have replaced the , but I suppose we are also looking looking for a bit of a change.

Nothing like a change and white is just beautiful, and will look great with the bench top and terracotta tiles. If it’s too dark you can look at an Illume skylight, fabulous product and no cutting into ceiling or roof needed. Available at Bunnings.

I never did see your finished kitchen bigreader. Are you still happy with the colour you chose.

I haven’t actually finished it yet Julie. I got side tracked with life. And indecision re handles and tiles. I do still love the all white look inc the engineered stone. It suits the room. I wish I’d stretched the budget to shaker doors but it’s not really justified for the house and how long I’ll be here. But the layout works really really well so I’m happy.

Yes life has a way of getting in the road at times, yes I love white also, but soft colours are beautiful, I am a very neutral coloured person, I love colours in homes but it doesn’t work for me in mine. Lol. I love how you designed your moveable island, genius idea.

Big Reader you are very good at utilising gpchat. I had tried a couple of times but was unsuccessful. I took photos of the colour sat the Polytec. 1. Is Classic White, a white with warm undertones and 2. Is the Porcelain colour, which is a white base with slight tints of yellow and grey.

Thanks again Dreamer. Yes, Classic White is looking like a good option. Regarding the lighting Julie is right. The lonely one bulb light (warm light) in the middle of the kitchen will definitelydefinitely be considered. We actually have 3 separate down lights over the sink and benchtop. The are daytime lights.

Hi Joanna, here’s the latest with the Porcelain. It’s struggling with picking up colours off a screen even when I add extra prompts. The pics can help you narrow your choices, which is very handy, but you really need to get the samples colour matched to sample paint pots and then paint some large samples to test with your floor and bench. If you’ve oicked a kitchen supplier they may have actual doors yiu can borrow, especially in the Classic White.

We have now replaced our kitchen cabinets to the Polytec Porcelain colour. We are now looking at tile colours and designs &/ plai n for the backsplash and the area behind the stovetop. We would appreciate some ideas.

How lovely, I think a white splashback would look great and consider painting the walls white also, this would pick up the terracotta tiles and give a very modern look. Add accessories that compliment the overall look.

Another option could be a dark splashback it’s a matter of choice , adding the track lighting will lighten up your area for a more functional work space, the cupboards look lovely and have made a huge difference.

Thanks Julie. Do you also have any ideas regarding the area behind the stovetop to give a bit of a pop?

Joanna, do you have any inspiration pics? You need to consider the room as a whole. Eg if you’re planning on painting the walls to match the cabinetry then a more colourful splashback/tile may be a good option.

Thanks. At this stage I'm not sure. The colour on the wall may end up either a lighter colour than what's there already or a light sage.

You can add a patterned tile but then you are limited in what you put with it, dreamers suggested tiles are beautiful but going with a plain tile would look stunning , and look beautiful with the floor, and just use items to compliment the colours in the kitchen to draw it all together. It’s really a matter of choice as to how you want your kitchen to look. Pick up some samples to give an idea of what will work.

I’m a big white lover but in this case I’d paint the walls to match the cabinets. And pick a feature tile. But only have a feature tile if you love it. You don’t have a huge area to tile and the kitchen is a more enclosed design so it’s a great room to have a patterned tile. Up to what will make you happy. White grout even using epoxy grout and sealers is hard to keep clean behind a cooktop.

Yes I am trying to steer away from white tiles an d white grout because of the cleaning issue in the kitchen

If you want easy cleaning and something that looks stunning, try a glass splash back, very classy and comes in a huge range of colours./ metallics.