Dewpot, I had a go at painting your kitchen with the Dulux app... see the results below. You can give it a try yourself at: https://www.dulux.co.uk/web/visualizer/ For the opposite wall, you can go easy or complicated. Easy, just get some picture ledges, some of those great black&white pics like you have in the living room - sweet! http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50152595/ Or mix some prints with your photos, etc.http://www.houzz.com/projects/52249/village-apartment-nyc Or go for some 'snake' shelving. You can make it as long as you want; have slim bottles, some spices jars and photos there too. Complicated: get someone in to make a radiator cover that doest just cover the radiator, but extends to the other end. Use the top of that as a shelf and add another shelf on top. Or have a radiator cover and then a folding shelf, almost like a breakfast bar http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41376890301726149/ Good luck!

Customers are loving our new updated kitchen display. Gloss cream units with the solid laminate worktops and splashback in the latest copper trend.

How about swapping out the cabinet doors? You can replace them with plywood or MDF doors cut to the same dimensions and get them sprayed in the colour of your choice. If you want to lighten the room a lighter floor could help as well. With your current kitchen layout (assuming you want to keep unit where they are) I don't think you have the space for an island. I'd also (personally) swap out your rectangular table for a round extendable table.

Hi Karen, your study area sounds lovely! Coming back to your kitchen, I agree with others that I wouldn’t spend on it now. I would take the changes a step at a time. If you are set on removing the shower, which makes sense to me, I would do that first and just make the area good with flooring and paint the walls. That will give you a better sense of the space and flow. A few ideas below… It might be that it leaves a cosy reading nook for a chair and side table, with the benefit of somewhere to sit and chat between kitchen and dining. I wouldn’t spend on inbuilt cupboards to tie in with kitchen, but could add a sideboard or create a bar area with a cocktail cupboard. Back to the kitchen - the extra light you will get might make all the difference to living with the design you don’t like! Good luck with whatever you decide, would be lovely to see the results!