I would paint all the walls a soft buttery yellow - Restoration Hardware's Butter would be perfect. New window covering in the alcove could be a roman-style roll-up blind (you can find good inexpensive ones at K-Mart) that would pick up the tones from the wood floors and shutters. Art with red, gray and yellow matting hung in a grouping over the fireplace would add a classy touch. Your current furniture needs to be re-arranged in an attractive, more intimate way. Turn red rug the long way in front of fireplace and place couches across from each other on either side of the rug. Store some of the red striped cushions. Attractive but too many. Unclutter and re-arrange the items on the shelves. Rebecca

French Grey is a lovely colour, I'd live with it for a while and the rug colour may be skewing it a little. I'd add a Roman blind to soften things, style it up a bit and see how you go. On the rug front - I think they are fine in a kitchen. Kitchens often had rugs but now it's frowned upon for some reason but they seem to be making a come-back I'm pleased to say as they add a lovely, comfortable homely feel. Find something washable, ideally a pattern, use underlay to anchor/stick it down if you're worried about slips and trips (depends on weight of rug). Size-wise, don't run it too close to units to avoid worst spills etc. The new synthetic indoor/outdoor rugs will work well or a washable cotton.

Hi Ellie, the tiles are Minoli Stelvio walnut glazed porcelain. She got them from my stepson-in-laws tile shop Apex Grange in Welwyn Garden City, but there are other suppliers of course. My sister is rather flattered! She even had a neighbour asking who supplied her new front colour..........I can only bask in her glory :-)

I really like the dark blue actually. I think it gives character. I have used different tones of blue for my downstairs including a similar dark blue. Maybe the colour we used in our dining room( f & b) light blue would work instead of your wallpaper? This would still work with your kitchen blue I think. Sorry photos not brilliant as there is not enough light.