I think you can transform this kitchen on a low budget to tide you over for the next couple of years. I would do the following: Try painting a sample tile to see if it will properly accept paint. If so, I'd paint them a very pale cream to make them disappear, and remove the large section of tiling altogether near the door. Wipeable paint should be sufficient here. I wouldn't change the door handles - your ideas for bringing in a few industrial styled items will work quite well even if you keep these. Industrial style bar stools (black metal and wood) + black metal industrial style lighting will have great impact on the room and tie in with the cupboard handles and radiator you already have. Photo wall on the end wall behind the breakfast area is a nice idea - just be careful how you place the frames so they don't conflict visually with the lighting you choose when you are standing at the other end of the kitchen. You could actually do this photo wall over your nice charcoal coloured radiator instead to avoid visual clashes with the light fitting. I would go for a group of photos all in the same frame finish to keep it coherent - just modern slim black frames to link with the metal on lights and bar stools. Windows - if you are not overlooked I'd leave them without blinds. It is more in keeping with the pared back industrial style you are leaning towards. Are you happy with the colour of your walls? It might just be the photo but it looks a little on the dark side - and I'm not sure grey really sits with cream very well? You could paint the walls a lighter colour - maybe something similar or the same as the tile colour you choose which will make those tiles disappear even further. Perhaps there is a tendency for many of us to try to include grey with existing schemes because it is strongly in fashion when in fact it needs careful planning to avoid it either clashing or looking too cold. (just what I've observed from experience)! If you are planning on revamping the whole kitchen in a couple of years I think doing these small changes will satisfy you as to the existing with very little outlay. If the things you choose to buy now are going to be used in the new kitchen too you won't feel as though you've wasted too much time and money now. Hope some of these ideas might perhaps be useful- I don't profess to be a professional but I really enjoy interiors and making things work!

We’re renovating our house and have recently fitted a new MDF window board in our bedroom. We’ve had some heavy rain recently and noticed this. There is no damp anywhere else on the window board nor around any of the walls around the window. The room has also been replastered. Any idea how the rain has got in and done this? And what we can do?

Hi Gill, Hope you have had a great weekend Love the last picture with the Dog looking out of the window :) A few observations: - Some symmetry is missing from this space to take the focus away from the shape of the walls surrounding the window, this can be achieved using wall art, wallpaper either side, wall panelling, wall lighting or sconces, the overall aim is to inject some texture or colour to enhance and disguise the area walls. - White shutter blinds would allow you to manipulate the amount of light you have coming in and provide privacy - The entire area could be changed also with the introduction of window seating (cannot see the other side of the room and if it would accommodate the sofa currently there, or by changing the shape of the sofa - drawing in more curves Warmest and best wishes Team SPEAK

It's a shame that your neighbours are not willing to have the two cottages done at the same time. It would really help to spread the cost and for consistency's sake. I am no fan of candy coloured cottages and think a muted or darker shade suits the cottages better. Bright colours look better in sunshine, maybe for the coast like Copenhagen waterfront. Think about the longevity of the colour too. A light colour although fresher would need repainting more often as the water stains would show sooner. Its hard to say whether to act independently or wait to hear what colour they have chosen. I think I would just choose my own and since they are not interested just hope that they don't clash too much.