Hello everyone! We have been around Houzz for a while but didn't get a chance to properly introduce ourselves. This is Said from Finite Solutions. We dedicate ourselves into creating the most elegant and functional smart home systems and bespoke home cinemas. Anything that optimise the clients' lifestyles at home and gives them better chances to enjoy their lives, we are there to help! We love working alongside interior designers and architects to implement home technologies that doesn't clutter or obtrude. We would love to help out with any home tech related questions, so feel free to get in touch! P.S: Loving the Houzz! Simply the biggest revolution in home improvement in ages!

So funny! I'm planning to paint the bannister at the new house (TNH) black and am veering towards painting the treads and risers black too... I've been searching for images of black staircases on Houzz and putting them in my entrance hall ideabook. They are few and far between. In your case, I think, with your white walls, maybe the stairs white and the bannister black? (Assuming the white walls continue up the stair walls enabling the b/w contrast.) You've already put black firmly into the equation, adding some more may give more reason for the black rad cab. In my case, there is a very off-centre radiator that could so very easily have been directly opposite the front door in TNH which is rather annoying as it stuffs up the focal point. We are leaving here with every radiator covered with a cabinet - and going to TNH that has loads of radiators ...but no cabinets! Yes, the work ahead is daunting - especially since the area of Ireland we're going to is very basic and not full of DIY resources, etc. I keep thinking I'll paint TNH white - to make things simpler(!) But try as I may colour keeps wandering through my mind! Lovely to be in touch again!

I don't think £9k is a small amount, but then having done many a kitchen as a property developer, we're used to shopping around. I'd buy Wickes ( January sale ), the cabinets are very well made and have a very good guarantee on them. The doors too. They have a good range with the exception possibly of the worktops. Personally I find, having tried probably all trade kitchens, magnet, howdens, ( get a trade kitchen fitter to cost it if you find one you like - they get huge discounts -seriously, up to 70-80% ), B&Q also have trade cards and there's always Homebase etc - The kitchens are lovely and I think there's just a load of snobbery around 'where you bought the kitchen from'. Get savvy and buy Trade! The worktops i'd to an independent. ( only if you can't find one in one of the above ) - otherwise you have the layout for two lots of labour. You don't need flashy Taps ( Taps are minefield ), Use the internet if you're budgeting! I wouldn't buy an American Fridge Freezer, if my daughter's is anything to go by then it's an oversized, unused food store! All it seems to do for her is encourage to buy more as it looks empty and then doesn't get used! Integrate.................better for the visuals especially in a small kitchen. If you want free standing, then buy a normal sized Fridge Freezer The last one we did, even Wickes could not beat the price of the appliances compared to Curry's. So shop online for those too and look for discount codes.

Ellie, if you look on Moores Kitchens website, I believe (and don't quote me) that the Homebase 'made for you kitchen' range, is actually a Moores Kitchens. in the Definitive range, called Kensington. http://www.moores.co.uk/definitive/the-ranges/ I don't know what the price difference is, or whether Moores are more local to you than Homebase maybe, so just thought I would mention it.