Here’s an example of how to use the method above. All measurements taken are using the device’s own internal light source which is called D65. So straight away you are comparing colours from the same starting point. Using the device, I took measurements of Maggie’s stunning marble work surface. To the naked eye, it appeared a white slab with light grey & dark grey veining. However when measured, the white majority of the slab belonged to the yellow Hue Family & the darkest veins sat in the Yellow-Red Hue Family. Taking further sample measurements of the stone slab flooring, confirmed they too sat in the Yellow Hue Family. So to tie both flooring and work surface together with colour for the island & kitchen units, it made sense to begin looking for colours within the same Hue Family. Getting a Hue Angle reading gives a spot to plot it on the Wheel. The info also gives other key attributes for each colour, making comparison much simpler. Maggie knew she wanted a dark colour for the island, a mid tone for the cupboards & something lighter again for the walls. It’s a new mode of working for most of us home owners, but it’s actually just working with the information companies use to make the colours in the first place. And so it’s a much more objective starting point to finding the right colour for the job. I wish you lots of luck on your quest!

We just repainted some doors in a rustoleum kitchen cupboard paint which is a darker colour but it was painted on with a short hair roller and you can't tell its been painted by hand ie so they might not use a brush as such but still a roller would be classed as hand painted vs spray painted (if that makes sense). Nightmare re the scratches though!  I would have expected them to send new units/doors to replace the ones you have now and then the old ones get sent back once the new ones are ready. That's what happened with our old kitchen ie the company we bought off got the manufacturer to send new ones as they had someone come and inspect them and agreed that they hadn't been prepped properly as the paint came off the edges. That way we weren't left without kitchen doors for months!

Slide and pivot is a neater version of a bifold. Each pane is independent of the other and when you open the first like a door the others slide up to it and then turn outwards. they have much slimmer mullions than bifolds and give you more glass. I have been put off by the very mixed reviews on after sales service from some brands but they do look fantastic.

One option could be to make the sitting room bigger, than you have drawn, to fit a large sofa and creat a corridor behind the stairs with cloaks cupboard, then the kitchen on the left with island peninsular facing the garden and the extensions forming the dining/seating areas