Love the link Mrsmcee posted. That marble effect looks gorgeous - it reminded me that I bought a 90cm wide roll to make sure I didn't have to worry about extra seams lining up though. Its a bit more expensive but vs the cost of new worktops I felt it was worth it. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A6OFLYK?ref_=pe_1365641_54848841 Also found the specific type of plastic paddle thingy I used - this time referred to as a 'smoother' lol. Comes with an scalpel knife which is was also essential for cutting neat edges. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Application-applying-self-adhesive-smoother-flawless/dp/B00W6XSIIK/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1458124458&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=dc+fix+butcherblock As far as colours go I think a wood effect is very forgiving and also will help warm up the space. I would probably avoid the dark marble type finishes since if you do scratch the surface the product has a white 'base' under the printed pattern which is what tends to show through on the scratch. This isn't very noticeable on the butcher-block and probably barely noticeable on white marble but I think it would be much more obvious with a dark pattern. I actually used a much cheaper sticky back vinyl to cover all the cupboards doors in a basic white. You can just about tell in the before photo I posted that they were a pale duck-egg blue which wasn't so bad but the laminate was unfortunately cracking in places. The vinyl has held everything together and made for an easy clean surface rather than painting which would have let the laminate deteriorate further. It comes in lots more colours and 10m lengths making it better value for money but was also thinner and trickier to work with. So if you wanted a flat colour for the top it's another option since there's loads of colour-ways and matt and gloss finish to choose from: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-mtr-x-610mm-or-A4-Self-Adhesive-Sticky-Back-Plastic-Sign-Vinyl-/221652279467?var=520509553716 I was very tempted to go with the matt grey but decided to play it safe with the glossy white in the end. Anyway, I'm starting to feel like a real sticky back plastic nerd now! Just wish I could be a bespoke high end kitchen nerd instead lol.

Thank you Minnie. Yep, paint colour in the hallway is Purbeck Stone. The room faces North East. Perhaps muted colours would work better with the room flow. The problem is we just hate the way the colour looks behind the mirror at the moment. No idea what it is because it was on the walls when we bought the house. We were thinking about having something like this but maybe it would jar too much with the rest of the house?F&B Card Room Green^

Thank you for your comments. I want to keep the door as we haven't had energy calcs done and with glass content I wanted to keep separate. Also, with a toddler and second baby on the way it would be handy to have a quiet room and also door to separate when open to garden in the evening. Love love the idea of pocket doors emmauk , as it provides the best of both worlds. I like this style in the picture. Do you have recommendations on companies and what would be required for installation? A joiner or upvc fitter? Thanks Leah

Hey there. Well, both options have their pros and cons. Painting your furniture can give it a fresh new look while getting new chairs and tables can completely transform your outdoor space. It really depends on your budget and personal preference. If you're looking for new furniture, I recently stumbled upon this website https://www.gardencentreshopping.co.uk/ which has a great selection of waterproof furniture. Feel free to check it out and LMK what you think.