If you want to paint, paint. I think I'd agree with the people who suggest professional re spraying though unless you love diy and love the idea of being able to change the colour yourself relatively quickly. I recently painted a dresser (heavily stained and varnished wood, nowhere near as nice as yours) and a chest of drawers (bog standard orange pine) and unless you can take the wood right back it takes coats and COATS and a lot of patience to get a good finish. It is worth it though! Personally, I'd go for a greyish blue on the bottom half, White worktops, and paint the uppers the same white as the tiles (there's nothing intrinsically wrong with them, a classic choice that won't date). Put in a steel splashback behind the cooker (it should be possible to fit over tiles) to tone with your handles and a hard wearing natural fibre rug on the floor to break up the dark grey. A few wood accessories and the usual bits and pieces to finish.

Hi, I have just finished repainting my kitchen myself. Overall I am happy with the new look, but I think the final verdict is only possible after some time (to see if the paint hardens enough). I have used Ammonite Farrow and Ball which is very warm grey colour. It looks nice in dark corners as well. Had to apply 4 coats of paint after 3 coats of FB primer. So be aware of the quantities. I must say that the process of repainting was not an easy ride. I spent overall three weeks (full time weekends and doing some smaller works in the evenings). Preparation is the hardest part (sanding, sanding and sanding), while painting is also a vey delicate process). If you are not afraid of hard work do it yourself! Otherwise, a professional is always a good option. Check traditionalpainter.com website they have a number of good instructions on repainting the cabinets.

I have howdens antique white, it's more of a cream colour. When I was buying howdens let me borrow a couple of doors to help to help decide. I would recommend looking at them in different places in the room at different times of day. It really helped me choose. I would also be careful of howdens. If you know anyone with an account, or if you are able to open an account you will get your kitchen ALOT cheaper. I would also recommend buying at the end of October, October is sales month and they have target of sales to achieve so you can knock several thousand off your kitchen quote! Lastly everyone I know who has purchased howdens have had issues. I don't want to put you off as love my kitchen. But, double check the measurements yourself before buying to save any issues. Layout, have you considered how you use your kitchen on a daily basis, what you make, how you cook as well as at Christmas. This helped me move things around to be a practical kitchen. Also I know a few people who regretted not considering working surface space prior to buying too Hope this helps

I'm lucky enough to have the luxury of a spare room, so the ironing board lives on the back of that door. Just 2 coat hooks screwed in at the right distance means you can hang the board there, but I like the board and iron holder someone's posted above to store them both together. You could do the same on any door (under stairs cupboard, even kitchen door). I wouldnt give prime cabinet space in a small kitchen to an ironing board. I samosa fold all of my plastic bags (you can google it and after a few goes it takes literally seconds) which means that I can keep them in a very small box under my sink and they stay neat and don't all fly out when you try to pull out one. Ikea do a little towel rail that fits inside a base cabinet which keeps tea towels out of the way but hanging up so that they dry out.https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/utrusta-towel-rail-white-50247216/ I don't have any pets so I can't help you with that one, sorry!