P.s. What a FAB space! 🤓🌈

I’m with you on changing the flooring. For me that’s the part that looks drab and dated. I’ll bet it’s not cheap for the area to be covered so I’d do that first and contemplate everything else after. Just decide on your colour scheme first though.

Hi, what a lovely space!

To be honest, I think your tiles look really good with the kitchen cabinets. So I wouldn't change those. The wooden floor can probably be refinished. For the walls you could try something like Drop Cloth (F&B) (see below), Shaded White or Stony Ground. It's a bit difficult to see here on my screen what would work best with your floor and kitchen cabinets, but I think that something along those lines would be nice. I've lowered the world map on the wall.

I would pull together a ‘mood board’ first with colours, designs/looks and materials that appeal.

I would rather spend my money (assuming there's not an unlimited budget) on a nice desk and storage solution that's more in keeping with the style of the kitchen (sorry, don't mean to be rude).

Yes the flooring would be nice to be changed but it's not our house. So just on colours that you wanted. If you like greys then maybe a blue will work well. There are quite a few grey-ie blues around.

Lovely space. I think the right paint job will do wonders. If it were mine I’d paint all the woodwork white, or off white - that’s all the doors, architrave and skirting. I like the natural wood window though! I like the floor, it suits the age of the property. Now I think going for a bright but warm shade on the walls which tones in with the floor and units would be an improvement. I rather like F&B Pointing. My friend has White Tie I her dining room and it is such a lovely warm, but bright, off white. I know you fancy grey but I’m not sure it would work with the floor?

POINTING

WHITE TIE

The other thing I’m absolutely rubbish at is IT so I can’t see how to reply individually.. So firstly a HUGE thank you to you all for your suggestions. After posting the photos I immediately cleared all the walls of pictures & de cluttered the surfaces so I all ready can see a bit clearer !

II really don’t like the varnished doors so they will definitely get painted. Some of you think that changing the floor would be good, what type would go with the tan counter tops?

And would you have the same type of flooring throughout ? Or divide it as is already ?

@Yvette Willson there is no way to reply individually on Houzz apart from the @ which if you start typing the name it will show you the name and you can click on it, hope that makes sense! Its a bit clunky and can take several goes (😤). Even if you don’t use the @ option, commenters are usually sent a notification so will usually see your comment, but not always! However you can click on the Like button under each persons name.

@sonia thank you. Re. Your paint suggestions which I like, agree Greys are not actually going to work with tan counters or flooring but what type of off white would you use for the doors & skirting boards? As in Matt/gloss/satin?

Hi, woodwork paint tends to be either satinwood (Dulux) or eggshell (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene etc) or gloss. I’m not a fan of shiny paint so I’ve never used gloss. The satinwood and eggshell are low sheen but not exactly matt. I’m a fan of brilliant white paint for woodwork as I do like that crisp finish, but again it is personal preference. I really think lightening the woodwork will make a huge difference. Good luck!

@Carolina thank you I appreciate your idea of a new desk. Once you’ve lived with something for so long you no longer see things with fresh ideas. But what style do you mean ?

I think keeping to neutral colours you are going to end up with a very similar look to what you have already.

If you like the blue idea, maybe F & B Skylight or to be a little braver, F & B Parma Grey …. woodwork F & B Pointing (eggshell) which will keep the balance of colour to your existing furniture. Flooring natural colour oiled Oak or if you like tiles then there are some nice wood look styles.

Hope that gives you another option to look at … all the best

@Dual Designs Thank you, I like the idea of adding blue although I'm not sure how easy it is to get F&B paints here in Belgium. I will look at the flooring suggestions you've made once the shops are back open again.. I'm lucky to have such a beautiful space and don't want to muck it up! Just looked at Skylight, it matches perfectly my kettle ! :)

Funnily enough, I've tried out a couple blue grays for the walls yesterday evening, and just read that Skylight was suggested here. So... here you go, Skylight. I'm in the Netherlands and Farrow & Ball is readily available here. Just expensive. There are similar colours available from other manufacturers.

I was thinking more industrial or country style furniture. Let me find some examples...

@Carolina I've just ordered some sample pots of Skylight, Parma Grey & Pointing and if I like them try will try & find another brand that's more readily available here and cheaper. Can't wait to get those horrrible doors painted, have always disliked them! PS Very clever how you can manipulate the photos like that, it's just amazing! Hope changing the floors and the actual painting is as quick ;)

Something like this desk from La Redoute, for example:

https://www.laredoute.nl/ppdp/prod-324196083.aspx?docid=868520#shoppingtool=treestructureflyout&srt=noSorting&shoppingtool=treestructureflyout&pgnt=2

Your doors are a nigtmare to paint virtually :-D Especially the glazed one. Hope they are easier to paint in real life.

Haha 🤣 I’m so impatient so it’s going to be torture ! Glad I’ve ordered the sample pots as I’m not 100% sure on the cream paint on the doors. Meanwhile that desk is so pretty, what on earth did you put in your search term ?

Ah, I kind of know the styles of furniture available at different shops, and thought that La Redoute probably delivers in Belgium too, so had a quick look at their site.

Ikea have a similar one, but it doesn't have the cross.

Thanks again , so kind of you to make such an effort !

You're welcome :-) It's what we like to do, here on Houzz

Wow Carolina you're a star :))

Have to say that I also like Sonia's idea to go lighter and brighter. So... another idea would be to go light for the walls and a couple of shades darker, or really dark) for the doors...

Hi Yvette, Excellent glad the kettle matched lol!! Maybe you have Johnstone's paint, their recipes to mix F & B colours tend to be very good, though not Parma Grey, as we just had that mixed and had to take it back.

@Dual DesignsThank you, that's good to know, when the shops open again I shall take the tester pots and see if the local DIY store can match it with a Johnstone's brand.

@Carolina@Sonia I like that too! Goodness now I'll have to make a decison ;) I think as suggested the best way to start is to get some floor samples first, problem is shops are all shut. Should have started this a few weeks back!

@Yvette Willson yes, we can plan loads, but doing something about it is not so easy.

We can carry on to a certain point as we can still design away ready for when things calm down again.

All the best