Such a pity... your splashback is beautiful, but it looks out of place at the moment. There are a couple of things you could do: - cover the rest of the wall in a back-painted glass that matches the background colour (milky white?) of your splashback (similar to pic below) - you could have it on the left hand side wall (the one with microwave+oven) if you can give up the plugs there, re-sized, obviously; choose something else for the rest of the kitchen. - re-size and place it vertically in front of the hob. - use it somewhere else (bathroom?) and consider new splashback for kitchen. Good luck!

Hi Catherine, You have a lovely open plan kitchen and lounge, but as you say, it lacks punch and interest. Since you're stuck with the stainless steel kitchen for the time being, you need to work with it and have some fun. A symmetrical arrangement of stainless steel shelves either side of the splash back for the cooker would allow you to put up interesting bottles, plants, china, etc. What about painting this wall a bright colour like Seville Orange from Crown and the other walls in natural white. You could also paint the base of the island in the Seville Orange. In the seating area, use the orange colour and some others like plum or blue-grey in fabric patterns, have cushions made up for the seating area. Also an area rug large enough for the front feet of your sofas and the coffee table to sit on with colour would brighten up this area. It's unfortunate that the TV is blocking a French window. Can it be moved somewhere else, perhaps the bay if the bottom shutters are never opened? Instead of half of the bay window having plantation shutters, I would recommend a second upper row, which could be folded back or, if you don't need coverage for privacy on the upper windows, have an interesting, colourful valance. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=valance+and+plantation+shutters+for+a+bay+window&biw=1516&bih=839&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIzdu7xO-FyAIVh0gUCh1aigXI&dpr=0.95#tbm=isch&q=valance++for+a+bay+window&imgrc=SjLxqYYGnQmhlM%3A

As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't make the extraction any worse than what was existing when refurbishing a kitchen, but part F building regs states any new kitchen should be provided with a mechanical extract fan, so is moving the kitchen to a new part of the house considered as being a new installation or a refurbishment. As I understand it (but check with local building control), providing a kitchen or bathroom in a room where there wasn't one before, building regs approval is likely to be required to ensure the room will have adequate ventilation, drainage and meets the requirements in respect of structural stability, electrical and fire safety. You would need either a 30 litre/second extractor if its over the hob or 60 litre/second if its placed elewhere ie on an external wall to meet part F. But you may also have to consider/meet some of the other parts of the regs. as well. Be interesting to know if you do ask building control what their answer is (get it in writing from them so they can't change their mind).

Building regs says your kitchen, utility and bathroom should be ventilated but they would only know if they came to inspect which they only do if you are having an overall bigger project (such as an extension) that requires approval. Cooktop extractors are very good even as recirculating models and especially with an island it’s sometimes complex or costly to vent them out. In this case you need to have a recirculating cooktop and a separate extractor in the room. Your electrician can advise on exactly which one you need to meet regs. Generally speaking is will be high up or ceiling mounted, is needn’t be expensive and after the building inspector has been you don’t have to use it. Personally I would get a more expensive one that runs quietly and has a good vent outside (because you don’t want to hear it flapping in the wind). Expect this to be an additional £350 including installation - this may well be cheaper than the venting kit for your cooktop.