Lights which automatically turn on when I enter a room (especially in the kitchen and in the hallway from the bedroom to the bathroom) and lights inside my wardrobes (especially inside the one in the bedroom: I often get up earlier than my hubby, and it may be still dark outside, and I don't want to wake him up while I'm looking for my stockings).

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

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the comments and input, it was great to see so many of you get involved! The competition is now closed, and any winners should have received an email from us confirming their prize so get checking. Happy New Year and here's to the next one!

we have a similar hallway, although there is bend between the front and back room and then a back extension kitchen; the front door faces north. We have been through several incarnations regarding light. starting outside, we have a porch light, which helps to light the hall at night (if we use the override switch). the colours are portland pale above dado, and their darker shade below. woodwork Portland Pale too (eggshell)I would recommend leaving the dado in , it breaks up the tall wall and I am always hitting the walls with shopping and stuff and it is easier to paint over anglypta and it doesn't show the scuffs. All the paint is matt or eggshell, including skirtings/dado, so nothing jumps out at you it all recedes. we have a long mirror on the front part wall and a squarer one of the back so we get bounced light. Mirrors match and come from habitat. The door at the end of the hall is small glass pannelled to get the south light coming to the front of the house. The lighting is recessed into the ceiling and supplemented with pendant. We had the attic done and had a dome put in the top floor which floods light down into the first and ground floor. BTW it has taken us 20 years or so of trial and error..................... top photo from front, bottom photo from centre to back of hall