WOW, what amazing ideas - who's up for forming an Interior Design Company around the UK - could be great fun! One thing not mentioned is that I would move the microwave immediately and put it where it has work surface at each side for safety. Where the micro was put a huge shallow glass brightly coloured bowl (TK Maxx/Ikea) and fill with either different coloured glass 'eggs' - Murano, Caithness etc, adding from each holiday or, which I've also done, fill with coloured crystal bauble string lights - I just drop them in and switch on when I feel like it. I've just bought a stunning Lava lamp - pink for my kitchen - tho' they come in a number of colours. There are some really funky fish tanks around too. I have a pink one shaped like a cats head ( lol as I have cats) and a square one, very architectural, with viewing 'shapes' cut out. They're no more then 6 inches high and some colourful fish prefer to be solo, or would you kill them along with the plants? Lol. Hope you manage to find great advice from all who answered you. Bee

Thanks so much for sharing! So great to have all the tips written down and for these to be shared with our wider pro community. For anyone heading to KBB Birmingham don't miss Melissa's next panel talk on Kitchen & Bathroom Trends!

We take inspiration from Father's day last month to suggest some on-trend design ideas... The influencers of the interiors worldare telling us that full on rummage-the-loft-old-fashioned is back! Maybe it's time to bring some more masculine tones in our homes with carefully chosen vintage decor and collectibles with man appeal. Here are some ideas to inspire you: Ever noticed how men like items with millions of compartments - in a wallet, a jacket with many pockets or an old apothecary cabinet? Old pieces with many drawers are very highly sought-after in the interiors world! Well-known brands manufacture them, but nothing beats a genuinely old, slightly worn antique cabinet. Head over to Ebay to find one, if it's your sort of thing. It could be a great piece to fill that space you've never been able to find the right thing for.Other places online where you can find a beutiful masculine "treasure chest" are RockettStGeorge.co.uk; SellingAntiques.co.uk;Vinterior.co.uk. Be creative with styling it, so make sure to add a lot of home decor and greenery. Think Winston Churchill, think cigar room, think exclusive golf club.. Seek out a pair of club armchairs - or better still a vintage pair! A perfect place for them would be a corner of your dinning room, a bay window or even a study (if you have a large one). If you can't accommodate two, one with a small, vintage-looking side table next to it would also look great. Again, sourcing club chairs online is easy. Sometimes they come in a slightly worn leather look, but that's exactly what we want to create that early 20th century vibe. Imgine sipping a G&T in the evening whilst having a deep philosophical conversation with your loved one (if you get a pair that is). I bet every man of a certain age secretly dreams of owning an old-fashioned drinks cabinet or a drinks trolley! If they already own one, maybe they dream of a bigger one, with integrated wine cooler and beer fridge.. In all seriousness, no matter how big the dream is, it is a very useful piece to have at home (as long as it's fully stocked at all times in case of unexpected lockdown)! There are so many on the market that you can find to match any interior. I prefer something retro, definitely wood and with a masculine look. Try searching for a perfect piece online, and if you're stuck, you can contact us for advise! A Chesterfield is the epitome of masculinity. These days Chesterfields are not only available in leather, which could be quite a pricey option, but the trend is now to make them in velvet. It certainly is a great look! Timothy Oulton, British furniture designer and maker is a great quality brand, along with Alexander James Sofas to name but few. A Chesterfield is easy to find, easy to style and goes with maximalist and traditional interiors. If you're looking to update your decor all together, the amazing showroom and home of internationally known brand Timothy Oulton is based in Abergavenny. Hopefully the showroom will reopen soon, but in the mean timeyu can check out their website. A few other brands you might get inspired are: BoConcept, KONK, Perch & Parrow, Rydan Interiors. Of course, there are your local second hand furniture shops too (when they reopen). It is really rewarding to fix and update an old piece of furniture. Just make sure to apply a darker colour or to stain the wood in a darker shade for a great dark Whiskey Room effect. If you don't want the hassle of chasing that perfect piece for your home or trying to match things up, why not contact your local interior designer to help you? If you're after an industrial, masculine look, it is important to keep the balance between heavy, bulky items and lighter, smaller elements, s that you don't end up in a Bond villain's den from the 70's! We welcome other suggestions on the topic! What is your way to make the space more masculine?

It depends on your budget and who your kitchen supplier is. As a totally bespoke kitchen/furniture designer maker I often buy the appliances. At the same time as designing the kitchen the appliances are a very essential part of the kitchen that needs to be picked based what suits you best. Your kitchen designer/maker should guide you through what best suits you and what you may wish to have. Many top end appliances such as Meile or Gaggenau and others cannot be brought cheaply, nor would you wish to buy them from anyone but your kitchen supplier/ designer. Over the years we often buy the appliances at the beginning of the project and have them in the workshop to ensure they fit (unless they are very standard or very large, but still get delivered at the beginning) and are actually delivered at the same time as the kitchen. Part of the service is that I ensure the client is happy with all the appliances they have chosen and they have been informed of all the possible choices. Sometimes I organise demonstrations or more in-depth information to inform on how the appliances work or the diffrences. Boiling water taps often need good ventalation and access for servicing and removal. Steam ovens and coffee makers are often plumbed in with the water supply needing filters which need to be changed every so often, with access taken into account. Good extraction is essential in all kitchens especially where the hob is used often especially for frying or with a Teppanyaki hob below. Some fridges need waste outlets as will as waterfeeds. If you are buying appliances your-self make sure the kitchen designer is fully involved and there are no possible conflicts - such as appliance doors not being able to fully open. Aga - for instance we often have raised to be the same height as the worktops,