how about interior transoms that will allow some of the light from the rooms to spill into the hallway (without affecting privacy) [houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=]

basement room with lovely inglenook fire and stove, need ideas for couches/seating etc. Room has 2 sets of double doors, one into the kitchen the other into the garden and a further single door into the hallway. The stove is back, the inglenook has 3 grey granite slabs and the back of the fireplace is yellow dolphins barn brick. any ideas for seating, lighting and flooring. The room is very dark.

I think it looks great so far. Many of the ads for claw foot tubs, and magazines, show them with encaustic/cement tile and plain white surround. Also, you did something creative and attractive with the tile layout. I love the nickel shine of your clawfoot legs too. If you can maybe get a corner shelf on one side of the wall, you'll have a place for soap, candle or bubble bath. And maybe hotel towel holder on another wall to get the height up. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

A15) @Dara Cooke: If you can't afford a quartz or granite worktop from day one then I would recommend using a laminate worktop as a temporary solution. If you don't put tiles up as a backsplash then replacing the worktops can be relatively easy in a couple of years.