Maybe if you stuck to one colour scheme such as white and purple or grey and lime green, colours that compliment each other. You could have a cabinet on the larger side with some family photos or a mirror above it and maybe a single colour on the top half of the wall and a complimentary wallpaper on the bottom half. You could go for wood on the floor or a simple soft carpet but it might get muddy. You could also have a bench with storage underneath for shoes and bags, but try get a colour that matched the walls. You could also paint the banisters if they don't match the rest of the room.

We're renting a two bed apt and can do a few smaller things in it, nothing too major... I want to get a dishwasher but the most appropriate space for it, under the drainer, is where the washing machine is. We have a condenser dryer that is out in the 'dining area' and on a wooden floor, whereas the kitchen is tiled. I think the easiest solution for us would be to make a laundry cupboard of sorts in that corner of the dining area, and stack the washing machine and dryer there, making space in the kitchen for the dishwasher. So, my questions are these... is this a good idea at all? Should we put some waterproof tray type base to protect the floor? Is it advisable to sound proof the cupboard somehow? Thanks

I suggest that you use the 12 tiles you have and like in some arrangement as a stove backsplash. You might need to use white tiles or tile strips in between your own tiles to make a pleasing arrangement. Use white tiles to complete the space behind the stove and the other areas where you want to have tile.

We had a very nice porcelain tile laid in our kitchen. It looks like a distressed grey wood plank. We would like some suggestions as to what flooring we should use throughout the rest of the house. Carpet is not an option and the installer said that because of the way the current floor is installed, tile is really not an option either. The walls are light grey with purple accents. What do you feel would be the best look?