Do you mean in the kitchen specifically or in the whole house? In the kitchen have a cupboard or two with safe things - plastic food boxes, utensils towels, aprons, plastic bowls, down low. Put catches on anywhere that has dangerous or breakable stuff. Teach them (show and repeat repeat repeat!) that some cupboards are allowed and some off limits. (Level of success in this may depend on the kid. My eldest has always listened, my youngest doesn't) Elsewhere in the house, same principle. Put the stuff that is safe for them in the lower cabinets or in storage boxes - e.g. in my hall I store shoes, hats, gloves etc in soft ikea boxes or tub trugs under a table or bench. If they pull it all out, well, it is fun for them, doesn't take me an age to put back, and they feel they have had some lee-way. However, I don't do this in every room, as I personally don't agree with putting everything that is not theirs, out of reach or above their eye level. If you don't do this, they will hopefully learn that not everything is there for them to play with and you have items that are yours. For example, I have my glasses and phone on my bedside table in the morning - if any small child reaches for them they are told "ahuh! MUMMY's...!!!" Usually stops them in their tracks at least for a second! Again, success depends on the child but if they are told often enough they will have learnt what is off limits by the time they are, maybe 4? As for keeping the child corner tidy - use boxes, bins, shelves and put them behind the sofa when not in use./ Re paint scuffs - I dont' allow crayons and pencils anywhere but the kitchen, no hands on the walls, or things with wheels to be scuffed against the wall, BUT I accept it will happen and I'll repaint in a year or two when they are more in control of their bodies!

Thanks Decoenthusiaste! Yes that sofa is unavailable here and hard to find anything similar in local stores, but I may have one made up! So yes I’m using the images you post as inspiration and hope to find similar items here, I also love the grey Scandanavian sofa ideas you had earlier, and will use them as inspiration to get a lighter replacement. The blind on my window is screwed in place, but I could easily replace it with something that would let in more light, like the top down blinds (which are new to me!). I’m really glad no one has thought the absence of curtains an issue, as light is scarce here & I prefer the no curtains look. I do agree we should move the car to another part of our drive to get a nicer view out. A radiator cover that could double as a shelf would work well I think, I love the bespoke one, how cool! Also good to find out that you can get ones that allow the heat to rise. Re the music centre, I might replace with an iPod doc with speakers as Glo kindly suggested, In meantime I might cover it (and the dreaded TV!) with a piece of framed art leaning from the floor, aware that’ll be another competing focal point, but hopefully a nicer one! Thanks a lot for the tip re dimensions for a piece of art over the sofa and a coffee table, both of which are on my list to get, I would’ve had no clue re this and it’s fantastic to discover that there are certain rules which, if you apply them, can make your room work visually! Thanks again for the brilliant advice, I really appreciate it.

Hello Houzz Ireland, We are currently renovating a 1960's build - so as you know, there is a lot of decisions to be made!! So it would be nice to get some gems of advice from the experts to help us through this daunting task. Areas where we would really like some inspiration for - small bathroom downstairs. I would really like to do something fun with this room and although small, I think it could work really well with some funky wallpaper or possibly tiles?! I'm just not sure what to do with it. Also - pulling a whole house together?! Where do we start? We have the bigger pieces of furniture but how do I know what nest of tables goes best with a suite? Or what accessories will bring a room together? I'm due a second baby in 2 weeks time so any help at this stage would be so amazing - to guide me on the right interior design path for our new house. Thanks, Laurie

Another option that I was thinking of, knock the internal glass walls of the conservatory and make the hall smaller - this leaves a very large open plan space (9m x 6.4m) but I have no idea how best a space like this could be used?? Can anyone give me their thoughts here? Need to move if I am to make an offer