If you don't use the dishwasher (or only use it rarely), then you could potentially put a large butchers block (with wheels) as a return from the dishwasher. If you were able to find one that was high enough, you could also get two stools to sit around it (but they should be small, slim and stackable to make extra room if required). Alternatively, you could position your "rustic table" close enough to the kitchen to service as additional bench space. As you have bench seating, the benches should easily fit under the table which means you'll be able to use the tabletop without bumping your knees on the chairs/benches. As others have said, rugs are a good and renter-friendly way to delineate living spaces. As the colours in the apartment are pretty neutral, you could inject colour into each of the designated living spaces through the rugs or you could instead highlight each area by choosing similarly neutral rugs, but with different sizes, materials and patterns. If you're buying all new furniture, then I'd just take it slowly and purchase the "key" pieces first (i.e. sofa, TV cabinet/stand and dining table) before worrying about the smaller items. This will give you a chance to pause and reflect as you add each item to the room. As it is quite a small space, I would suggest keeping the funriture and furnishings as "light and bright" as possible.

still not clear about the shape of the space...please show a plan including surrounding rooms and measurements of each wall...if the space has no doors what side is open, what room is it open to, what size bed needs to be accommodated, what study equipment will be used...a small convertible sofa could just squeeze into the space with a coffee table, laptop an s some shelves?

It is smart to use stools as seats and deco. Below is an idea

So many good ideas on lights. I have someone on the hunt for nice fittings here. Locals love chandeliers (cheap ones, not necessarily nice) and over-wrought creations that just aren't me nor would they suit the house. I love some of the suggestions here. In a win I actually found someone who has some imported carpets. A very small range of mostly plain colours but hopefully I can find something big enough to fit under the couches and keep our feet warm. We were also thrilled to find a single furniture shop with some reasonably modern furniture. They have this round table and chairs in a 6-seater combo, in stock. With the chairs pulled out, like in the picture we would have clearance of about 50cm behind each chair. Our dining room is 3.75m x 3.9m an there's a photo of the dining space in the very first post. Thoughts on this shape versus the traditional shape we currently have? Alternatively they also have this lovely traditional long table which we also liked, which made me think we could just get the existing picnic table re-finished and then perhaps buy these chairs to go with it. So that's our Christmas break blown, as we will be driving all over town (nothing closes here) looking for house stuff!