Changing the splashback to a lighter colour will definitely brighten up your kitchen. If you decide to stick to the canopy rangehood you can add doors to the open shelving cabinets. Another suggestion is to either change the overhead cabinets to a contrasting colour such as white you can keep the carcasses to be less costly and just change the doors but keep in mind that the side scribes and top scribe will stay dark if you do it this way. Also think about using bright accessories instead of the White you currently have in the open shelves, this will give you an instant change at a low cost

Thanks everyone for all your feedback and tips. Below is the plan I have come up with. Not sure how clearly it will show up. Have wrestled with the position of the ovens and sink - thought about swapping them and about having them centred but then think there would be too far between fridge and cooktop/ovens. Cooktop is 600m gas, then two below bench 600mm electric ovens, 900mm rangehood. Sink is double drain, double sink (1550mm in all). I know this seems excessive and against trend but I could not live without my double drain as always defrosting meat, bottles of milk etc and like to have one clean side and one dirty side of the sink. I love the idea of a bi-fold door appliance cupboard for toaster, kettle, microwave but not sure how practical it really is. Will the doors when open be painful and stick out near the fridge???? Do like the idea of having all that stuff tucked away though. What do you think of dishwasher position? Think I will make that gap between island and bench with dishwasher 1300mm as suggested. The only drawers I'm planning on having are a bank of 3 x 3 800mm in the island. I know that are more economical space wise but trying to keep costs down. Should add that behind the L-shaped benches will be windows as much as possible. Looking forward to your feedback. Thanks greatly.

I'm merely seconding a lot of opinions above. So, I would paint the cabinet, the window frame and also the inner side of the door a dark shade of aqua/blue like Resene Astral, Bismark or Blumine. Paint the walls a dove white. Paint the mirror in antique silver and lower it, remove that strip of gold tile above the white and try something else to match the walls or tiles. The taps are lovely, so leave as is and try to match the cabinet handles in a similar style. I'm sorry to say this, but after changing some of the other stuff, the floor needs to be changed to a lighter shade of tile. It's too dark. Good luck. Hope we get to see the finished bathroom.

You are kind to say that, Julie. Hubby also washed and polished the floorboards in the two rooms we decided to retain. They look much better as well. This has been fun project; don't quite know what I'll do with myself after it's completed! :) although, in saying that, there is the garden here to keep us occupied...!