Hi Sabi, You have a great light kitchen with lots of window, so be wary of darkening the effect too much if you like the current feel. As all your existing storage is concealed behind cupboard doors, to add an extra dimension to the space, you could consider some open storage for display of all your 'nice' pieces. Your kitchen looks to be a traditional style, so it would be easy to find a tall (or even a bench height unit to give you more space) that fits in with your scheme. See the image I have attached below. Misshayley's suggestion of a glass splash back would work well, just remember that the colour of the year (Masala) may be "on trend" now, but designers rarely advise you go with on trend items that are expensive to replace. You could then select a few accessories to display in the kitchen area that carry that colour through the space. Perhaps a feature wall nearby painted in this, as it is less costly to repaint if you tire of it. Add some greenery to the room for a fresh look & great contrast with the Masala. Glass splash backs are great if you want to avoid the work of having to keep tile grout clean. regards, Lisa Elliott

Switch the front window and your side entrance door, this way your door is visible from the street. Then turn the window in the pantry into a door to gain access more directly to your kitchen, a closet and maybe a bench for gathering items on the way in or out. It looks like you have to go up a small flight of stairs to get to the door, otherwise I'd say put the additional entrance on the cellar wall on the left of your plan. Depending on space you may need to slide this new mud room entrance to the left and you might have room for a longer closet along the pantry wall and a bench opposite the closet along the outside wall. You would lose the cellar but I am not sure if that is another storage area or access to a basement. Just some ideas. Really like the rest of the layout. Hope my little picture helps to explain my ideas.

I didn't notice the leather @Neryl Hollingsworth! It's a chair-table hybrid it seems. My friend took this at a gallery some where, and we've been trying to track the piece down ever since!

I have not read all of the above. It must be tempting to render and paint the fireplace but if it is decided to work with it then maybe you can find your colour palette in the bricks. The new grey carpet will give you a fresh neutral but grey can be very cold. you might need a bit of warmth in the others colors chosen for walls or soft furnishings. If you extend the tile base in front of the fireplace that will give another opportunity to introduce more impact with the tiles. There are always lots of gorgeous tile options. I am loving some of the Moroccan looking styles.