Great advice!

Hi Sue, I think it would look amazing if you used some tiles with a bit of texture. The wood look tiles that are popular at the moment would be an example. If you chose a colour that toned in with your floor you would get a really nice cohesive look but with a bit of interest. I've attached a photo of a recent design of mine as an example. Just a suggestion!

I work as a colourist and the easiest method for a upmarket look is to choose an exact colour to match one of the colours in the tile. I would take the tile to a paint shop and get the colourist it match exactly one of the greys in the tile. Make the depth of the colour a light version. All white walls are on the way out. Lappatto tiles usually have some texture as they are semi polished. This is the latest look in tiles as they give a shine without the maintenance of polished porcelain which had been in. They are usually less slippery than satin or polished tiles depending on the brand.

I would be looking at getting two or three large matching floor rugs delivered from Ikea. Use each rug to define the functional are of the space. For instance have one rug centered under the dining table, one (or two) centered under the living area. Their external rugs meant for alfresco areas are almost indestructible when it comes to pets, kids and dirt. https://www.ikea.com/au/en/cat/large-medium-rugs-10692/ There are also lots of online rug stores that can deliver with a much broader range in colours and sizes to Ikea. Also, consider some standard lamps to uplight and brighten the space. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits