White works to blend them in a small or minimal space with 8' high ceilings. Depending on your décor brushed silver lights look good as well. Think what you want the viewers attention to go to, lights or artwork, furniture etc.

While lighting is not my field, I am inclined to agree with alissat re warm white being grubby and appearing overly warm/dark given the timber flooring. I appreciate that the room isn't quite finished yet but I might suggest that once the left hand wall is cleared, the selection of a large print or print(s) with vibrant colours and the addition of an aesthetcally pleasing window treatment for that raking window at the rear of the room, might make all the difference - Offsetting the sense, I currently get that the white light is inadequate, cold and sterile. This projection, I think, is compounded by the cardboard box etc against that wall. Clear along the wall, put up one or more largish colourful prints (to offset any sense of cold/sterility) and a nice white plantation shutter (if you can afford it) for that rear window, would really lift the room, increase the sense of light, especially if it can reflect of a much larger area of wall, and overall, present a rather pleasing and inviting space in which to kick back, relax and chill in front of that TV. I like the Pendants btw. ... I think they suit nicely. :)

Oh no - does the black bother you? I basically just need induction and hopefully something that's reliable. It's on sale at the moment and does seem to have a lot of great features for the price but not knowing much about the brand I'm nervous about the quality and having issues with repairs. I do like the idea of the whole bench being white though as the cooktop would be the only black and I'm not sure if I'll regret it if I don't try it. So hard to decide! (First world problems!)

Radiant heat, so whatever it faces it heats, not the air. In bathrooms there'd be splashing concerns with anything electrical at floor level, unless it is waterproof and designed for bathroom use. Our combo is not very loud but not exactly quiet either. I think the quietest I have read about are the ones where the motor is separate to the ceiling unit, but I don't think that style is budget. Another thing that causes noise is the butterfly damper, it rattles a lot in windy weather. They are designed to prevent heat escaping in cold weather so I suppose you could just not install it if you are in a warm climate. The earlier models never came with one. The rising air when the fan is operating pushes it open. Unfortunately pressure fluctuations on windy days also make it open and shut, rather noisily. Sorry, I remembered something to add and rushed and decided to delete and start again. Hot air rises. Heat radiates in the direction it's pointing. I think that's the way to explain it?