What are your other options?

If you do this first step, a local handyman in your paper would be capable of UN/ installing it for you, the benchtop manufacturer will come to you, measure and quote off plan, and install for you. The only things is organizing an electrician and or plumber to disconnect during your removal, and then re fitting after it's done. The same trades people will do this as it's common practice. Send me your list of cabinets and room layout, I can make use of them for you, then it's a matter of contacting a handyman to reinstall for you. I will make a list of existing cabinets and note any new ones that might be necessary, keeping that to a minimum. I am a kitchen designer and have lots of experience in doing this. Yu simply go to a. Cabinet maker with your list of a few cabinets with all your preferences made, such as selecting a door profile in your solid timber from their catalogues, or a match your happy with. You can say you Want a quote for new tops and some cabinets, without knowing the details, most would be happy to do this for you, it's just the first process I mentioned you need to do, as they have little time to think for you. Where possible save time and money by planning it out, and then it should go well.

oh good! The timber is a very sleek Tasmanian blackwood which is quarter cut (rather than the more usual crown cut) which gives a straight and smooth grain. So it will be a warmish timber, caramel brown. With regard to the greenery, my thought was to cut a "pigeon hole" out of the right side of the upper cupboards - to balance the floating shelf on the left - and have that timber lined for a lush green plant (in a pot of course, lol) And I'm not sure what light? A linear pendant along the island or is it too plain for such a sleek look and should I go for a classic Louis Poulsen or something? Thanks for the validation, I feel so much better!

Depending on your budget I’d paint the cabinetry, replacing the doors if you can afford to and just painting them if the budget is tight. Just a thought, maybe it’s possible to fill that detailing in the doors to make them appear flat once painted. Not sure if it’s possible. It’d be a shit of a job but then you’d have solid wooden doors. And new handles. The same with the tiles. Paint is a cheaper option. New tiles would give a better finish. Remove the window valance. Perhaps resurface the benchtop with a product like rustoleum. Replacing the oyster light with something more contemporary. Open shelving can look great and lighten a space but think about whether this compromises your storage capacity. Everything will be on show. I think if you paint the cabinets then the floor won’t look so bad as there will be separation between the similarly coloured floor and ceiling. Cork is great in kitchens as it’s soft so it’s easy on your legs and back and forgiving if you drop things. It’s also making a comeback, as are timber ceilings. I would choose soft flooring for a kitchen over hard flooring. Kitchen floor tiles are a pet hate of mine. In my next build we’re putting rubber or cork in the kitchen. You’d struggle to put a double oven next to the fridge as it’s a thoroughfare. You’d also lose your pantry. Is two side by side 60cm ovens a possibility where your oven currently is?