Consider changing the bench tops to a warm white/beige colour. It does still look nice with dark though so maybe a newer pattern but in the charcoal. Take down your overheads next to the rangehood and add some open shelves for an easy open and more contemporary feel. You can keep your overheads stored if you ever felt the need to put them back up down the track. When you swap out the granite take down the upstand behind the sink to open up the space and extend the width slightly to allow an extra space for bar seating. I see your dining table is close by, just check if you can nudge it further forward to accommodate this idea. Pendant lights over the new sink/bench space will help define the area further for "zoning"

I agree in that you have a lovely kitchen already. The overhead cupboard will bring a massive amount of storage (which I'm sure you can't wait for) can I ask will the overhead cupboard go above the fridge space as well? (I can see there is walling on either side of the fridge but not sure if this is something to stay and be integrated?) I'd like to see the overhead cupboard span from above the fridge to the right corner, and then a corner cupboard to the right butting up to the left hand side of the window, then actually leave the right side of window untouched (to avoid that boxed in feeling you mentioned) I think white as per the room walls is a wise choice, anything to bounce that light around I say. I also love the dark cladding on the walls, I think an island with this matching cladding would look hot, and tie in an existing scheme to that side of the room - could become quite the feature. That with a matching benchtop as you have now or a white stone or marble look benchtop that has a thick black marbling through it. Could look pretty saucy! I'd also match the hardware on your existing cupboards to the hardware on your kitchen island for consistency. I love the idea of pressed tin panel in pearlised white as a splashback, but if the room is small and this is the only window have you considered a mirror splashback that would help bounce more room around - therefore create an illusion of space and airiness?

on top of the other comments made - do some judicious pruning of the existing bushes and trees - particularly the larger one at the rear on the left. Making bushes and trees more compact by removing stragglers and "outliers" makes for a much neater appearance - and the total cost is a pair of pruning clippers and possibly a saw. investing in a bunnings blower/vac may also be worth while re cleaning up leaves before each home open. Legally you can trim branches overhanging from your neighbours property onto your property - but not past your boundary. any sawn off limbs do remain the property of your neighbour. Probably not a good idea to throw it back over the fence however as it may engender ill feeling. without seeing the overhanging branches - I am not saying you should chop it all down - but perhaps some removal of excess branches to reduce the amount of leaves falling onto your property. Remove all weeds, consider adding 2-3 large rocks into the garden areas - part buried to make them look as if they are natural rocks jutting out. make sure you have something to hang your garden hose on - neat and tidy is the name of the game. and make sure all your garden tools, fertilisers, etc.. are out of sight. The trick is to create the subconscious impression that the gardens are maintenance free. A lot of little things add up to a big difference. removing all cobwebs is a big plus. no one will notice the lack of cobwebs - but their presence is another story. clean/replace any corroded taps, remove any fly poo that is visible, is your roof visible? if so, clean it - get the leaves off. Chimney? repaint. polishing wood inside, cleaning windows, replacing dead or dirty light bulbs, replacing tired lampshades...etc. think of it as rejuvenation rather than renovation. make sure gutters are clean - they may need a paint or part replacing if corroded. same with downpipes. clean all accumulated dust. Repaint the low brick wall on the left under the fence - a nice fresh white - make it all "shine". I used to do landscaping/gardening - with a particular focus on helping people prepare their homes for presentation when they wished to sell. A bit of elbow grease goes a long way to bringing in the offers. fresh dark mulch can really improve a garden - ask your garden supplier which one will fade the least. Don't get anything too fine as the wind can blow it around. spend the time to first dig any edges down at least 75 mm before putting the fresh mulch on so that sand doesn't come through. think about how much preparation you want to do before each home open though. If you put down black mulch - there will be a lot of work getting leaves off it each week, otherwise it would be best to not go down that route. Ants? if so - get the ant powder out. otherwise they bring sand up and mess up the nice dark mulch. and... clean those windows again. best of luck

I have only seen one wooden bench top that has managed, over time, to keep the wet out and avoid that black mouldy creepage where the water splashes behind the taps and around tap inserts. It was built by a carpenter and then the owner applied oil to gain the colour desired before applying several coats of marine epoxy (several = at least 5), sanded back before every new layer. It was burn proof and the colour locked in by epoxy coat with no maintenance required (until a visitor put a burning pot on it and left it there while attending to fire on stove, still... only left a black ring. That said, the owner promptly got out the sander and ground back until black ring was no longer charcoal texture, then reapplied oil and layered epoxy until black ring looked like it belonged (can't do that with any other surface I can think of?). After 15 years there is no sight of the insidious black mould from water penetration so I suppose it is the same recipe as with most thing successful projects in life, research, research, preparation, preparation, preparation and don't falter at the finish line.