If you have length along the wall to house cabinetry, consider stepping out the joinery, so start with a 300mm deep bookshelf full height as a bridge between the new and old, and then place a deeper pantry etc after it. A bookshelf that can house small app.lances, recipe books, bowls or decorative items can work within the traditional fireplace, but also a modern kitchen fit out. Your joinery style can be modern and still include a traditional element like a bookshelf. I would then also build one on the other side for symmetry.

This is a specialised and expensive piece of joinery and getting the details right , such as corners, materials, junctions, handles and edges will make or break the success of the piece. In addition you need to carefully consider how cabling, switches and lights all operate, and how things can be serviced in the future.. This is really at the next level to your typical kitchen cabinetmaker so it would be best to contact a specialist, professional high-end, designer/cabinetmaker, who is passionate about design, details, and getting it right, rather than churning out another standard and generic kitchen. Some top-end cabinetmakers have the ability to model things in 3D with their software packages so that you see how it all works, which is really important if you need to reduce costs, and need to understand where to save. Don't waste your money on an ill-conceived or poorly detailed piece of cabinetwork, or using cheaper materials that are not complementary to the beautiful back-lit Onyx stone. If you don't know where to find such a business you could start with looking at local shop-fitters who have a design and build service for upmarket projects, such as Kruger Projects, who I have worked with before and can recommend. http://www.kruegerprojects.com/ Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Although it has all the elements of what is currently desired, white and dark with a bit of lux, I am finding that it has lost a little of the warmth that was present in the before photos. I appreciate that there were probably some elements that didn't work well and needed to be reworked. As long as the client is happy .....

I'm not sure if that is your house , or just an example ? In that picture , I'd get a bigger TV ( because why not ) and mount it further along the wall , and spin the L shaped couch around so that it sits in that corner , the fire is near , the TV can still be seen from the couch . And depending what the climate is like where you are , and if you have other heating , such as heat pumps etc , you might only use the fire 3 or 4 months a year , plus the occassional night when you have visitors and want to project a warmth haha -- rest of the time make your family go cold , or use a $20 fan heater haha .