Hi Emma, Both combinations will look good, they will just feel different and present a different theme. Brown and cream will add warmth and give a classic feel to your home. I've designed with this color combo a few times and it's a real winner. Check out my photos and you'll see 2 different brown and cream kitchens. Black and white is timeless, classic and more dramatic, it's not as warm as brown and cream but boy it looks smart. So there's no wrong choice here, it just depends on whether you want the crisper look a black & white scheme will give or the warmth of a brown/cream scheme. Good luck!

It sounds good to me. I would just double check that 3m of space will be enough to plant the trees you want and still provide a passageway by that side of the house. I like the way that "wood" was incorporated in the picture you originally posted (i.e. under the bench). Or you could do the whole island in timber, like this: [https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~85701[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~85701) [https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~85704[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~85704) A timber bench for the island only, like this: [https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/pavilion-house-contemporary-kitchen-sydney-phvw-vp~11003779[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/pavilion-house-contemporary-kitchen-sydney-phvw-vp~11003779) Add a timber light over the bench, like this: [https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/northcote-house-contemporary-kitchen-melbourne-phvw-vp~11773106[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/northcote-house-contemporary-kitchen-melbourne-phvw-vp~11773106) Or add some timber shelving at one end of the island bench, like this: [https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/kalymna-grove-modern-kitchen-melbourne-phvw-vp~4501573[(https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/kalymna-grove-modern-kitchen-melbourne-phvw-vp~4501573)

I actually have a window as my kitchen splashback, and I totally get wanting extra light without losing privacy. I haven’t used privacy glass yet, but I’ve checked it out for bathroom renos and think it could work for the kitchen too. It doesn’t really look odd if you match the style to your kitchen, and being able to switch from clear to frosted is really handy, especially when you don’t always want to block out all the light or need the privacy at certain times. If you want to see some examples or learn how it works, there’s lots of info on switchable smart glass for kitchens and offices at https://www.smartglasstech.us/. Their site has project galleries and details which might help you decide.

My first question would be where are you located? Cairns will have very different requirements to Tasmania, due to their different climates. While I agree with other posters, that flipping the plan will give you more light, the living areas will be similar in any case. Receiving N, E & S light. Flipping the plan will give additional bedrooms northern light, instead of the garage. But the main point is trying to get northern light into your living areas, & direct sunlight into those living areas in winter. This is difficult on such a narrow block. So my next question is what is to the north of your block? A neighbouring property I presume? If this is a two story property it will badly shade your living areas, no matter what you do. So what's the best way to get northern light (other than going up & building a two storey home, to get northern light into the top storey)? It's to build as close to the southern boundary as possible, so your northern windows are as far from your boundary as possible. This will reduce overshadowing from your northern neighbour. It looks like you have a zero lot boundary for your garage. How far is it from your meals area to the boundary, & how far is it from the kitchen to the boundary? If the plan is flipped, how far will it be from the family room to the boundary? What I'm getting at is, which orientation is less likely to have overshadowing of your northern neighbour of your living areas?