I think lighting is important in your kitchen especially task lighting. I like the idea of a subway tile - not a sleek modern one but either a glass version perhaps with subtle colour - blue/ grey or green [ depending on the other colours in your room] or stick to the white but have a vintage finish. You could use this colour as an accent - I like the idea of some turquoise accessories. The grout could be a feature - if you do go for the black bench top you could introduce a darker grout. { although I am not a fan of dark bench tops as they never look clean.] Marble is lovely also if you can afford it - not sure of how well it wears with grease etc - probably ok if polished. There are plenty of pictures to inspire you in the kitchen tab on the site. Here is one example. https://www.houzz.co.nz/photos/calliope-rd-phvw-vp~7303261

Hi again. Finally took the plunge and had the kitchen resprayed. So much lighter and a great job by the professionals. Hard to remember the mustard kitchen now, except the photos remind me.

I love the arches in your house, makes me wonder what your main rooms are like. You seem to have a good plan and ideas, would you be able to keep te double oven and find some where else for the MW, it would save money. I agree with painting the Range hood tiles to match cabinets. Have you considered a gray colour for your cabinets, with laminated timber bench tops from Bunnings building section, not the kitchen as these are much cheaper, you would need 3 pieces. Not sure what the difference would be between laminate and these timber bench's which are much nicer. Some photos to show what I'am suggesting. Hace you considered white washing some of the bricks in the kitchen in particular the fridge wall bricks.

Without knowing what the benchtop is , it may be able to be cut and joined -- in that case I would look and see if the breakfast bar part can be either moved a metre 'left' ( in the picture just above ) and then either keep the DW there , or under the new 'joiner' piece . Alternatively , if you got rid of the breakfast bar ( or spun it 90 degrees so it raan along the wall ) , and moved the DW under there , you MAY just be able to sneek a 1 metre or so wide island in there . I assume you like the colour scheme , and don't want to change , but personally I find the darker grey ( especially the ceiling roses and the ceiling corniches ) is overdone . It may be an optical illusion , but the veranda doors and kitchen windows look lighter , obviously the dining chairs and even the kitchen bench are lighter again -- that darker grey just seems 'very old' to me , and not in a good way . I would have gone maybe 50% lighter , or even a rich yellowy English cream -- halfway between the wall tone and the gold . Nice but quite 'grey' in attitude at present IMO .