It's many years since we've had an eat-in kitchen, but my current renovation incorporates an eating area in the kitchen because, frankly, I'm tired of the extra work to carry things to and from the dining room and the extra cleaning created by always using the dining room even for casual meals for just two of us. We have had bar stools at the kitchen island, and the grandkids use them, but my husband hates them and refuses to eat at bar height or even at a lowered 'ledge'; on the side of the island. So my kitchen reno will include a table on one end of the island, at regular table height and large enough to seat 5 if necessary. There is a large sliding door to the veranda close to where that table will be positioned, so it should be a pleasant place for casual meals and I expect we'll eat most meals there. I'm so confident of that, I'm converting the dining room to more living space and putting our big timber dining table in the alfresco area, which will be semi-enclosed, with open parts security fly-screened. The dining area we use when we have guests will be super-casual, with a BBQ in one corner and swim spa in the other. I just don't see a purpose for formal dining anymore, especially living in a sub-tropical climate.

Black bar stools would look great, one or two pendants over table would look beautiful downlighting above island , this would then make a feature of your pendants above table.

You have a complex set of requirements that won't be adequately addressed in an online forum of opinions. In addition the photo of the style of kitchen that you like is in a much larger space than you have available, and the size of that kitchen contributes to its presence. Without borrowing some space from adjacent rooms for a wider, larger kitchen then I would consider a G-plan with the end of the G being bench height seating with half the stools with their backs to the view, and the other half with their backs to the kitchen, as in this photo. I would engage a design professional to visit, take your brief, measure up and come back to you with a few concepts for the layout. Think hard about how important the symmetry is to your kitchen as it can really hamper creative solutions that are outside the box. It is still possible to have a Hamptons style kitchen, that has presence and is of a formal nature that is asymmetrical. The rest of your home is not symmetrical, and forcing a symmetrical design into a pre-existing space only ends in compromises to the functionality. A good design professional (not necessarily a kitchen designer) will look outside the three walls that are constraining your thinking and options to create an elegant solution, but you will need to pay for this creative service. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls/Dr Retro Virtual Visits.

I really like the ceiling, as others said it gives it atmosphere and frames the view. When you say pine, I'm thinking you mean the finest of all the pines - Oregon which is fine grained and a warm honey colour. I have a cathedral ceiling and I would gladly swap my bland white faux Hamptons look with you any day! I would look at a large rug for the floor - if the budget is small, find a carpet that you like and get it edged as a rug - my favourite hack. I agree to bring in some black in the curtain rods and swap out al that cream/yellow paint for a neutral white. Your kitchen reminds me of mine circa 1998. Change the splash back to something neutral. Even white painted glass or a white textured or interestingly shaped tile. Swap out your bar stools for timber and introduce some timber elements in the kitchen to match the roof. Think chopping boards,, timber bowl for fruit, utensil holders, pot plants. Paint the walls white as well. All the creams in the world won't help the ceiling look better. you need to work with it not against it. Good luck and keep us up to date!