anaewlo - did all this just over 12 months ago so know how valuable an extra pair or eyes and a clearer head can help. The "little" things are the ones so easily missed and the ones that make you ask "what was I thinking" or "how did I miss that". You could take the tiles up higher immediately behind the hotplates, the range hood would then tie it all together and you could even have some nice artwork each side of it. The only concern I have - are the 2 tiles in the second row centred over your hotplates? Fine if they are as you will have that high part nice and even. If not, I'd a have good think about it. Otherwise, assuming you will paint the walls in a semi gloss paint, the lower tiles will take the brunt of the oil and what goes on the walls will be pretty easy to wash off, it is just a matter of wiping it down after each cooking session. There are times to match things up and there are times to blend. With your downlights, keep to white (assuming you will paint your ceilings white). this way they tend to disappear into the ceiling

my suggestion, probably similar to siriusky without base corners, has about 2.4 m of Lshaped counter with a *narrow drop in sink on the short arm, open underneath (without any corner cabinets) and 750mm wide drawers or cabinets near the glass door..space for a stacked (or top mount and wall hung) washer and dryer between the sink and blind corner for tall cabinet for vacuum, ironing board etc with shelves above and tall shallow end cabinet storage for linen? .. almost 2m of standard wall cabinets and a drip drying rack over the sink...there should be space for all the usual laundry supplies and equipment including twin tall clothes basket under the open bench and potential ceiling height storage above the ironing board for suitcases, xmas storage etc...*the narrow drop in sink is to allow a little more generous width for the stacked washer and dryer although reducing the tall storage cabinet to 500mm deep would also allow for a wider sink cabinet and doors and shelves in the tall cabinets should be sized to suit the items to be stored ie ironing board, vacuum and brooms should fit under about 1200mm and the blind corner should be for storage of the rarely used steamer or carper shampooer etc) and storage of vacuum cleaner hoses and ironing boards can be made much easier with specifically designed hanging racks to be attached to the wall inside the storage cabinets and available from IKEA etc...

Without knowing where your house is and the climate So climate permitting I would open up the the house from the front living/lounge right through to the rear kitchen deck removing the doors as I have shown and creating one long family room. Don't keep those views for when you have visitors or when you might use that front room, I believe in using the whole house everyday not just for special occasions, It's a bit like saving the best crockery for special occasions The current Living room is perfect as that, which can be closed off during the evening and left open during the day letting light and easterly morning sun in through those beautiful windows. I count myself very lucky to have water views, my house opens up to this which is such a lovely calming outlook that I never tire of. As has been revealed you have a beautiful house with more rooms than were expected and find it hard to go with a combined laundry pantry with so much available space. The new kitchen needs to balance with the number of rooms and size of your house. It's OK to change your mind it's your house and better to do so now before anything is finally locked in.

always about compromise and if the laundry window is reinstated in the original location that restricts options for tall storage so i've included a skinny sink next to the window, a stacked washer and dryer and left the rest of the space open to use for overhead cabinets and/or shelves, tall space under wall cabinets for broom, ironing board, vacuum, baskets etc and hooks on the window wall for work clothes and dog leads...any custom built cabinets would be cramped and very expensive so use the open floor space for storage without doors...the location of the back door opening and doorways from hallway and front entry would also make it too cramped for the narrow cabinet that you wanted unless you make the laundry and powder room too small for the cavity sliding doors so, with so much extra kitchen cabinets for pantry storage (eg between fridge and stove or island drawers?) why not use the central cabinet for your mini office and keep the original wall between entry and living would save demolition and could allow a location for your sideboard.. striped wall sections show dog gates without doors and under a sofa table would make a great nook for the dog beds