I agree, a unified floor will help with the feeling of a bigger, uninterrupted floor. I think the white on walls is fine, although I also think a soft but warmer tone might be suitable so the ambience is still warm and inviting. I can see an angled wall that appears lighter than the left of kitchen, I would hang a large mirror on this wall, to create a false room beyond, the angle will help reinforce this idea, and is a nice touch to a dining area, however informal. I would also take your lounge and try to position it facing your window. I assumes there's one in the far end we cannot see, the sofa could be away from the island back creating a walkway, and consider relocating your sideboard below it elsewhere. I can imagine it even along the back of the sofa as a console table, a lamp on top would create the perfect scenario for night reading and ambient light.

Ahh the Christmas tree, I know exactly what you mean Pazz. Over the years, we've seen it all, there are many who have more lights than plasterboard on their ceiling and then on the opposite end of the spectrum 1 light per room. In the end, lighting is definitely a personal choice because there's a 3 fold effect that many don't often realise. 1. You need to be comfortable with the amount of lighting in your home. 2.You need to think of the initial cost, the more lights, the more it will cost in product (actual lights) and electrician fees 3. The running costs, even with energy saving lights, there is an increased cost with having so many lights on at one time. Good Luck, with the lighting plan Pazz, I'm keen to see how your new house turns out, you got some really great finishes going in by the looks of it from previous posts.

Running with your second floor plan (and ignore the glass sliding doors in this image) but would you consider changing your 3m narrow splash to a full sized fixed window on half the side and the remaining side create as the cooking area with cupboards, oven etc.? You mentioned you have stacker doors in the direction of the lounge, but in terms of space, from these doors, it's living area no windows at a room length of around 7m, followed by 4m kitchen room length including a 3m narrow glass splash to provide natural light for the kitchen area (cupboards noted above)? From your drawings there seems to be no windows on the opposite wall, is that right? I feel you will need to bring additional natural light into the kitchen area possibly bigger than the 3m glass panels if only 0.6m tall (or similar) especially with cupboards on top. If you're not keen on swapping out the narrow splash here's another example with your second floor plan (and also ignore glass sliding doors in this image) but possibly a tall window or fixed glass panel before your kitchen bench starts - even if <1m wide. Or greater than 1m if you're OK to encroach on your 3m glass splash and make it shorter. If the island bench is not a "must" you could create similar to this image and have a L-shape bench so it encloses the kitchen a bit more. This will help create the next room of your house ie. Kitchen - and you'll gain a few more cupboards if you're really wanting additional. Then have the big fixed window adjoining the L-shape next to the seating bench. You could still have your narrow glass splash with cupboards above, possibly just shorter (only referencing the L-shape and large door in this image - imagine fixed glass full-size wall panel in lieu of door next to the seats. Ignore the remainder of the kitchen). Is this an existing dwelling or new home build? For either of your options, are you impacting your roof-line as your first floor plan suggests you're widening the kitchen by 1m? The first plan I'm guessing will cost more; light wells and extra bricks vs straight wall. As mentioned by the other posts, there's plenty of storage options. You still have a decent amount of room for cupboards including a full-sized pantry next to your fridge space. I also agree with jbantick's of balancing space indoors and out (not knowing surroundings).

metal posts can be bolted to the concrete floor with a metal bracket called a "stirrup" there's a brand called Uni-pier with multiple sizes available at the major hardware stores and then attach sections of plastic lattice (friendlier for attaching plants) ...make sure the posts are installed at standard distances to suit the size of the panels..eg four panels 1200 wide x 2400 tall installed between 5 posts would allow for a wide doorway at one end or two panels could be installed horizontally between three posts with gaps at the top and bottom with a line of big oblong shaped pots for climbing plants and wall hung pots could be attached to the lattice