Hello Megan, i have read the comments, and I agree practicality is paramount, also it's a large investment and would be not be ideal to have purchased this with an awkward setting. Particularly entertaining. i think the 1200mm diameter table is a great spot. It loses a dinner plate in depth, meaning it's a seated table not a serving one. So it will work to have a shared centrepiece maybe a glass vase of flowers and the pendant over. It will suit your family, it would be an intimate setting, and ideal to have the luxury of an upholstered chair. Certainly far from a compromise. Being that your dining table is only a hop away from the kitchen, the table itself doesn't need to have a large top for serving setting anyway. Yes, centre it, even though you may be tempted to allow more room in the walkway, don't, by having a visual space equal to walk around will make it feel less intrusive in the space, and you will quickly settle into walking around it to suit. Just position your chairs on the diagonal axis meaning so they back out to the corners of the room, so you can get around them easier, they won't block in the space. Having a glass top, it won't look over scaled, and it will make practical use of every square inch of your homeow. Good luck, I'm keeping myself posted on it.

if you want to be able to open the doors, load the boot and walk around i think you need at least 9m x 7m but if you to also want useable work benches and storage spaces (eg for the lawn mower etc) add at least 1 m to width and length

I'd replace and go with the diagonal pattern also, despite the cost (you've got to look at it for a long time yet presumably). I think the existing look comes undone because the tiles on the bench laid as they are appear to add yet another design element to the area and actually make a feature of the bench itself. I personally wouldn't want to make a statement piece of the bench itself. If the tiles were laid diagonally, I think the bench would flow seamlessly from the wall into the floor. Similarly, if you highlighted the edge of the bench with the "decorative strip" tile, I think the bench again becomes the feature piece. Lovely roomy shower enclosure though, nice job.

One low-cost idea for shampoo bottles is to measure your average sized shampoo and conditioner containers then adding a few centimetres all round, purchase a commercial quality, smooth stainless steel lasagne tray no ridges or trademarks, not too big. The builder will then create a recess in the convenient shower wall to insert the baking tray vertically. Tile over the 1 or cm rim. Angle it slightly to allow run off. I had a Google and the closest pan I could find is this lasagne pan which was on Amazon. Imagine it on its side with bottles standing on 'the shelf'.