If you don't use the dishwasher (or only use it rarely), then you could potentially put a large butchers block (with wheels) as a return from the dishwasher. If you were able to find one that was high enough, you could also get two stools to sit around it (but they should be small, slim and stackable to make extra room if required). Alternatively, you could position your "rustic table" close enough to the kitchen to service as additional bench space. As you have bench seating, the benches should easily fit under the table which means you'll be able to use the tabletop without bumping your knees on the chairs/benches. As others have said, rugs are a good and renter-friendly way to delineate living spaces. As the colours in the apartment are pretty neutral, you could inject colour into each of the designated living spaces through the rugs or you could instead highlight each area by choosing similarly neutral rugs, but with different sizes, materials and patterns. If you're buying all new furniture, then I'd just take it slowly and purchase the "key" pieces first (i.e. sofa, TV cabinet/stand and dining table) before worrying about the smaller items. This will give you a chance to pause and reflect as you add each item to the room. As it is quite a small space, I would suggest keeping the funriture and furnishings as "light and bright" as possible.

Hi Will, we have the Taurus and certainly love the look. We installed it late winter last year so it’s only recently that we have really put it through its paces. We have a huge open plan area to heat and this does do the job but needs a constant supply of hardwood to keep it effective. i am a bit disappointed at how quickly it burns through the timber even when turned down. it is absolutely cold by next morning and does not provide warmth overnight. it also billows smoke whenever the door is opened though this eventually lessens as the heat builds and the timber burns more efficiently. The firebox is quite shallow and it’s a challenge at times to stoke the timber safely as on occasions the coals and logs teeter on the front edge and it’s easy for them to fall out. We crafted a steel lip to sit in front as a prevention. And lastly it’s disappointing that no matter how much we try we always end up with blackening on the glass which requires daily cleaning. i’m guessing this is related to the abundance of smoke that seems to remain accumulated when lighting the fire and getting it going over the first hour. And yes, our firewood is excellent quality and dry but i can’t help thinking there needs to be a redesign to allow the smoke to travel up the flu rather than remain in the firebox.

Thanks Margot. I think I've more or less got it sorted. The only challenge remaining, I think, is finding a way to give it a visual lift. It currently has floor to ceiling tiles in a standard size, square, and a very uninteresting colour with no texture - but in very good order. Very dull! I hate grout in showers so I'm thinking maybe some Mr Wetwall panelling or something similar over the tiles in the shower and on the new wall formed by moving the linen cpd, plus on a part wall along the long side of the shower to replace the glass screens that I insist must go (I'm a lazy cleaner and I hate cleaning glass!) Hopefully that would be enough to relieve the dullness of the existing tiles. Then some feature shelving over the new bath tub perhaps. Not yet decided whether to install a freestanding back-to-wall bath or a drop-in, but the latter might provide scope for some more feature tiling or panelling around it. I want to open the room directly to the outdoors but the current window opening is only 1200mm wide and the wall is 8 inches of solid concrete - not easy to cut to enlarge the opening - so I'm looking at either a hinged door with window inset into it or a standard size glass swing door with a narrow window beside for ventilation. My other challenge is doors for the relocated linen cpd, as the existing mirror doors have got to go! I loathe them. As the cpd will be visible from the living area, it needs stylish doors.

Yes it’s done now. It will be easy to match the upper ones later on as I picked a neutral white. If I have the bottom cabinets removed, the new cabinets will be a different size to the existing ones, meaning tiles will have to be removed. Removing titles often causes tiles to be damaged and I cannot find the same tiles I have in the kitchen anywhere and they extend throughout the whole house with the exceptions of the bedrooms. Regardless, the upper cabinets are useful whether I find a way to repair the bottom cabinets or replace them. I have had two seperate tradesmen say it’s not possible to remove the shelves of the lower cabinet without replacing the whole cabinet.