I think charcoal would look very modern and would go well with your existing timber bench tops. But, consider taking a sample home with you and seeing how much dust accumulates on a daily basis and how often you need to clean it to avoid it looking dirty as darker surfaces can sometimes show up dust more than lighter colours.

keep the big rangehood, it will do a better job and look better, but try and have it centred over the cooktop

Thanks for your reply bigreader but the amount of pictures of coastal kitchens that already exist in my files isnt helping my situation.

I think a small round table is a good use of the space. I have a feeling the kitchen/meals could start to feel cramped very quickly. A table with 120cm diameter will seat 4 and 5 at a squeeze. Example table Regarding bar stools, I think you need to find something that slides under the bench to keep the space as open as possible. Finding a seat at 70cm might be a tough thing. Good luck