We used Caesarstone Statuario Maximus on our island bench, Caesarstone Snow on our counter top and backsplash and Dulux Whitsunday Island half strength in satin finish for our cabinetry. The cabinetry and Snow are seemless in colour. Statuario Maximus tones in well with the cabinetry. The staff at Caesarstone had suggested Fresh Concrete for to match SM but we felt we needed a stone to match the cabinetry. We painted our whole house in Whitsunday Island half strength and love it. Our aspect is East and we have blaring sun in the morning and shade for the remainder of the day and found that Whitsunday Island half strength was the only colour that balances the yellow sun and blue shade.

I would choose a light, warm colour for the walls. If you are uncertain what to use, you can pay for a colour consultant will go to your house to put forward their recommendations. According to their website, Dulux charges $150 for this service. I think it's worth that amount if undecided on colour. I love plantation shutters, however, with the extra large windows and doors in your house it would cost a lot to install them. Alternatively you could use layered curtains or insulated curtains. Use heavy fabrics or layered curtains over the windows to keep out drafts. Or, purchase insulated curtains with built-in thermal backing. Window pelmets are also good for keeping out the cold.

Thanks for everyone's input and advice! I was planning on going for a rug, but I was surprised at how well the woods went without it. I was thinking along the lines of a jute rug, and I'm still curious to see what one would look like. I agree that there needs to be some texture, but now I'll start by adding a table runner, a colourful centrepiece or flowers and some greenery around it and go from there. Are there any places where you can buy rugs that lets you return it if it doesn't match your furniture? I actually have white tie-up shades on the windows that the pictures don't show. @girlguides, that's actually the closed bay window in the living room!

I took into consideration your new Fridge pantry alcove when I designed your kitchen to get you the max island and still being well placed within the kitchen. If the island isn't attached to the fridge wall you would need to leave a 1m space between them which would reduce the 3m Island as I have shown, the dotted wall shows the length of your kitchen, and how the island fits into that space, you could extend the island further into the dining if you wanted, I can redraw that for you. As I said with both of your plans drawn differently Both OKL and myself had a differnt result