Thanks for all the ideas siriuskey - I like being challenged with some left field ideas I hadn't thought of before. For colour schemes we're thinking of a white marble Caesar top with warm white laminate cabinets on the island, then charcoal laminate cabinets against the wall. For splashback we're thinking a high gloss white caesar. This is all just our initial thoughts and we'll probably get the colour consultant back to help us refine those plans and tell us where we've gone wrong :) With regards to getting the rangehood in over the island, I don't think I could swing the industrial look first idea, but the roof-mounted box to bring it down closer to the island top could work. Mounting some downlights into it as well should make lighting more effective too! I'm also warming to your idea of wrapping the cabinetry around onto the return wall and housing the ovens there. It does mean they're a fair hike away from the fridge, but it gives us a LOT more cooktop space which more than likely outweighs spreading the "triangle" out so far. So much to think about! I'm loving all of the ideas though :) I've been thinking of building some seating into the bay window (we've had a couch JAMMED into our bay in the lounge room and its a messy look) so maybe a banquette seat (never knew thats what they're called haha) would work. I just need it to sit relatively low-profile against the wall so that it doesn't make the gap between the seat and island too tight to get through.

On the assumption that your kitchen is limited to just a staff lunchroom, and not a food preparation area for your business then you need to be careful that there are no choke points, such as the corner where the sink is currently drawn. Looks like a great corner to stack used coffee cups for somebody else to worry about! It is a pity that the location of the existing plumbing is dictating the location of the kitchen cabinetwork. If there was the option I would put the kitchen on the wall adjacent to the display hall, and run a bar bench with stools under a new wider window. An island bench opposite the kitchen bench would also give more flexibility to food preparation in peak hour, minimise choke points and provide additional seating. A bench adjacent to the window would make the for a more pleasant place to sit, without being forced to share a table with your work collegues. Nobody spends much time using a staff room kitchen so it shouldn't have the best spot which is adjacent to the window! Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

for the banquette to be wide enough to lay on it would need to be at least as deep as a narrow single bed which makes it too wide to sit on comfortably without a very thick back rest or a giant pile of cushions to clutter up the space...why not consider a back and sideless freestanding daybed so the primary purpose is laying down and the sitting to dine is only short term and doesn't need a backrest ....this example or similar with taller legs would be a simple economical way to add the day bed feeling without expensive built ins and two along the window wall could look quite inviting with a simple throw and scatter cushion

Erskineville is a lovely suburb where it is nice to see old homes (however challenging) preserved and updated. What an awesome job with clever design to make the most out of the space, even managing to fit in a bath where you can star gaze.