Of course kitchens of this style often have hanging pot racks which I like to call pot chandeliers. Source an old ladder with character and hang from the ceiling on hooks and chain above the ding table for a talking point or be creative an use a pulley rope to lower it above the corner bench top next to the oven. Pots and crockery take up a huge amount of space. Allocate zones and use them practically. This bench in the corner would make a great breakfast nook, where a toaster, coffee station could be set up and have baskets underneath for dry store pantry items. Select a feature colour for the room, use it in fabrics stools or prints to add personality, perhaps select a fabric and create a pelmet over the corner window and also hang it below that bench top on wire curtain string to hide all the bits below. A gingham would look great Ml design

While we have never had an open fire place before, we have had a wood burning stove/heater and are planning to put one in the house we are building this year. They are just beautiful and give that gentle, bone-warming heat throughout the house. They are possibly easier to clean than an open,with the fire and ash being behind the glass door, though I guess I can't really comment. I would strongly recommend you buy one with the fan attachment as this greatly improves the throw out of the warmed air and certainly, the difference can be felt. They are beautiful visually too and nothing is nicer on a cold Winter day, than to have the fire going and be warm and snug inside. Good luck; I hope that helps.

Hi Mel, Kitchens are an integral part of any home and particularly a busy family, so much to consider. I personally think an Island clear of any sinks or utilities makes for a more workable space. It lends itself to food prep, kids homework, meals, guests perched on a bench whilst you prep. Sinks always accumulate mess so I think a sink put to the side works better. Gone are the days where you will stand at a sink hours at a time. Think about how you like to cook and use a kitchen a cooktop not far from the sink works best think straining pasta pots, vegies etc.. As for butler's pantry's I'm not a fan, why spend money on a lovely kitchen only to be cooped up in a small kitchen off to the side, very unsociable. Houses are made to be lived in and sometimes that comes with a little mess particularly in the kitchen. Don't hide away in a butlers pantry embrace your home and kitchen and all that it entails. I recently completed a kitchen with a similar colour scheme to what you are suggesting black, white and timber, I anchored the kitchen with the black Island and used white cabinets for the rest of the kitchen. Matt surfaces are on trend at the moment as opposed to gloss or semi gloss, matt finishes hide finger prints and children's hand marks better, dust will show up on darker surfaces so be mindful of this. I adore natural materials and feel that a timber floor really adds warmth. Take a look at the kitchen I recently designed for my clients, would love to hear your thoughts. Happy to assist you any way - Good luck with your renos. Thanks Collaborative Interiors

Thanks Melt, sorry I misread your post. We actually intend to do something similar to your Narrabundah friend in that we are knocking out the pantry and laundry to double the size of the room and get some light in. So it's good to know that keeping the stove will work in a bigger space.  We have also been wondering what to do with the gap when we remove the upright stove, so a structure with plants and cookbooks sounds sounds  sounds perfect. Thanks, its  good to hear a success story about keeping the old Canberra stove. We've seen a modern renovation that left the stove in a corner of a walk through area where it just looked odd, so integrating it into a country style kitchen is our goal too.