I would clad it in horizontal wide timber flooring planks. Myself I'd go a grey, weathered timber like an oak, the engineered flooring can be bout in packs, so a single pack would create a feature inexpenssively. It will provide the oppotunity to introduce timber details in furnishings or kitchen accessories. Natural timber softens modern interiors, relaxes and adds character to traditional looks like provincial or hamptons styles. The wide plank will enhance the flow as a walk through, but still provide an intersting visual texture to the adjoining lounge area.

Do you want to keep the "black falcon oven" as the feature or do you want the island to be the feature? If you want to keep the oven as the "feature" in the kitchen, then I would do the island in the same cupboards and benches as the rest of the kitchen. If you wanted the island to be a complimentary "feature" to the oven, then you could perhaps do the same cupboards, but go with a black benchtop (although I would personally avoid a black benchtop due to it easily showing dust, water spots, etc). What material will be "under-bench" be on the island bench? Is it also going to be a feature (e.g. a graphic print, timber or something else)? Will the island bench have waterfall ends? If the island bench already has some level of visual interest, then it may not need anything more (i.e. different materials). You can always add visual interest to the island bench with accessories.

I probably would steer away from black if you want to keep the country theme

So, what color did you eventually choose? I am really interested because the house we have just bought has similar color ceilings. I was also wondering about the color of the light fittings. I think that I will get some color changing LED light bulbs and have them installed all around the house. I like them more because you can both use them as a regular bulb or change the color to any you would like. It is also possible to control them using an app on my phone, making it so easy to control them. Now I think that it would be the most reasonable decision if I installed white bulb fittings so they look good with all the colors the bulb can make.