Beautiful table, re upholstering the chairs and updating the area where they are would be a good start, add some colour to,the room and a floor rug. when I saw the first picture I thought paint it but not so sure once I saw the lovely carved legs I became stuck on the decision. I painted my traditional dining table and changed the area it was in but mine was nothing special, a reproduction made of rubber-wood, beautifully made table but no vintage piece of furniture .. I did a story on it in Houzz called painting a table if you wanted to have a look. Another option could be to paint the chairs as well reupholstering them but leave the table as is. Good luck, hard one

As you know I love your kitchen, so I would use the kitchen cabinet colour in all the back wall of the shelves. Change the granite tops to also match the kitchen. On one of my previous houses I found that the bar wall was too high tho paint a solid colour so I got a curved laser cut art work to make it more of a feature. Took a photo from the internet to show you because I think if you fid something similar it would work. In your case I would get the 4 panels done and paint the little one against the wall. This way you will introduce the kitchen colours but also keep your timber. You would need to have the bar top overhanging slightly because the front would now be slightly wider. Also I think you could get away with leaving the black granite at the back.

Agree grey fabric not so practical for both the above reasons. The white ones look fine and the timber could tie in with your table and bench. But a colour could be good too. Could tie it in with accessories in your kitchen? Artwork? Depends if you're after a more sophisticated, neutral-type colour scheme, or perhaps something with a bit more character/fun. Cheaper stools that will withstand little kid treatment are ideal, and you can always update and change the look if they get wrecked and you want a more grown-up look down the track. Fabulous-looking kitchen by the way :) Enjoy your new home.

As you haven't supplied any measurements, it's a little hard to gauge the correct size of the lounge etc, however, I would definitely take the dining table out of the lounge. Like oklouise, I would set that up in the kitchen area. I would opt to place it hard against the laundry wall and pull it out into the kitchen when it is required. I would also opt to have a narrow table that could be lifted to become fullsize. How friendly a terms are you on with your landlord? I would be putting a good case forward to him/her to install a heat-pump high on the wall above where the dining table is in your pic. There looks to be an area outside the WC wall to place the outside unit and it would be very easy to duct through to install the inside unit. While at it, get the heater taken out. Hopefully, the landlord would be able to see that a heat-pump would be cost effective whilst freeing up the corner for you. Do a little research beforehand. I would put the TV, and other lounge cabinetry on the white wall that backs onto the kitchen and if possible, around the corner slightly, where the heater is. That would free up the remainder of brick wall that has no window on it, for you to arrange your seating. As already suggested, I would also set your guitars up near the base of the stairs. Thoroughfare from the entrance, to the stairs, to the outside and to the kitchen and bathroom needs to be an uninterrupted flow.