Hi oskuee, tonic3000 We've swapped the photos to represent a minimal difference in lighting. We did not undertake any renovation work on this property, simply styled it for sale in creating a welcoming home. Presentation sells!

Just a thought, have you checked your lovely flooring will persist under new cabinets or more importantly the gap created by the island bench. Possibly put a simple narrow breakfast bar (with power point of course) across a couple of the window sections, lovely to sit and look out of the window and preserve the look and the light. Then you would save some depth into the living space, as the current breakfast bar is quite large and deep.

Hi again, Jessica. I'm not sure anyone completely understands or is adequately prepared for the construction process unless they are in the industry. The way to learn is to jump in; you will learn as you go along. Ask your builder questions when you don't understand something or need clarification, and monitor the build because mistakes can and do happen (they are usually minor and easily rectified when caught in time). We have built four times, the last two were custom and we caught mistakes in each one of those at various stages of the build. In my experience, builders generally prefer the clients not to access the site without their permission; this point is usually stipulated in the contract. The time to address access (with the builder) is when the contract is ready for you to read and sign. Anyone who is building a house is going to access the site to monitor the progress, but it's better to do so when tradesmen are not working, for everyone's safety, and because then you can take your time. Be sure to read the contract through thoroughly, check that the specifications and inclusions are correct, and resolve any queries before signing. And check that the completion date is specified and it is to your satisfaction. Completion date should never be left open-ended. I'm sure everyone's experiences are different, but this is a good opportunity to learn and what you learn will help prepare you for any future builds.

Personally I love angles & splays, BUT they have to have purpose and be functional. Without seeing more surrounding context hard to comment but i can't help wondering why this all being so squeezed in one area, but then almost wasted/under-utilised space in-between the island and the table - it's like the pantry's boxing/internalising the kitchen which is not ideal.....either way I'd make sure that it flows and is functional and not awkward anywhere