Sure wish someone would answer the question, I need to know also.

It looks great ! As the house is lighter and darker greys , I'd add a white gloss painted 'rail' around the top -- hard to tell appropriate sizes from the photos , but probably pine 150-200mm wide and 60mm tall . Easiest would be to simply nail it to the posts and top rails , but if you added some spacers ( cut some 100 x 50 pine into 100mm lengths , then stain them the same dark grey fence colour , nail to the posts and probably every 'halfway' too , it would really 'lift' it more ? IMO that would really tie it all in with the house , and look classy , for maybe $2k tops .

Beauty and practicality; Mmmmmm ..... When it is something that you love .... real wooden floors. Now vinyl just gets dirty , Ply looses it functionality, real wood however gains a patina. You want that. People pay thousands of dollars for that. Go with the most genuine example that you can afford of what you love. Factor in your budget and add to it, an area at a time and be pleased that your life gives character to it every day. By analogy; A mahogany french polished table will just give you a nervous break down every time someone doesn't use a coaster ... a hardwood table can be replenished over and over with hard wearing protective surface .... which you can repair. If you love it, if it adds genuine warmth and character, you won't mind maintenance. You won't be saying ...." look at this floor , isn't it amazing? It looks just like the real thing?"

A very simple layout keeping the floor space within the kitchen, the WIP takes up a lot of space with not much gain, The broom cupboard could be moved to the Laundry/entrance, narrow. If the wall has been bumped out to the eaves on the deck side giving an extra 300 depth to the kitchen you could make the island 2700 x 1200 and all drawers. The wall of narrow pantry will hold all pantry needs and more, no deep cupboards to dig into. cheers