I never love open shelving in a modern kitchen they are dust and grease traps but I would hang horizontal glass front cabinets and paint that wall some awesome color ,run your backsplash up to bottom of window all across. If you have space make the island top larger and paint out the other wall of cabinets to match main ones. The island top could be something much different than the others

try going to Hamilton Parker on Lenard ave. off 670 it is in downtown area and will give you great ideas.

I think what you have done is amazing - so fresh and so modern - it is a great example to people like myself who have an old kitchen with good bones but no longer modern. So many people spend far too much money ripping out usable kitchens, that function well but they think they need to get the new and latest, often just to keep up with the "Jones". You have done an amazing job without the huge cost of replacing all your cabinetry. WELL DONE.

Thanks Luke and Hayley. As it happens my tiler has now finished the job and we decided is that the area is unlikely to get damp given the location, and therefore the quality of the paint finish with silicon join to benchtop would work fine and look the best. It has come together looking really good. Appreciate you taking the time to comment. Regards, Kerry