I forgot to mention the bare bulb sticking out of the wall over the sink, which is something I'm terrified of every day haha! I also measured the bathroom and drew a floor plan with measurements in inches.

Get the professional sander guys in to repair the living areas and kitchen but don't go too dark with the stain as it will kill the lovely grain in the matai. I'm thinking a couple of tones richer than the timber knots showing in your photo, definitely no yellow tone at all. In NZ stepping on to carpet especially in a kiwi winter is so much nicer than a cold floor board shock!!! A nice area rug for the lounge and you're done.

Provided there is 1200mm clear between the breakfast bar and the opposite bench then by rights, you should have ample room and if that's the case, I think I would opt for the design with the kitchen on the eastern side. My reason; you get a much greater feeling of open plan by having the dining and lounge on the North/South plane. I like the large WIP in this one - on paper at least. The second plan somehow feels wrong. I personally don't like the idea of having the breakfast bar being located in the lounge. If it were me though, I would ask for a 3D CAD plan of both kitchens [to walk through on the computer] before making up my mind on which one to opt for as it gives you a much clearer vision of what the finished kitchen will be like rather than looking at a flat plan.

Just finalising kitchen colours. Soft Matt black velvet prime laminate which will be the back of the kitchen colour Island will be soft Matt surrender. Marble look prime stone which will also be the splashback I'm just worried about the flooring I've chosen it's meadow cortex ? But is the colour too light? Shall I go darker? Wld love to see other vinyl floors with Matt black ? I have grey Carpet in the lounge area all open plan. Don't wanna stuff it up such a huge investment