36" is my recommendation ... mine is 31 and it feels tight (but I still love my new kitchen).

Thank you so much for responding! Where do you think I should put table/lamps? And what color? This is the front space of the couch I was thinking of putting a flatscreen tv on the wall? If I was to paint this room to suit the furnishings what color? Thank you :) also I have mini bookshelves right across the painting I was thinking of putting 2 led sized bean bags there instead?

The minimum is 1219mm. By the way in your new design do you have a landing space to the left or right of your oven? If you opt for less distance maybe your designer should do some research on ovens that have doors that open side ways instead of top down.

Lighting - pendants over the servery bench should be another feature that complements your chosen kitchen surfaces. So whilst I love the copper pendants in picture 1.. They could work depending on the rest of your decor and would be a highlight in a neutral white/timber kitchen = Good! If you choose copper you would complement it with a couple of copper bench top items. These are beautiful! (I collect copper because I love it, my kitchen pendants are silver, I renovated to sell in the next 3-5 years) You will see a picture starting to form in your mind and there is nothing wrong with making a statement with your lighting. I found that when I wasn't sure I would get a very strong sense of what was right and what was wrong for a space, then common sense or passion would determine the outcome! Here are another couple that might work, look her on Houzz under lighting, search pendants, then have fun looking!Timber tones with black or white to complement your cabinets... or Statement white pendants for a bit of quirky fun! Your personality can be reflected in your lighting and accessories creating that point of difference from the predictable white on timber look. Plus don't forget the power of greenery to punctuate the theme!