There's so much you could do .

Firstly ,it is 1 bedroom , so presumably 1 or 2 people . The shelf unit where the fridge should be is slightly weird and 'lazy' -- someone has put it there because they couldn't be bothered actually doing shelves . So you could take that out ( or it may be the tenants and going anyway ) .Then decide if you want a pantry , or the fridge there ?

Can you put a small underbench fridge somewhere ?

What is in the other cupboards ? In other words ,do you need more storage , or more fridge ?

The wooden stools in a similar colour to the floor don't work IMO . If they are yours ,paint them charcoal or bright orange or something . Or buy some trendy ones in those colours .

Change the light -- again , trendy and/or themed colour .

The wooden doors -- a square chrome upright handle or similar would look trendier . Or black if you are changing your taps to black too . But I think the wood is workable .

So what does it need , apart from new stools and light ? Some colour ! I THINK , but not sure , you have white tiles ? Maybe a row of orange or even black subway tiles along the top -- horizontally mounted . The 'end'wall -- is that tiled ? If not , coloured tiles , a splashback , even paint it !

Decide on a colour scheme that you like and works with the wood -- so orange or lemon or red or charcoal or most greens -- and add a bit ! Even a clock with whatever colour you decide on , around the edge . Maybe the coffee machine is staying -- so a stainless and chosen colour jug and toaster would tie in ?

Just some ideas . . . . . . .

Thank you!

None of the current furniture or appliances are kind - all the tenants.

I don’t like the brown wood.

Love your thoughts on furnishings though, thanks!

That should say MINE, not kind

Measurements of space would help with suggestions. But in the meantime:
Purchase a smaller fridge to install in the alcove provided. Currently being used as a pantry.
You do not have a dishwasher, so decent sinks would be good. You can purchase sink accessories which go over the sink, which convert to a bench.
If possible extend kitchen bench, the full length of the room. Removing the peninsula. This would provide extra storage and bench base. You could incorporate a single draw dishwasher.
Effectively making the kitchen into a one wall galley kitchen.

I would love to remove the peninsula and have a galley, but there is a window with window sill that juts out.

The plan is of the apartment next door, nearly a mirror image (except oven placement).

It may well be that I need to work with the existing footprint, but update the cupboards.

I will be the only person living there.

Is the window the same height as kitchen bench top?
If so the sill can be incorporated into the new bench.

Also, congratulations on the purchase of your own home. Well done.

Hi Dreamer!

Unfortunately the window is much lower.

Thanks so much! It’s taken a long time, but I’m very pleased that I finally got into the market 😃

My suggestion is to replace your kitchen cupboards , without the peninsula ,in white with overhead cupboards to the left and right of the kitchen window. Have a full length of cupboards on the opposite long wall , at the lower sill height . Replace the sinks with a single larger size and a single drawer DW . I have borrowed a few ideas from Dreamer .

I love these ideas.... thank you so much!

Go galley kitchen and extend it all the way to the far wall. Better use of space and if done smartly

(soft close doors/no handles) it can look like a wall cabinet instead of a kitchen extended into the living area. Make sure you have a castored kitchen island that can be stowed away under the main bench to give you a workable spot to put your pans and ingredients while you are cooking nice and handy. It's not very workable to walk along a long bench. Put the fridge back into that corner as it's the appliance you don't want to see from the front door. Also use a ceramic stove top so it can double as benchspace when not in use.

It depends if you are leaning more toward functionality or design, or both? :)

Both! But have just found out I am not able to change the footprint of the kitchen - Owners Corp rules 😕

Ahhh yes many times I've run into owners corp problems when re designing and modifying kitchens. I've asked my builder what he would do - hes qualified as a cabinet maker too. Hopefully he can help with some ideas!

Brilliant, thanks!

Owners Corp rules probably mean plumbing and gas and structure need to stay same. But you could change cabinet layout with those constraints

Maybe I could just overhaul the look and keep the structure the same.

Ok, I am thinking a pantry in current fridge space, stove (maybe a narrower 2 or 3 burner one?), around corner single sink and single draw dishwasher. Fridge against wall between windows where peninsula is now. Make all the cupboards smooth fronted and the fridge integrated. Keep the fridge as small as practical for you. Then a cute banquette style seating area at a right angle to dining room window. The end of it up against the wall at windowsill height. Then a narrow island cupboard between dining and lounge. TV could be on wall opposite dining and lounge backed up to island cupboard or TV on entrance door wall and chaise lounge against bedroom wall. That is not altering your kitchen footprint (I think), it gives you some extra storage and defines your areas.

Oh, and a dual microwave/convection oven to save space.

If its me. I would just do a single bench spanning Meals and Kitchen. And allocate all tall cabinets and fridge in that existing cabinet space.
The bench will be a striking statement and doubles up as a dining / bfast table with view out the window.

A lot depends on budget, which has not bee mentioned....agree with many above to get a fridge that fits the alcove it was designed fo. And lose the nasty little peninsula - I would think that would be acceptable to body corp as nothing serious being moved - cabinetry is pretty much furnitur. Will feel more spaciou. Get the sink cover/s as suggeste. Consider a lower bench - probably table hight that will fit beneath the window and do double duty for dining/ bench space.

Sorry about all the incomplete words above - stupid auto correct!

PS - Get a La Pavoni europiccola, Elektra Micro Casa A Leva or Olympia Cremina coffee machine. They have half the footprint of your current one. I have a Cremina and love it, but the Micro Casa is a lot cheaper and very pretty. The La Pavoni is the poor cousin, but if needs must. Lever machines are much easier to use and cheaper to maintain than a pump machine like your current one. Solid state technology does not wear out. My cremina is 50yrs old and the only thing I've replaced on it is seals (5min DIY job)

Its the tenants coffee machine, not owners.

Everything in these photos are owned by my tenants 😊 I have a fridge that fits in the alcove and a much smaller footprint coffee machine

As far as coffee goes , I find a medium sized jar , and a similar sized one for sugar , doesn't take up much room , and is relatively cheap , and as far as the machine itself ( aka Me ! ) it also hasn't had the seals replaced in over 50 years . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pottsy99 haha! I just have a small Nespresso pod machine, and recycle the pods. I still have a good old instant coffee from time to time too!

Have confirmed I can’t change kitchen footprint at all. The peninsula houses a set of drawers so that’s fine. I think just a cosmetic update will have to do

My recommendations on espresso machines still stands, for anyone else with a smaller kitchen.