I always think it looks like you're too poor to afford cupboards to store and protect your stuff in... and where I live they'd have instant-mudpie-mix combined with that fuzz flocking in under a week. Add water and make your own mudpies. After two weeks that greasy grime starts showing that takes massive amounts of Dawn dishsoap and elbow grease to banish. I'd rather not have to go to the work of having to clean all that weekly and wash it before I used it anyways. Pretty to take a picture of, highly impractical in real life.

If you are going to the effort of retiling the fireplace surround, would you consider going to a bit more effort and creating a full wall unit which incorporates the fireplace and the TV, with extra shelves and cupboards to display and store? (I also have reservations about the heat and the TV and associated wiring.) This may also address the lack of symmetry associated with the location of the fireplace, if that is a consideration. Do you use the fireplace often enough to justify keeping it? Alternatively, a wall unit on the left hand wall, which is where the power and TV points seem to be, may be the best solution - as previously suggested. All the best.

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!

Led lighting running on both sides of each of the beams - you can buy it in strips. I would go for a bright white but you can even get it in colours and or changing colours. I would also do the same along the floor under the cabinets and perhaps between the upper cabinets and bench top.