Big exacting project :-) I would go for tiles in the kitchen area (provided it's a good solid floor) and wood everywhere else. I think a well considered rug or two add warmth and character. And you can change them around to suit time of year and decoration. My primary reason for not choosing carpet is that the space will be much larger and more easily accessed and used, carpet will get dirty quite quickly in this situation. A friend of mine has successfully added motto an style tiled areas within a wooden floor. The breaks the space up in a totally different way, by making the area a focus (is under dining table or round kitchen island) rather keeping the room division as focus. Hope that makes sense!

I know what you are saying. I've taken pics of them both on our old cutlery drawer (ignore the grubby marks!). What do you think? Our old kitchen knobs pronounced further than the mushroom ones actually. I think the HB ones are nice but my favourite ones are still the AM - we've gone over budget on so many things already but I dint want to get the hardware wrong as it is so important.

As someone else has already suggested, i'd opt for a nice gravel laid within a plastic honeycomb grid system to stablise it and keep it uniform. The whole construction should be subbase to avoid the need for planning permission and you can add a stone threshold detail across the width of the entrance from the road to provide an attractive approach and demark the driveway. I think your house is too rustic in appearance to suit tarmac and needs a softer more rural choice of materials to compliment the house, plus you have a large area so planting is crucial to maintain the balance between hard and soft landscaping.

I had this myself recently - I ended up I did go with a wooden table - a vintage one with multiple shades so it would still contrast and not look too much/samey. I also put a jute rug beneath mine and once you dress the top with a runner and a plant/vase etc it looks great. Alternatively white always works and I love concrete but expensive - concrete resin - metal can also be a good option - I wouldn't go with glass - I feel it's dated.