I agree , as a former kitchen planner i would say dont be put off trying the independents,especially local ones, they will usually do their best to use your budget to good effect.They will come and survey and take a personal interest. I think the pale sage greeny grey is a lovely calm colour and as someone else said you cant continually worry about many years down the line..if it appeals to you now you will probably still feel comfortable for some time. Everyone thought cream doors would last forever but I got sick of mine eventually (10 yrs !) and craved light blue or putty grey.You cant be sure of trends but enjoy what you have chosen by making sure the layout works well for you.Spend time on that with your designer (.I use giant drawers a lot on the base as the stuff comes to you, no bending.Even my crockery is in them. ) Its true that wood can be painted and if you have a synthetic "wrap" finish it cant be updated except to change the doors. (But who knows you might sell up one distant day and not need to worry. I did !!). As for the floor , Ive chosen real wood this time and the warmth underfoot in this cold climate is fantastic.I dont think wood with wood is off limits but its personal taste at the end of the day, but it can look good if you introduce some leafy green plants into your scheme.It seems to instinctively go with other natural materials . Good advice also to keep oiling your timber work surface ,, it doesnt take long but keeps it from staining. All the best with your new project !

I have had time to digest what you all said. Yes, that's a hallway. ... I caved! haha ... but at least it's not a pointless one at 1.8m we currently bear. We like our open central living area, and dining at the back of it, and will do so while ever there is no "upstairs". I have drawn in where a bedroom used to be in the living room. I've slimmed the bathrooms right back, to one with a bath, one with a shower, distributed the sizes to not interfere with the laundry door being opened up if the second bathroom was removed, and lined up the "supporting" walls between the bathroom and "our room". The hallway will offer the privacy for the end room that opens onto the garden, and at the same time it can be seen as the master with en-suite... not that we will use it for that. The location of the bathroom is and has always been awkward to get to, requiring a long walk... but at least there will be TWO... but I may very well continue to place the door off the living room and not the hall due to wishing to make the access easier for guests and the 3 bedrooms it serves. All this does bear resemblance to the original layout, but should stick with what works and not fight this awkward house too much. The additional bonus is it is the minimum building cost and effort entailed. I believe it scratches some itches in regards to better bedroom sizes, segregating the placement of bathrooms a little more, and the future flexibility of moving the living area towards the garden end of the house.

I agree with your friend that travertine will be a nightmare to keep clean - too many nooks and crannies for dirt to nestle into! I love porcelain tiles, they are tough and so easy to clean, quick hoover and a mop. I have them in a dark grey slate look a like In my kitchen. They come in so many forms from wood effect through to all the stone effect finishes. Worth going to a good tile store and have a good look around. Bring the door with you so you can colour match. i think any of the F&B beige neutrals will look good on the walls. I particularly Purbeck Stone and Skimming Stone. I’m not sure if grey is right with the cashmere doors, you need something warmer perhaps?

I would get a smallish drop-leaf table with two comfortable dining chairs for you and your roommate's eating area. I suggest no barstools - they take up too much real estate. Guests. Ask them to bring a cushion or a folding chair because you don't have enough chairs. I lived in a very tiny place and my guests were happy enough to sit on the floor - 90 minute party, max. Serve VERY good food. Separate the living and dining areas by color/style and/or an area rug for the living room that will compliment your furniture. Decorators siggest that the front legs of living room furniture be placed on the rug if the rug is too small to fit under all of the furniture. If you get a sisal rug, be sure to use a rug pad. Sisal can be like sandpaper on the wood finish of your floors. I would NOT put a rug in the kitchen. Use washable foot fatigue rubber mats instead. Best wishes.