Can't you just board over them? NZ & French houses don't have exposed pipework, it's all in the walls as they have timber frame houses. I'd get a builder to build a timber framework and board over the top also boxing in the waste disposal. If you want acess to the waste disposal, you could make it look like a cupboard. Get a few quotes and see what the cost would be, it's probably less than you think.

Hi Ellen, We went with a very similar style but from a local company called Unfitted who handmade all their kitchens. We're having the units in a dark inky blue (Como from Zoffany) and a grey / white Quartz top. I can't share a pic yet as it's only being fitted later this month after all our building work is finished but here are some renders from our brilliant designer who helped us pull it all together from the ideas I liked (lots from Blakes!) to actually getting everything ordered and scheduled.

Personally I would not paint the brickwork as it looks quite tidy. If it were me I would change the mantle to a chunky oak plank maybe round off the corners to lighten the square edges from the brickwork. If you are planning on a stove maybe go for a different colour than black this will also lighten up the look overall, of course if you have a stove assuming it would be a wood burner then the hearth would have tools for the stove and a basket with your kindling in and some logs. Hope this helps.

I can't suggest a RAL colour, but there is a development in Cambridge called Eddington with award winning houses. Many of them seem to have windows this colour. It may be worth a bit of digging to see if you can find out any information about the colour. Just found this, glazing is by Aluprof https://architecturetoday.co.uk/eddington-hotel-drmm-cambridge/