Your home will appear larger and much more cohesive if all the wood floors are the same color.
If you change the color of the wood or change to a wood-looking material in one room - or even worse, in one area of a open floorplan - it will look like either an afterthought or that you ran out of money.
why not add a wine thing between the cabinets in the kitchen island. if not three pieces, then use a cabinet side to complete the space. or hollow out the cabinet floor and slide in.
put main sink in the island. This makes for tight work triangle and entertaining. This island has seating on two sides which makes for good conversation.
I still think the metal shelves that are tubes open so you can place items on top or hang pots or utencils on the bottom are just great. I'm going to look into them. They work nicely with the stainless steel range and hood.
