Thank you for the opportunity to work on your project, I enjoyed it very much, and I hope I've managed to meet your expectations and create a space you had envisioned.
I've kept the original layout with the dining as an extension of the kitchen area and the lounge on the other end of the space.
As you wished to keep the furniture in the dining space and the kitchen has strong dark accents as well, I aimed to balance it with natural elements in that area such are wooden chairs and nickel and fabric accents. Rather than having a completely soft aesthetic on one side and dark on the other side of the room due to furniture, there is a gradual fade in the interior. Starting with strong black elements, adding more neutrals, and eliminating more and more of the dark tones to keep them only as accents in the furthest part of the lounge area.
The dining area is large and welcoming and directly connected to the kitchen while the lounge is visually separated by being introverted in its area of the same space. The piano area with the little relaxation nook is somewhat of a transition between the dining and the lounge. It can act as a part of the dining, a space to have a morning coffee or enjoy a book, or interact and enjoy someone playing the piano, while in a functional way and in furniture type it belongs to the lounge space.
This nook as well as the one below the window in the lounge is either additional seating when having guests over or a space to enjoy alone comfortably. These spaces are important and very much used when you're alone and feel more comfortable in a small nook dimensioned for one or two people rather than sitting on a large sofa in an open space, and more suitable for everyday life.
The furniture that is chosen for this project is a balance of simple neutral elements and design pieces (replicas of more famous designs), and the stated prices may vary from shop to shop. Most of them can be found as less or more expensive versions than the stated price, and by the same product name. This makes it possible to fit it into your budget and decide which one you find is a more worthy investment for you.
The bench below the window and the bookshelf are custom pieces, but very simple and affordable to make.
If you would like to go in this direction and have some questions or need more detailed information on some part of the project feel free to contact me. I'm at your disposal.