new kitchen/diner decorating/decor advice needed

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Would love some opinions on this if anyone has time and patience to read a long post and do lots of visualising! We're having an extension and new kitchen/diner created. We're on a fairly tight budget.

Have gone with the Ikea white gloss units (not sure about those now but hey ho - think it might have been an over-modern reaction to our Victorian terrace we moved from!)

Oak worktops.

Having the Antelope colour vinyl flooring from here: www.colourflooring.co.uk

Got a stainless steel Rangemaster professional, and other appliances are built in/hidden. Scrubbed pine (nice, not orange/varnished) dining table in dining area.

Big bi-fold doors down one end of room on to garden.

Spots (those inset lights) over the kitchen end of the room, one pendant light over the dining table - maybe something like www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-penelope-ceiling-light/p275754?navAction=jump&colour=Blue but not sure.

Questions:
Bearing in mind i am concerned about it all being very neutral (ie dull) even though we'll have some nice pictures on wall, tablecloth on table etc, would you have oak upstands, and then do a coloured (blue? taupe?) paint on the small amount of wall visible between units? Or would you have some coloured tiles instead? (have chosen some colours from the Johnsons Prismatics range).

One wall is lost to the bifold doors, and I think the other walls, away from the run of units are best in a White paint (thinking Sail White). But really not sure how it's all going to look together!

TIA

everybody's taste is different
my taste is in my pictures of my kitchen ....
love or loathe but an image to work from ...

I would have oak up stands. I would go without tiles except behind cooker and sink if sink is against a wall. We have used a large mirror, cut to size, behind the sink. It reflects the garden and we have under lit the cupboards above it.

I am a fan of Elephants Breath by F and B and also have used Cornforth White, which is a pale grey and these could be used in kitchen and dining area. These colours go really well with bright accessories. I think either would look great with white units and oak tops. You could opt for a lovely blind to jazz the space up if need be. My kitchen has no wall space for pictures as it is an orangery but I don't think you need huge amounts of colour and wall art with a modern kitchen. You will only have to clean them!

thanks both. Am going to go oak upstands, with bright paint colour on that wall - probably blue - but opposite facing wall (without units) to stay neutral. I reckon paint is easier to change than tiles if I don't like it or if my tastes change! I'll have a look at the F&B colours - have heard lots about them but must admit i thought they were probably just better at marketing than other paints!

I think once its been lived in for a year and accumulated possessions it will be fine, it just looks/sounds so bland when you imagine it without furniture. Even a bright tablecloth etc will liven it up (i hope!). thank you. Talkin Peace - I much prefer your Ikea units to our white gloss, but I am closing my eyes to that now!!