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Thanks so much loobab!!! All great advice!!! I love the idea of painting the back of the Billy bookcases for a bit of depth and warmth. The room is really very light as it is full south facing and overlooks water so I think it can handle a few bits of darker or richer tones.

With regards to the kitchen I take your point. I think I was just worried that those dark units would really stand out rather starkly against the bright white walls. I guess if I paint the walls a pale grey or a warmer white or another tone then this would help, along with furnishing it with wood and textures and adding the shelves. Any thoughts about the wall colour?

All good advice from loobab. As to the walls, a pale pearly gray would be very nice. Are the kitchen units dark gray or slate blue?

Thanks izeve. The photos make them look blue don't they, but they are in fact a dark charcoal grey. Here's a photo from our sales agent of another kitchen in the building which shows the colour more accurately.

Hi miyajima 2018 -

You are very welcome!

What color to paint your walls will depend on what accent colors you choose.

I do think that painting the walls an obvious grey would be too much grey. (Especially since it does rain a lot in London!)

What are the paint manufacturers that you have access to in the U.K. so we can tell you specific paint colors once you tell us the colors with which you would like to decorate your lovely new home?

As for your other colors, so there is no misunderstanding, maybe you can upload some photos of objects in the colors that you like. They don't need to be furniture, they can be anything, a something from nature, or a room that is not your style, a piece of fabric, anything at all, just tell us what it is you like. For example, I recommended a paint color to a fellow Houzzer as looking like a pomegranate and put up a photo and another clever Houzzer found just the perfect color to match!

If you have no idea where to start with your color choices, you can go to an art store and buy a color wheel for a few pounds and play with it, or you can look on line for one.

If you only want blue, then you could have a monochromatic scheme, plus the dark grey calmed by the soothing, earthy neutral of your wood media unit and a wood or wood top dining table. You could have a white sofa with throw pillows in shades of blue in textural fabric such as velvet or suede. If not a white sofa, you could get a very light grey sofa, too.

Do you know which blue you want? The rich blue of a Sri Lankan sapphire is marvelous-

http://mentalfloss.com/article/75713/name-every-shade-rainbow-color-thesaurus

it would be either cobalt, lapis, or azure.

Look how that blue goes with turquoise and greens , if you want to go into additional color.

Doesn't the above remind you of a peacock feather? I just love those!

We have only to look to nature for marvelous color combinations!

I don't know how much mid century modern you want to go, but you could get a dining set that has the clean lines of the Scandinavian designs and mid century modern look, such as the set in the photo I posted above.

You could also get a side chair reminiscent of one of the mid century modern icons such as these, or others.

And brighten the space with other mid century features such as a starburst mirror of which there are many types.

And for a fun pop of color, there is this Eames wall- mounted coat rack

Thanks Loobab! Okay, one thing is I definately like the botanical green and muted pink trend that's around at the moment but with a third accent colour of dark blue (navy / midnight etc). I attach some images with various colours below.

I also really like the attached sofa which is in velvet and available in charcoal or other colours too.

I've got quite a few ideas about accessories etc within this theme, so I guess the main question is about the wall colour to soften the room, and also how to ensure those kitchen units don't look too clunky and outdated.

Paint manufacturers are many but I would easily be able to mix a colour using a swatch. UK paint companies include Dulux, or Farrow and Ball

Thanks so much!! x

Go to Farrow & Ball (they have a store on Fulham Rd, but I'm sure are available lots of other places as well), and buy several of their tester pots of paint. Then buy some foam board and paint them each a different color. Look at these at different times of day, in different weather. You will quickly find the right color for you and your lovely new apt.

Lucky you, to live in London!

miyajima2018- Those are marvelous colors!

Between the blue, green and pink, which would be your main color, and which would be the accents?

I think you can use the three colors and pull them together with an area rug and artwork that incorporate all three colors, but remember that there is a very large very dark grey kitchen unit and wood furniture. You don't want to overwhelm one room with too much color.

The sofa in a very soft gray is great, although I would get a regular sofa, not a sectional, as sectionals are awkward to place in a room, no one wants to be squashed in the corner, and even if you find a place in your room, you will never find the right place if you want to reconfigure it in the room or when you move. If you want to put your feet up, buy an ottoman.

As for paint colors, there is Farrow and Ball:

I like Wevet, Ammonite and Wimborne, however before you make a major decision, I would buy a large piece of foamboard and paint it in each of those colors, or what ever color you are thinking and tape it to the wall and look at it at different times of the day, and in different weather conditions, cloudy, sunny, etc. Also, try to imagine it with deep colored furnishings in the room as well, so the room won't be as light and bright as it is now.

I think when you paint,it will meld the kitchen cabinets into the space. If it doesn't, then maybe I'd paint the cab walls pretty close to the same shade as the cabs. Or tile them. (likely because I love tile) Now,I am a great believer in choosing paint colour last (pita, I know) but trying samples in your empty space is not bad. Just takes some good imagining skills. I'd also suggest looking at Little Greene paint as well as F&B. They have some very interesting greys,too. Your space is lovely and will only get better when furnished. Congrats!

Thank you so much everyone for your advice and ideas! This sounds good! I am glad to hear that no-one thinks it is impossible to warm up this space!

Thanks for your help in paints! I do usually use Farrow and Ball but then I'll take their colour swatch to a high street DIY store and get the same shade mixed up for half the price! ;-)

I did some snooping and found an image of another flat in the same building listed online to rent. It has the same kitchen cabinets, although a different layout. The owners have used a grey shade on the walls and I think it looks really nice (see below). This gives me confidence that this would soften the walls a bit and take away that very modern look.

Fingers crossed!