Hi lots of different options and ideas going on. I had a similar wall and understand how mean it can be to little ones. I bought and put up the expanding wood trellis. This instantly covered the area at a very reasonable price. I then planted quick growing climbing plants. I'm not a great gardener so I cant remember what i had but ask at the garden centre they will advise you. But at least you have a barrier in place to minimize accidents.

Your room looks large and lovely but with an entrance at one end and a fireplace at the other can seem a bit long. Firstly take EVERYTHING out. This will show the room in the best advantage and get rid of clutter. Only put back things you absolutely love. I would put two sofas or a sofa and two chairs (they don't have to be a suite) in front of the fireplace OR get a solid coloured L shaped sofa as it seems you are orienting the room toward the TV. You could then put a nice rug under a light-feeling coffee table (maybe glass and wood to pick up your chimney breast) in the middle. This would allow you to get rid of the multiple small side tables. I would lighten up the alcoves alongside the fireplace, either paint or light wallpaper. Get a proper piece of furniture for the TV to stand on. TV stands are ugly. There's lots to choose from. Try IKEA. Take down the heavy curtains and put in Roman blinds in a print fabric you love (try to find one with at least 3 colours) and coordinate with your rug. You could then use colours in this to make/pick throws and pillows. At the end near the door you could put in a small table and your rocking chair and make it like a separate area for music or reading with a nice standing lamp. Get some inexpensive drum light shades to update the lighting and put in another standing lamp by your sofa, as mentioned above, and lower your pictures to eye height. Good luck!

You could do a black paint trim over the wooden bits. It would go with the work tops. But not so much with the creamy doors; Or get all of the kitchen units spray painted white? I think if you try to match the floor with the wood of the units in the kitchen you may leave yourself open to a mismatch or even just an overload of wood. I didn't feel there was enough black there as the island top kind of took me by surprise on first seeing it. But could you remove that granite altogether and see how it looks then? Maybe it's the black that's the problem not the wood at all

I think something like these tiles from Tile Style (http://tilestyle.ie/all-tiles/tiles/alchimia.html) could look really fresh or perhaps the herringbone tiles? Not sure where you can source these though but I love them. Good Luck!