Hi. Your kitchen to me looks large, certainly big enough for a table and maybe some seating (from what I can see in the pic anyway!). I personally wouldn't knock through unless rooms were small and needed space for furniture. I cook a lot and would hate the smell travelling, the noise and the mess etc. if the house has 2 living areas it's also nice for family members to have their own space at times. That's just my opinion though and what works for me and not you! ! Have you looked at pics where people have done the same thing with similar size rooms? Or is there anyone in the road with a similar house? Re paint, are you painting the units or just the walls? I would probably change the kitchen floor regardless if you knock through as its absorbing some of the light.

I'm looking for royal blue dining chairs and bar stool chairs with copper legs , tia

Any thoughts on which color bar/counter top stools will look good in this kitchen . Photos attached here and I have included 2 dining chairs which have tan / orange fabric seats to give an idea . Any other ideas are welcome ..

Pictures of broken plan living room next door and close ups of counter and floor: