Are you saying that cooking next to the chute would gross you out even if its covered? Andd to use it for its intended purpose? In the first picture, it looks like the stove is directly underneath the chute, but I can see in other pics that it is not. I think it is far enough away. If everything is bagged properly, it shouldn't be that bad. You will have to check on local code regarding having the stove next to the window. Code may make your decision for you. People usually just put shorter cabinets above that type of range hood. I would recommend doing so because you need all the storage you can get. The hood--being different from the bank of cabinets--will provide relief to the eye. With cabinets above, it'll still feel balanced. And, as for covering the chute, do you want to cover it and restrict access or do you still need to use it for its intended purpose and just want to camouflage it? To help the room feel pleasant, cheery, and light, I recommend using a glass tile. Even though it's applied to a wall, the translucency still shows and evokes a sense of the adjectives above. I think it would help keep things light. Consider a slightly higher toe-kick underneath the lower cabinets. It helps to create a lighter-footed feeling. You could also consider cabinets that have furniture style feet. for a more open feeling. Your kitchen seems like an ideal room to use modern, lacquered cabinets. I don't know if you like the super-modern look, but I think it could be nice. Maybe just for the uppers. Use a medium-to-light toned wood on the bottom. A limestone floor might be nice. Or you can do wood or laminate. You could go with dark or light. I think it's mostly about preference.

Wood moves with the temperature - hot/cold etc. Having said that unless you have placed your cabinets right next to a very hot radiator, or in direct sunlight, this should not happen. It also depends on the type of paint they have used - does it stretch with the wood? Any good cabinet maker would know this - I also note that these have been sprayed, and that may be the answer - sprayed paint will not move, whereas painted furniture does give. Do not think I would accept these, and stern words are needed with the supplier and put the ball back in their court. You should have at least one years guarantee with these, so I would ask another supplier what they think.

Thanks everyone! I was contemplating on fixing up the wainscoting since it's not very common here in my country. I'm glad I did and it does make a huge difference the way it looked now.

if you lighten the cabinets etc, then the stone will appear more prominent. if that is what you want, that is fine. I sensed that you did not like the current counter. I would contact a marble/granite installer to see if they think that the cracks can be filled and polished out. it is pretty common to do this on new installations if it is feasible. they may try to charge you as as much as you would spend on a fabricating a counter out of a new slab if they did not do the original installation.