Visually think the black looks chunkier than the stainless one which also has the advantage of having controls at front. Very hard decision to make, if your all white kitchen is having noticeable stainless steel handles may be go with stainless steel top.

I'm about to put a cooktop on the 2.3 x 900 peninsular (island with only one free end ( in my new galley kitchen. I am using an induction top so it can be fitted flush with the benchtop surface, allowing me to use the whole area as benchtop when not in use. I intend to have bar stolls on the living room side for entertaining. My joiner has suggested making a beautiful, thin timbercover to go over the glass induction surface for added protection. I just need to decide on down draft induction hob or a ceiling casette. My main aim is to remove the smelly cooking smells from my unit. The smell from one evening of cooking indian chicken curry currently lasts at least a week! Any advice?

the reason i love my new induction cooktop is the timer!! put a pot on the stove, set the timer then wander away knowing that the timer will save the saucepan from destruction...don't know about the cost of running the induction, only used for minutes every day so no appreciable cost issues..Love the new down draft exhaust fans and would happily pay extra for one in an open plan kitchen area if you expect to use it while cooking and trying to talk at the same time...it can't easily be added later so i suggest you economise elsewhere...good luck with your new home

Hi HU-826087018 and dreamer To try and clear up this situation as there is some wrong or unclear advice being offered here. First, as LOL S said correctly Gas Regulations require 200mm clearance away from any combustible material from the outer edge of the Burner. Secondly "Stone" is not the same as "Reconstituted Stone" where natural stone is not combustible so the clearance regulation here does not apply, however Reconstituted Stone (like Caesarstone, etc, etc) are combustible because these materials contain combustible polymer resins to bind the pulped-up stone particles together, hence the name "Reconstituted Stone".Caesarstone and other types of Reconstituted Stone will burn so it needs to be 200mm away from the Gas Burner, irrespective of the type of wall behind it dreamer. So to try and alleviate your stress HU-826087018 and determine if you have a problem, you need to ask if your splashback is Natural Stone or is it Reconstituted Stone and if it is Reconstituted Stone then you have a problem that your Builder needs to rectify immediately. I hope this helps, Malcolm.