Thankyou for your suggestion Luke

I will look into that idea I have not heared of panelled cupboards and not sure where they're go in my kitchen ? And .....

I don't think I have option if changing the drawers and doors

Today I visited porters paints in colloroy where I had a very helpful conversation . With pale blue tiles which are old I have had advice to marry them up in a wall behind the mirror in a blue or otherwise . Currently I am considering frosty carina and cupboards in melamine nearest to a soft

Off white called magnesium by wattyl paints

The black splash back is a concern but It will go with the mirror and lighting

I might just give it a go

Thanks for your tip I appreciate the help

Vanitao

what are you doing with the bench tops? If you are keeping them ( which I would ) then you can give in to the white idea....a warm clear white, and maybe patterned green or green and white tiles as splash back. FRESH!

Hi black splashbacks show every finger print and cooking splashes

If you're drawn to neutral French provincial tones and styles would you be interested in your cupboards being other than melamine - perhaps a tongue & groove style, painted high gloss in the faintest hint of blue/grey, with black hinges/hardware to tie in with your mirror? The blue/grey would pick up your floor tiles and the high gloss will help reflect what light you have. Then I would go for a stark white tile or mirrored splash back (versus black) to give as much light reflection as possible. The addition of a skylight would also provide much needed light.

As for your wooden bench tops, you could stain them a nice pale limed timber colour to create a distressed look, and finish with a 3-pack sealing system to make them stain resistant. For provincial colour, accessorise with bright cooking pots, linens and utensils.

Hi Valerie

Thank you for your suggestions .

The current benchtop is just a piece of temporary plywood to be replaced by caesarstone ( colour of my choice) which is included in the kitchen quote.

Likewise choice of doors and drawer fronts are included in the quote as long as they are melamine/ Formica.

If I go for another choice then the quote changes .

Ie. quote is for flat featured cupboard doors but any colour.

If I add special finish then price goes up

I am considering a finish by polytec it is a melamine matt finish called whitewash which gives a timber look but it is matt. See photo below

Perhaps this with the correct handles will give an image

But would this go with the caesarstone frosty carina

Perhaps too busy ?

I agree about the black splash back I am currently getting a quote on a new one .

And yes down the track a skylight

Thank you

Look In the latest houzz newsletter for 'kitchen palettes that will never date' - it talks about french provincial grey

Hi Hayels23

Thanks . can you tell me where to find the latest newslater . I am still navigating my way around the website.

Thank you for your input.

I am still undecided. I wax and wane from white to other.

Know thy self... you sound like you're bobbing around in an ocean of ideas and safety nets and don't know whose life rope to grab. Take time out to look at addressing a few aspects of yourself :

* the dynamics of yourself as an individual and the needs upon you and of you in light of your desires for better feeling and functionality of the space
* then let's select pieces, items and collections you feel compelled to hold onto for one reason or another
* group things and find the unique story that is you ... your family ... whether letting go of or even moving toward
* then start incorporating the reno decisions to compliment and contrast, moving outward with the eye and feel into other areas of your home
* if working from a blank canvass then pull pics from magazines and start a collage or a number of boards to express interpretations
* another idea is to simply sit in meditation... close your eyes, relax, in your minds eye walk into your dream kitchen. Picture this by yourself, as a family, entertaining and any other occasion you experience.

Have fun!

Let me know how you get on. I'd love to see pics and know your thoughts and feelings around the choices, not decisions, choices.... you made :)

what about adding a hint of mint or duck egg blue. I'd even add some black splashblack tile as well.

duck egg blue... I think it looks nice with the black countertop and splashback.

The greiges are really popular now...look at Dulux Dieskau, Terrace White or Limed White Quarter. There are many options in stone benches that work really well with the natural grey/beiges. If you are to use these greiges on the cabinets and want to use a white for trims,etc ensure you use a cooler white, such as Dulux Lexicon Quarter or Lexicon Half, or White on White.

Shiny black surfaces show every fingerprint and watermark. I wouldn't go there. You have a lovely garden outlook. I'd install a solartube skylight in the kitchen to brighten it up.

Consider white cupboards and a timber benchtop (Ikea or Bunnings if on a tight budget) or overhead cupboards for contrast.

Definitely no to black splashback looks smart but even a not as dark as black splashback sucked light out of a dark kitchen. What about pale blue splashback and white cupboards?

Eg dulux zenith heights quarter - there is an example of this with laminex cupboards on laminex website

You may be thrown off in your decision making by the black splashback. But it won't go with the look you want and it's also impractical.

You have blue-grey tiles and you have chosen off-whites in the benchtop.
This seems like a start to a blue-beige-white palette, which would suit your style
preferences and also reflect light.

What about looking at some photo examples of these colours?

As LeslieH said install a Solar tube skylight. It was a life saver for us as we have a 4 meter verandah wrapped around the back of our house making our living areas dark.