Smokey mirror splashback is a great idea, and much less of a cleaning issue than you imagine. A hot, wet microfibre cloth in one hand and a dry one in the other will clean it in a few seconds. It'd be a great look. On the dating of colour choices - I don't think you should worry...unless your friends work for an interior design magazine of course! A kitchen is in your home and you have to live with it. If there is a colour you love - bring it in to the kitchen. Fashion doesn't matter as much as personal preference.

pretty but awful to clean, I would just do the same as the benchtop keeping it simple as the cabinets have enough pattern cheers

Ali your kitchen looks amazing. The colours are wonderful. I have a question for you about the Rugged Concrete. I’m thinking of using it on our island bench but I’m a little worried about finger marks and cleaning. I’ve read lots of bad reports about the other Caesarstone concretes like Fresh,Raw and Sleek. And I’m hoping Rugged Concrete is easy to clean. How is yours now that you’ve had it for a little while?

Thanks, Julie. I really do hope that after all the worrying and running around getting our minimal house reno right the first time that everything falls in the right place and look good (or great!) in the end. And hope I do remember to post some post-reno pics after all this. Dreamer, thanks for your feedback. We’re on the same page with regards to the pendants and the artwork. The artwork is the first thing on show as soon as one enters the door then, as they make their way to the living area, they’ll walk past the pendant lights in the kitchen so, same eye candy at opposite ends of the room. I try tying them all in throughout somehow except for the splashback which is completely the odd one out. So, really just need to get the splashback right.