I put metal siding on a house last year and the metal cost less than the vinyl would have. I wouldn't have thought that possible. The fabricator was local so no doubt that helped. It would be worthwhile to check into what's available to you locally. It will take time to research but it may pay off well.

Can you please provide citations to peer-reviewed studies which back up your claims? You've done the research so it should already be at hand. I'm very interested to know more about all these problems with my non-organic sheets. Thanks.

Well now after reading all these posts, I have a dilemma. We would like to maximize the practicality of the deep and soft closing drawers. Corner drawers, the under sink u-shaped drawers etc. Thirty five years ago (yep that's right 35 yrs) when our budget did not allow us to buy new, we bought a dismantled u-shaped show-room demonstration timber kitchen. For years it was blonde pine. Solid pine benchtops, re-sanded and stained a couple of times. Then my husband painted all the solid timber doors with antique white USA marine paint which has worn well. New satin knobs (that have not worn as well) Now it's becoming a little 'shabby chic'. We thought of a complete reno. But we have no space to enlarge on the 3x3 metres. and new 'plastic' kitchens somehow seem less durable than our existing old one. Sink, stove and fridge in the recommended triangle floorplan. So what to do? Our pantry is in the corner with shelves that items at the back of are inaccessible. The microwave is the perfect shoulder level. The cabinets allow me to display favourite tins, crockery and vintage scales. Being a split level house I need the broom cupboard and ironing board stored close at hand.

Thanks for the suggestions. I knew the brains trust would offer good options. Blue board looks interesting. I need whatever I use to be at least 15mm thick so that there aren't any toehold edges between the lattice and the surround frame. Yes we thought of painting the fence and perhaps contrast bamboo in front. Mini orb I don't think would work because the corrugations leave gaps between it and the lattice.