Wow thanks Joseph. Yes I'm in Australia Victoria. I can get the mix just down the road from home. I have researched a bit and found that using malumine as the bottom of the mold is best but I have not heard of the vasoline and plastic but am definitely looking forward to a glass smooth surface. Is the flat sheet plastic something you would use as a garden liner to stop weeds from growing through? Just something you get from your local hardware store? I'm assuming that this is what the malumine would be used for I'm not sure. Thanks so much for the hot tips but I have my own hair dryer cause I'm the wife ha ha. I really appreciate your time. Look forward to any photos though.

Sorry to disagree with some of the comments but most of us want to make changes that don't cost a lot of cash and we can do ourselves, the knotty pine kitchen cabinets can be painted without the knots showing, I have done this with a very large wall unit in my meals area, I lightly sanded the unit then painted it with white tile paint which has a glue incorporated in it, then painted it in cream but your white would cover the same as my cream, it came up an absolute dream and is commented buy every single person that visits our home, so go ahead and paint your cupboards, don't remove the wall cabinets each side of the window, it looks to be a rather large window which you can already see the light coming through, the extra white in your kitchen would add more light, when you paint the wall cupboards also paint the cornice in white (cornice is the feature between the ceiling and your cupboard tops), this will give your kitchen the look of a very high ceiling and never ending cupboards - the tile paint I mentioned is actually for painting over tiles (Bunnings sell it) so you can choose your own colour whether to incorporate the grey of your floor, a darker charcoal grey, or go all the way with white splashbacks and add your pops of colour in the way of a vase of flowers, some large clear glass vases filled with oranges, limes or lemons in them, bowls of fruit etc, the stained glass inserts in the wall are OK but if your really wanted to go all modern and have the cash, they could be changed for clear glass to show off some nice plates, bowls etc, and yes change the handles on the cupboard doors, nice long polished silver would look lovely, you would have to fill in the existing holes in the doors before painting. The bench top looks to be in good condition and would look great with your white cupboards. Good luck and have some fun with your changes.

Marble is the most porous of stones and that's where the issue lies with people being scared to use it. There is a resin coat system that can be applied to prevent absorption although is extremely expensive. Carrara itself is almost the top of the price range so the alternatives to marble are starting to become available. Yu cannot replicate the natural beauty of marble in reconstituted stone, due to how it's made, although essay stone and Caesar stone both have natural looking white stones with a feint vein throu them to mimic the subtle grey beauty in marble. Because reconstituted is made up of up to 90% resin, it is suitable for kitchen surfaces as it withstands everyday use much better than natural stone. As for colour. The more natural the better, and to liigghten your space the white stone is best contrasting with your cabinetry if impactis what you're after. I would go with off white perimeter cabinets, and tie the island in with white stone, the island base can be a dark tone or timber, either a painted colour, which i would get from the stone colour, so if it's a marble the grey vein then paint the island cabinetry in a complimentary grey cabinet, or a beige stone then the island cabinets may be a timber. Ether way, don't go with more than two colours, use timber and stone as the focus, and pick one colour. White is always good.

As everyone has said it looks good but sometimes you just need to update and change. There is products available, Kerlite porcelain cladding for one. Kerlite is a thin porcelain cladding that comes in many colours and textures. Can be used on walls floors bathrooms, outside etc. I had a small court yard with a door leading to the garage. I covered the door and the rendered wall to make it all flush and create a feature wall. Basically there is nothing you can’t cover and the colour and texture range now is unbelievable. Kerlite is definitely not a diy job, you need the experienced tiler. Also it’s been out for a while now and I’m pretty sure there is tile cladding etc etc. maybe google porcelain cladding, there will be similar products. Check it out I highly recommend it.