Current bench tops are plastic tables...make great temporary benchtops by they way.

I think either will be fine. Avoid using timber around your taps, but otherwise it's great if properly sealed. Laminate is a great product.

Are you able to include a photo looking toward the desk space/fireplace wall to show what you mean about too much grey? I am leaning toward a preference away from wood despite loving the look in general. Beautiful wood doors and floors!

Excuse the mess :)

View from the kitchen to dining, lounge

I think I would prefer a lighter toned grey with a light mixture of colour in stone look too. There is already a lot of timber in the rooms.

I would do both have a timber bench top where you sit and eat and have laminex where you do the cooking and washing ..

Beautiful kitchen Home, thanks for the help.

I would stick to light grey benchtops as you have enough dark timber around & maybe large white splashback tiles with less grout needed for getting dirty in the kitchen. We are getting a kitchen reno done now & thats what I am having, we also have dark timber floors...

Thanks to everyone for all your helpful comments. As much as I'd love the light airy style kitchen with the light grey benchtops, I've decided to go with timber as it will stand up to my boof head hubby, he is just too heavy handed to trust with a laminex benchtop, if he does cause any damage we can just sand and re-oil and will be good as new.

I also felt timber on my desktop (area on the side) would be warmer and more welcoming as I work from home and the thought of a cold laminex desktop wasn't appealing.

I will try to counteract the over abundance of timber with white splash back tiles and lighter floors when we redo those, hopefully that will lighten it all up a bit. The buffet in the dining is going and will be replaced with something in a lighter tone so that will cut down on the timber as well and the stools will be painted to match the cabinets.

I'll more than likely do away with all the timber furniture and go lighter soon anyway....a change is as good as a holiday they say, and I can't afford a holiday now I've got a new kitchen so.....

I'll post photos of the finished product but thanks for all your help.

Furniture ain't that cheap either! Although the quality often is, these days.

I forgot to mention, the swaying factor was I found a great local guy who makes rustic furniture who is going to make all my benchtops ready for me to oil for $1500, that is $3000 less than the local timber joinery quoted me for just over 5 square metres!!

Tribbletrouble, Facebook, buy swap and sell groups are great for swapping furniture other people often just want a change as well, or sell yours and buy other peoples treasures, you can often come out in front ;)

Glad you know that stuff, Wen. Would love to see it all finished!

Timber be good.You need treat it with good vanish , i have use 2 parts 7008 floor paint.3 coat ,each between 6 hours .It s strong smell when not totally set. about few days.

you can see instruction of it. will last eve . for the timber , need be hard wood. that will help the bench top more hard after the 7008.I attach photo for you to have look , I use rose gum and black butt.Se australia timber date.

For back splash , I see there some kind of panel about 2400mm long and 900mm wide, 5m thick ,fire prove.lot commercial kitchen and hospital use it. Call JD panel

finish like ceramic ,with no gap.will high light your timber kitchen .

Timber is good and nature for human .

all good for your kitchen