Hi Angela. If your existing kitchen works for you, then replacing your benchtop and splashback will definitely work, as well as save you money. Whilst the Caesarstone's Linen is nice, I would recommend Smartstone Amara - it has a marble look, and is one of the more reasonably priced marble-look engineered stones. I have seen it installed and it looks fantastic. With the money saved, I recommend that you invest in some really beautiful tiles for the splashback (even if they are subway style, get really nice ones), some gorgeous new handles, as well as change the colour of your blinds to match as closely as possible the window architraves. A nice new sink and tap (think carefully about undermounted) will also help. Finally, if you can match your existing fronts exactly, then it may also be a good time to change the dishwasher to a fully integrated model. You could also replace the freestanding canopy, etc., as Design Fusion recommends, but that will cost you a quite bit more (it will require not only the new cabinet, but also redoing part of the bulkhead and cornice work), and you may have an issue with the new fronts matching the existing. All the best!

Hi Sofia, the latest trend is that all white kitchens are on the out, so breaking up the colour scheme is and introducing natural elements, which is now the trend, is bang on. Well done. A natural style includes natural materials and colours. The thing is what sort of natural. This comes back to your style. What is it? Natural rainforest feel, desert, beach? If you think of your home in this light, it helps you to choose the right direction through textures that you can then take throughout your home to streamline it and increase it's appeal. In decorating we also look for opportunities to add contrast, so I see nothing wrong with a dark bench but here's the other lesson! Uniting your colours is vital. You have a timber look floor and a grey splashback - they are different. They need to be merged. Merge them in your benchtop with a Ceasarstone (which is worth every penny you put into it for the resale of your home). Something like this one: http://www.caesarstone.com.au/colour/6270-atlantic-salt ...Which isn't too dark, has a gorgeous contrasting texture and yet the timber and spalshback hues. Wallpapers are in big time and have been for a while and are not going out. Try picking out a major wall here and there and hanging a textured or a natural themed wallpaper ie leaves pattern, depending on the style, in a natural colour palette to match your floor. The whites, greys, blacks are neutrals - which go with anything. Compliment the colour scheme with Green which is a receding colour and will create the illusion of more space in a small space, and you'll have a natural style and theme. Lastly, again, depending on your style and theme, you'll need art to confirm exactly what these are. I am a customised artwork specialist. Your artwork again, will unite all your colours and create a focal point for the space... and so very much more. Have fun!

Ceasarstone recommend that you do not use their products as a splashback behind a gas stovetop unless you have a 200mm gap between the edge of the stovetop and the splashback due to the heat. If you change to an electric or induction cooktop then this distance can be reduced to only 50mm. If you are using a stone-look benchtop, such as the ones that you have mentioned, I would NOT go for a stone look printed on glass for the splashback as the reflectivity is higher with the glass and it will look fake. I would suggest tiles or a glass splashback that is a consistant colour, possibly matched to the veining of the grey in your benchtop which will complement your benchtop (which is the feature of your kitchen), and not distract from it. Matt black tapware and sinks are very on-trend, and when the fashion passes in about 18 months they will start to look dated. Classic chrome and stainless steel is timeless, so your choice really depends on how long until you put your house on the market... Best of luck with your kitchen, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls http://www.caesarstone.com.au/Portals/0/Documents/2017-Kitchen-Splashback-Guide_Web.pdf

Hi Kate, no problems at all. I installed the bench top in 2008, we left the property in 2016 and rented in out. Which is always the test to any product. We sold the property in 2019. The granite transformation bench top was still the same as the day installed. The same as any bench top, no cutting directly on bench, anything spilt got cleaned up immediately. I was very impressed with the looks and the product.