Thanks for your feedback ... I love the idea of the grey grout but worry it would make too much of a feature of the subway tile ... Would prefer to use towels & pictures to feature ... But will give it some thought ... I find it interesting about the negativity of the subway tile when it seems to be featuring in all the current home mags ( not the architectural ones which seem to focus on concrete, timber & stone)

Keep an eye out on Gumtree and ebay - I found a second-hand $2000 Schott's vanity for $450. I did give up trying to find more vanities though, and have gone with secondhand pedestal basnins instead - they'll be supplemented by old cabinets if I can find the right ones! It is hard to find these kind of items, I've found. I found lovely things in the UK cheaper than Schott's but shipping is a bit prohibitive.

Hi iggs85. I see your point re cost and how you think it may look. I'll attach a photo of one of my semi-recessed basins in stone. We had to use semi-recessed due to space restrictions as well. The benches are 440. Are yours narrower? I did Google stone benchtop offcuts. eBay has some in marble and granite. There appear to be businesses that do sell offcuts. Anyway, I think you would certainly be able to find a beautiful laminate you like. There is such a wide range. There are also some that look so much like stone. Will you have vanity cabinets/drawers under the benchtop? If so, what are your thoughts there? Same laminate or different? Have you visited any shops yet to look at samples?

If you live in a small apartment, or you can see both sets of cabinetwork together from a hallway, or another room, then matching them would be a good idea for visual consistancy. In a smaller home it is always a good idea to limit the number of materials and colours in your pallete to avoid it looking busy. Chose materials and colours that will work well in both spaces. Just because something works well in one room, it doesn't mean that it will automatically work as well in the other room due to different light (and windows). If you live in a larger home, and there is no visual link between the two rooms then there is no need to use the same materials and colours. Although if you can't make decsions easily it might be easier to limit to a consistent pallete throughout! Best of luck with your selections, Regards Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls.