Hi Pineapplerose, I think there may be a few layers to your dilemma. The first is about fashion and taste (as it should be!!) Mid brown or lighter colours will provide a more contemporary look but you'd be best to surround it with fittings and finishes that with a modern shout out. That is, you can stylise the bench top further with your selections. The second is to look at composite stone products which will give you far more choice - usually with a lower price. Note: 'Granite-look' composite stone benchtops are a premium product but well worth the spend. An important question to ask about composite stone benchtops is the % of resign used as this will indicate how stain resistant it will be. (Note: the only products that are 100% stain resistant are glass or stainless steel) If you'd like some kitchen design inspiration, see: 101 Kitchen and Bathroom Design Ideas Good luck: Richard@themakeovergroup (Melbourne)

Your kitchen is a good size but not huge so I would go with gloss white to match in with your lovely fridge. All white appliances. Light coloured bench top in the grey range. Backsplash, I'd go to tile expo, choose something you love and add some colour behind the stove, the rest of the splashbacks behind the sink etc in white subway tiles. Dark floors as you have chosen, all the walls in the house Dulux Whisper White. This is a great colour to go with everything, i use it all the time in my designs.

my u shaped kitchen fits within a space 5m x 2.9m .. the space between fridge and cooktop is for using the mixer and food processor, space between cooktop and sink is for standing slow cooker, toaster and air fryer and the kettle stands at the other end of the sink with plenty of benchspace all around for preparation areas ..the two corner floor cabinets are 1050 square with 45cm doors and easily fit all the already mentioned large appliances as well as coffee machine, icecream makers, slow cooker etc within easy reach and the pantry is used for food storage and has no sink or counters

thank you for the suggestions & the photo helpful I get down to a ushaped kitchen with a 2.2m island & sink maybe across the U and a servery bifold window - does this close out the room and make it look crowded ceilings are 3.1m OR the island butted close to sliding doors which looks like an island when sliding doors are opened like the photo Also does the window splash back add very much in a small kitchen with no outlook from this window, that is the splashback window spilts the attention focus and doesnte seem to add much to the overall perspective. Is a more traditional title a better option & shift all of the focus to the large sliding door opening & garden.