Hi , Plenty of porcelain compositions do get used for benchtops - a 6mm profile is perfect for creating an ultra sleek modern finish too. What you need to be aware of are the manufacturers warranties and use guidelines - as every one will differ. If your particular product is indeed intended for use within a kitchen and includes warranty - then you should have no concern. Often - dependent on the supplier, porcelain can be more durable than natural stone or engineered stone!

Do you have a photo of the kitchen as it would help to see the space & your decorating style? White will add more lightness & grey will dull it down some imo :)

I have only seen one wooden bench top that has managed, over time, to keep the wet out and avoid that black mouldy creepage where the water splashes behind the taps and around tap inserts. It was built by a carpenter and then the owner applied oil to gain the colour desired before applying several coats of marine epoxy (several = at least 5), sanded back before every new layer. It was burn proof and the colour locked in by epoxy coat with no maintenance required (until a visitor put a burning pot on it and left it there while attending to fire on stove, still... only left a black ring. That said, the owner promptly got out the sander and ground back until black ring was no longer charcoal texture, then reapplied oil and layered epoxy until black ring looked like it belonged (can't do that with any other surface I can think of?). After 15 years there is no sight of the insidious black mould from water penetration so I suppose it is the same recipe as with most thing successful projects in life, research, research, preparation, preparation, preparation and don't falter at the finish line.

It's a bonded laminate - says it's suitable for benchtops but I'm hesitant to proceed with a kitchen benchtop without hearing other people's experiences. It seems a very cost effective way to make a kitchen bench, what's the catch?