We want to retain a simple modern look. sorry can't do photos Is there a type of surface that is tough and doesn't discolour with the heat?

Since this room totally clashes with anything resembling the Hamptone, I would be updating the whole room. Yet to answer your question and if I were on a budget I would be gathering lots of hardwood timber off cuts ranging from 50mm to 100mm to create a timber cladded wall by liquid nailing onto plywood or mdf panels. Or you could clad using old hardwood fence palings in landscape. Mortar less stacker stone (sandstone) tiles always are a classic choice. If you have the internal space it would be lovely to heighten the fireplace and add a stone platform to sit on. Loose the print, curtains and matching bench fabrics and replace with indigo blues, whites and stone colours I'd personally replace the curtains with white shutters as they are easier to maintain, insulate the windows and never date. Happy decorating, hope this helps. Suzy

I would suggest a stone hearth matching the plain stone trim but not as wide as the whole unit to reduce tripping hazard. Possibly with a black trim edge. Then a mantle shelf. the same stone would be great but probably too heavy. I think a 'live edge' timber mantle would be great and introduce an organic edge to the straight lines and angles. then paint the flat surface a neutral colour as others have suggested. display something with white/cream tones (candles?) and something with an accent colour on the mantle. if mantle too pricey a big artwork a little wider than the fireplace itself with some black in it or a black background chinese screen or similar. I have no commercial affiliation with them (just like their work) and don't know where you are based but Time 4 Timber Brookvale NSW could probably help you with a live edge shelf/mantle. good luck!

I can't help you with the bench top supplier, sorry! But I think your current cupboards will come up amazingly well with paint! The shape looks pretty dated in timber, but that shape painted white, will look fresh, even those dinky little window doors... almost a bit Hamptons! ; D You may not need to as they're timber, so with a light sand and primer/enamel paint they should come up well. But I recently painted my kitchen cupboards. The lower cupboards were laminate so I used the White Knight Primer & Laminate Paint (in a dark blue-grey!) and the upper were painted timber so I just used enamel paint. But the White Knight paint just came up so much better and was so much easier to paint with, the finish is incredibly smooth, they look like brand new cupboards, I've even suggest using that as it's so strong too. But having seen what a transformation a simple paint job made to mine, I'm sure yours will come up really well. Just put the effort into preparing the surfaces of course, the actual painting was the much easier part! Also, try for a light stone, it'll make the space look bigger and your sink etc will blend better, making it seem larger.