consider brushed chrome

good points SK and Eco thank you. Looks like I'll be going with the flick tap, offset at 2pm to the right of the round vessel basin, mounted in the centre of the top of the vanity (not semi-recessed). Any thoughts on whether the vessel basin should be bang in the middle, or offset to the left slightly to balance the tap being on the right?

An undermount stainless steel sink will match well with your brushed gold tap and white benchtop. Although different in colour, the sink and tap shared same kind of texture so It won't be distracting. Colour wise, the sink will match perfectly with your white benchtop. We got some photos of our customers who have used the same kind of design before, check out the link below if you would like to have a look. https://fontaineind.com.au/colette-kitchen-laundry-tap-mixer-brushed-gold https://fontaineind.com.au/ariella-kitchenlaundry-mixer-tap-brushed-gold

The pros can be that brushed brass finish is pretty versatile, it can match with many different styles no matter it's contemporary or classic. The gold colour can also add a bit of warmth and elegance to the kitchen. The cons can be that it is not easy to find brass taps, handles and other accessories without colour difference for different brands or ranges. So I think it's better to stick with the brand you have chosen and confirm the tone of brass before you buy. You can also have a look at our brushed gold tapware and matching accessories, there are some example customer project photos for your reference.