What basig is referring to is called an edge build up. You don't need to ask for this, it is the standard way to fabricate stone Benchtops. Stone slabs are generally 20mm thick, although the most common. Benchtop is around 40mm as laminate tops are 38mm. You can opt for any thickness you wish with stone as only the edges are joined to give the impression of a thicker top. Caesarstone has 12mm and other products even thiner than that. High end designs are currently utilizing these profiles to provide contemporary lines, however I get the impression you don't want to push any boundaries with your tops. Hope the thickness breakdown helps.

Dilemma #2 Here's an elevation of the powder room which has a 120mm drop down in the stone then a 180mm laminate panel... The idea is for it to look a bit (although not exactly) like this... Our floor tiles are similar (if not the same) as the above photo and go up the wall to below the vanity, the 180mm panel (which photo doesn't have - incidentally, what do you think of the shelf underneath the vanity?) is a black laminate and the feature tile between the vanity and the mirror (incidentally, should we take the mirror to the ceiling?) is Jewels Preto: So which colour should we go for the stone top, Lagoon or Blanco Zeus??... I'm swaying towards Lagoon as it's a bit more of a feature than just plain white, but I'm unsure :/

Hi Carmel, I'm not a architect and I do value everyone's professional opinion, but can't help thinking that perhaps you and your husband are both right. The breakfast table would look great in a natural stone, it is the where you eat, have tea or wine on, maybe a small project, entertain or have a fork fight on. Choose a granite or marble that's going to tie in with the splash back and your lovely timber floors and go with a wow factor like a stand out vein or run of colour in it. Makes it interesting. As for the rest a dark or even black solid surface or laminate is ideal. I find them soft and touchable, easy to maintain, a pleasure to work on and it adds the extra modern elements that's missing from this lovely galley style kitchen. Corian is another brand of solid surface but a textured dark laminate from A reputable laminate supplier should do it too. Make this room an energy that you want to be in not just look great. Kind regards Marina.

I am just finishing off a kitchen myself, and am going with a layout similar to the one on the left, but we are actually putting legs on it, my husband likes the idea of the extra support for the stone (even though you have to reinforce underneath to get as much of a "jut out" as your picture shows") but it also will hopefully reduce the risk of children running into the corners! I also think it is nice to be able to sit at the end of bench and not have your back to the rest of the room. Good luck!