I think your benchtop material choice really depends on how both you and your husband live and what level of natural wear you are comfortable with showing. Natural wood benchtops to me are very similar to natural stone or stainless steel. The surfaces will naturally age and show use, scratches and imperfections much more than say a caesarstone if it's a high use area but some people love that look and it goes well with an industrial or natural style. My wife and I thought long and hard about it but realised we want the benchtop to look as new and clean each time as possible so opted back for caeserstone (Ocean Foam) which hid small stains and dust :)

If you want the wall and floor tiles to be the hero in your bathroom I recommend you keep the vanity very simple. The white cabinet you have will be least obtrusive with a 'white' top. I love the elegance of stone and man-made stone is generally more durable. Check out Caesarstone Organic White or Frosty Carina. Although Frosty Carina has more pattern than Organic White, it's quite discrete so shouldn't compete with pattern on the tiles. If the tiles are charcoal or a dark brown/grey then either should work. Love to see a photograph when it's finished, whatever you decide.

I'd suggest that the first thing on the agenda would be to come up with an actual design. If there are going to be big changes, you might want to think about a kitchen design specialist. Once you have your design, decide on a budget. That will tell you roughly whether you're looking at granite countertops, caeserstone, corian or laminate. Same with cabinetry: everything is a function of price. By all means, have a good look around kitchen places to see what sorts of surfaces are available, and what appeals to you. And don't forget appliances. Ultimately, though, most of us are constrained by budget.

A mixture of bold vibrants colours are my forecast for 2016. Its all about contrast!