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.

Hi Reta, the oliveri spectra sinks are a stainless steel sink with a coloured coating. Yes they will scratch just the same as stainless steel sinks do. Oliveri do however supply these sinks with bowl protectors as a standard inclusion; which will help limit this wear. I don't know if your are aware that Oliveri also have a black sink range called Santorini which are made in the same way as Reconstituted Stone Benchtops are (like the materials such as Caesarstone is) with the same durable wear properties too. If you are concerned about the patina with stainless scratching over time, then the Santorini range may be an alternative to consider. The Santorini is very Scratch resistant as well as stain resistant, bacterial resistant, heat resistant, impact resistant, and colour stable over time. These are a great alternative to Stainless Steel sinks for those concerned about scratches in stainless over time. Hope this helps, Malcolm

Getting a quote on the Grande Statuario. I think it’s going to be significantly dearer than our first quote ☹️ The crispness of the White is perfect with great veining. Second quote being done with main island in the Statuario and with Smartstone along benches under window and into pantry, in case the first is too dear. Took our Lexicon 1/4 and overhead samples with us. Really happy with the choices. I just hope the first quote isn’t too dear as I’d prefer all white but I’d be happy with the combination of both tops.

I wouldn't go those dark laminate kitchen cupboards. I have the exact same and I absolutely loathe them now. I use to love the darker colours but now I wish I had just done them white, light gray or even the dark blue (although dark blue worries me a little too!). That dark laminate brown is such an absolute pain to keep clean. They show up every mark. I like your stone bench tops though but would look at other options to create the look you're hoping for with the joins and waterfall benches etc. Goodluck with it all!