Hi Angela. If your existing kitchen works for you, then replacing your benchtop and splashback will definitely work, as well as save you money. Whilst the Caesarstone's Linen is nice, I would recommend Smartstone Amara - it has a marble look, and is one of the more reasonably priced marble-look engineered stones. I have seen it installed and it looks fantastic. With the money saved, I recommend that you invest in some really beautiful tiles for the splashback (even if they are subway style, get really nice ones), some gorgeous new handles, as well as change the colour of your blinds to match as closely as possible the window architraves. A nice new sink and tap (think carefully about undermounted) will also help. Finally, if you can match your existing fronts exactly, then it may also be a good time to change the dishwasher to a fully integrated model. You could also replace the freestanding canopy, etc., as Design Fusion recommends, but that will cost you a quite bit more (it will require not only the new cabinet, but also redoing part of the bulkhead and cornice work), and you may have an issue with the new fronts matching the existing. All the best!

I'd go with whatever gives you the smoothest edge, as I think the angles (in your close-up pic) look to hard against the style of cupboard doors. I also think the doors give enough details without the bench top providing more.

When picking out colors I did have color consultant helping me and had the glass splash back winter calm picked out but now I would rather a tile. I was originally going for a sleek all white kitchen but decided to add the washed knotty laminex to the overhead cupboards but keep the rest white. I am having similar tone vinyl plank flooring through out kitchen and family room area. I was still thinking of a white tile???

Gloss finished laminate benchtops do wear and scratch faster than matt benchtops. Most manufacturers do not recommend that you use gloss laminate for horizontal surfaces for this reason. Laminex Industries have a range called "Diamond Gloss" which has a limited range of colours and patterns that they claim are suitable for horizontal surfaces. http://www.laminex.com.au/uploads/brochures/Laminex%20Diamond%20Gloss%20Brochure.pdf They look good in the photos, but they still feel like a laminate to the touch, and they don't fool anybody due to the dark edging. If your budget limits you to a laminate benchtop it is better to go with a solid colour in a matt, otherwise the imitation stone just looks fake and cheap. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls