Okay, so as expected the matt suede surface is more expensive, not sure how much yet but when the builder says price on application, I can imagine it will be a fair bit more. Anyway, we'll see but something to take into consideration I guess... In the meantime, I was going through my idea books and found the photo below, which I kind of forgot about but is one of my absolute favourite kitchens... the point is just like the photo, we too will have a wall cabinet in matt black, the back of the island in matt black and oak floor boards in a natural/textured matt finish... so now I'm thinking maybe too many matt surfaces, interestingly they have gone with a polished stone top which I think is reflecting the light nicely... Our floors...

Bluemeeru, yes sink is on left next to dishwasher, which is next to the fridge. I never wanted a sink on the island for the same reason. Water splashes and there will always be something drying on the island. I like the option of having a totally clear island if I need it. Yes, I was worried the sink was too far from the cooktop but it works well for me. I did consider putting a narrow sink near the cooktop just in case I needed water during cooking but left it out in the end. The distance from my sink to the edge of the island is 1.5m. Dishes get taken out of the dishwasher and are put away in the drawers in the island nearest to dishwasher side, as my island is 3m wide. From there it is easy to take them out over the island to the dining table or serve the kids who sit on the island for breakfast. It’s 3.8m from sink to centre of cooktop, which could be considered quite far. I suppose I have gotten used the distance.

Laminex and Dulux got together and have colour matched their white palettes. For example Dulux snowy mountains quarter matches the Laminex. White Linen. The lexicon Dulux paint goes with polar white Laminex. Go onto the Laminex web site and check out the colours. We did a kitchen in Laminex Polar White silk finish, the Chalkstone tops and Lexicon quarter paint with a grey oak flooring and Kit Kat tiles which worked well.

Thank you so much annb1997, i will go and read that article. I know, there are SO many neutrals and greys. I started getting confused with the various shades of white, then decided that i wanted to jazz it up a bit so landed on grey. Then came the decision of either "greige" or real grey. So many choices!