Hi Sofia, the latest trend is that all white kitchens are on the out, so breaking up the colour scheme is and introducing natural elements, which is now the trend, is bang on. Well done. A natural style includes natural materials and colours. The thing is what sort of natural. This comes back to your style. What is it? Natural rainforest feel, desert, beach? If you think of your home in this light, it helps you to choose the right direction through textures that you can then take throughout your home to streamline it and increase it's appeal. In decorating we also look for opportunities to add contrast, so I see nothing wrong with a dark bench but here's the other lesson! Uniting your colours is vital. You have a timber look floor and a grey splashback - they are different. They need to be merged. Merge them in your benchtop with a Ceasarstone (which is worth every penny you put into it for the resale of your home). Something like this one: http://www.caesarstone.com.au/colour/6270-atlantic-salt ...Which isn't too dark, has a gorgeous contrasting texture and yet the timber and spalshback hues. Wallpapers are in big time and have been for a while and are not going out. Try picking out a major wall here and there and hanging a textured or a natural themed wallpaper ie leaves pattern, depending on the style, in a natural colour palette to match your floor. The whites, greys, blacks are neutrals - which go with anything. Compliment the colour scheme with Green which is a receding colour and will create the illusion of more space in a small space, and you'll have a natural style and theme. Lastly, again, depending on your style and theme, you'll need art to confirm exactly what these are. I am a customised artwork specialist. Your artwork again, will unite all your colours and create a focal point for the space... and so very much more. Have fun!

Hi Melissa, My bench tops will cost me $7000 too and is Ceasarstone Buttermilk but I think it's cheaper than your price based on the benches to be covered. My stone will also be only 20mm thick I have an island with seating with waterfall ends that's 3m x 1.3m Then I have another seating area that's 4m x .9m All other benches are standard 600mm and I have one which is 5m x .6m and finally 1.4 x .6m, so that's over 13mtrs of benches in length. Oh and I also have a little breakfast bar like you have which is about 3mtrs x .3m, so that's over 16mtrs in length. I'm based in the country and I'm getting my stone from Bartlett Bros in Colac Vic 3242

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.

Exactly the same tones as mine except i lifted it with a stainless steel col glass splashback and s/steel handles. I can change my accessories to suit the season even . clean and lovely as dark col bench tops look cluttered to me.Infact last week we even replaced the two downlights with 2 smoked glass pendents over the sink ( like yours) and they look great. Glad you are happier with your chosen result.