Hi Lesley. I work for a kitchen/cabinetry manufacturer and getting all my joinery done through them. They have offered to give me upgrades at cost price (no margin) so non-direct is not an issue for me :) Thankyou for the suggestion though - I'll look into it.

The Marble Man - would like to share information for your consideration - Manmade, engineered stone is also known as agglomerate, manufactured stones or reconstituted stones. They are made from a combination of approximately 7% resins, cement, and coloured pigments and upwards of 93% natural stone chips such as quartz or marble. These materials are bound together to make a slab. Engineered stones are designed to emulate natural stones such as marble and granite and are an extremely popular alternative to natural stone in building today. Some of the engineered stone brands include Caesarstone, Essastone, Quantum Quartz, Silestone, Technistone, Smarstone and HanStone. These stones are similar in composition, varying only by a few percent in total quartz used. Their differences lie in the colours, patterns and applications offered. Some engineered stones are just made for benchtops whereas, others can be used for tiles. For you the home renovator, builder or owner the preference to choose engineered stone over natural stone is purely a personal one. Natural stone is attractive because of it’s unique inconsistencies in colour, texture and patterns. The Marble Man enjoys the qualities of all natural and manmade stone. When you view engineered stone for consideration for your home, you will see a more consistent colour and patterning in the stone. Take the time to view the full sheet of stone and consider the overall look and effect of the colour you choose for your interior. There are many reasons why engineered stones are being chosen over natural stone: Engineered stones are durable, scratch, stain and heat resistant * They come in a variety of colours and patterns Natural marble is susceptible to etching and staining, however a marble look can be created with the etch and stain resistant properties of granite, making it a good choice for high stress areas such as kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanities The quartz used in the engineered stones is a similar hardness to granite and rates a 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness It is easy to clean and will require less long-term maintenance like granite if cared for according to manufacturers instructions. Please be sure to speak with the sales team about your uses of the benchtop, stone, surface and address how you plan to use the surface before finalising your choice. Manmade, reconstituted stone is only ‘resistant’ to scratching, staining and heat and therefore hot pots must not be left on for extended periods, cutting boards should still be used under hot pots, pans or dishes. Spills must be cleaned up immediately as in the case of any natural stone to prevent stains. It comes with a manufacturers seal therefore additional sealing is not usually necessary. * In our experience engineered stone kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanities do chip and scorch, however we have developed processes to repair even large chips making them virtually undetectable, and to restore the factory finish to surfaces damaged by heat. Enjoy your home, enjoy the stone you choose for the benchtops in your home. The Marble Man is happy to assist with stone information, repairs, polishing and sealing all stone surfaces. We service Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Northern NSW, Sydney and Canberra for all stone repairs, polishing and sealing Stone surfaces - simply call 1300 627 626. Learn more on The Marble Man website - www.themarbleman.com.au

Jodes, the reason why all of the good kitchens on Pinterest look like they have been photoshopped is because they have. Some of the larger manufacturers (such as Ceaserstone) have a great sample chip service where you can order samples for free to be posted to you. Your perception of your white benchtop will be influenced by the other colours in your kitchen such as the splashback and cabinetwork, as well as the lighting, so making your final decsions at home is always the best. If you are looking for whiteness don't consider a natural stone for your kitchen as these marbles are softer and more porous than the reconstituted stones. You get a more durable surface that is easier to live with a white reconstituted stone. Never base your selection on a photo or an internet image as they are indicitive, and these images lie! Finally when ordering a reconstituted benchtop there is a fair bit of back and forth for the stonemason. A good stonemason will visit to get an template for your kitchen benchtop, then return to his workshop, then cut the stone to match the template, then revisit to install. If you are in a regional area it is worthwhile finding out what brands your local guy will work with. There is no point is making a selection from a brand if the nearest stonemason who will work with that brand is 500kms away! Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Love the sound of the style for the studio. Pick the stone you love and get a sample. You can then pick up a colour chart or from Bunnings and narrow down a couple of white choices that work with the stone. You can then paint or order larger samples of the white and see what you think. My opinion is that the Silestone is the better choice. It’s still a clear white but a touch less bright which would work with the look you’re after.