I have a black laminate top in my rental, it shows every hair, dust, and mark imaginable even after just wiping it down. My friend chose a black essa stone top and regrets it to for this reason. I love black but have chosen Atlantic Sea Salt white with grey flecks and a bit of black in it by Caesarstone for my new build. I also have chosen Ravine Char Oak by Polytec for my cupboards which is a grey wood grain, I too have a black fridge but have no kids living at home anymore, so black shiny cupboards if you have small children might drive you mad! But a black with a wood grain finish wouldn't show marks like a shiny finish would. Good luck!

Please post photos of the space and finishes for the best advice. Is this an open plan room? Then adjoining spaces will also be pertinent.

Hi S Cat, How did you go with your Caesarstone samples? With regards to cleaning Caesarstone it's important to understand, Caesarstone surfaces require very little maintenance to keep them looking like new as most of the others above have mentioned. For routine cleaning, we recommend wiping the surface with warm soapy water (a mild detergent) and a clean damp cloth, or use our convenient Caesarstone Cleaning Wipes or Caesarstone Spray Cleaner. **Do not use the cloth you use to wash the dishes, as it may transfer oils and other contaminants to the Caesarstone surface. To remove tougher marks and stains it's important never to use harsh chemicals such as Jiff or Gumption, as extended use of these products can affect your surface over time. Instead our Caesarstone Cream Cleanser is the perfect solution for stubborn marks and stains - available from our Online Store: http://www.caesarstone.com.au/shop-online If you have any further questions or need some assistance, please don't be afraid to ask :) Best, Caesarstone Australia

I love the style of IKEA cabinets, but do wish they had more colours, it's a pity we can't access the IKEA custom door companies in Australia like semihandmade! Do you want white? There is the option of the grey LERHYTTAN which is midway in style between bodbyn and savedal?