Re the asbestos thing (and don't take this as pro advice...cos I aint) but if it looks like, quacks like it then it MIGHT be it. I thought I had asbestos walls (cos everyone said "it might be asbestos"...similar to some kid who may have been Jake Gyllenall saying to Arnie "it might be a toomore"). My walls were not asbestos. However I did find out that you can remove a certain square meterage of asbestos (depending on state boundaries) without have expert (very expensive) assistance (check the state rules). If it "might be" then be careful. As you are tiling over (therefor not cutting, grinding, messing about with?) then stay cool and tile to your tile glue's content!

Hi, This is totally normal. To answer your question, the location of the taps depends on the sink. If the sink has a landing (space for a tap hole) you can elect to obtain it with or without the hole/s and have the tap on either the sink itself or the benchtop. If as in the case of the Franke one you've selected, there is no landing then the taps are mounted on the stone. The cabinetmaker usually provides a template of the benchtop when the carcasses are installed for the stone supplier. This is then used by the stone supplier to make the correct size and cut outs for eg the sink. They will want the sink so that they can do the cutout to suit. They either then drill the holes for the tap/s during production or do it on site. It's no biggie. You just need to have the tap selected so they know what size holes to drill and where you want them. Take care to keep in mind clearances between the sink bowl and the cupboard carcass or other items. It's usually tight. We always plot the location of the taps while we have the template on site so we can check clearances etc. Cheers

An undermount stainless steel sink will match well with your brushed gold tap and white benchtop. Although different in colour, the sink and tap shared same kind of texture so It won't be distracting. Colour wise, the sink will match perfectly with your white benchtop. We got some photos of our customers who have used the same kind of design before, check out the link below if you would like to have a look. https://fontaineind.com.au/colette-kitchen-laundry-tap-mixer-brushed-gold https://fontaineind.com.au/ariella-kitchenlaundry-mixer-tap-brushed-gold

I have a top Mount double bowl sink in my kitchen with stone bench tops. I don’t think it looks cheap.... AND, the second unused hole is not just “filled” by the plumber, but a “faucet hole cover” is installed and will sit almost flush with the sink surround. If you have under mount sink in your kitchen, how are you going to have dishes draining, before immediately hand drying. You will have to put some kind of draining board on the STONE, and that will look cheap. But if under mount sinks are included in the build, then go with that. But they don’t include somewhere to place pots and pans after washing and before drying by hand. Because you have stated that you are only having a single bowl sink in the kitchen.