Hi iggs85. I see your point re cost and how you think it may look. I'll attach a photo of one of my semi-recessed basins in stone. We had to use semi-recessed due to space restrictions as well. The benches are 440. Are yours narrower? I did Google stone benchtop offcuts. eBay has some in marble and granite. There appear to be businesses that do sell offcuts. Anyway, I think you would certainly be able to find a beautiful laminate you like. There is such a wide range. There are also some that look so much like stone. Will you have vanity cabinets/drawers under the benchtop? If so, what are your thoughts there? Same laminate or different? Have you visited any shops yet to look at samples?

Thank you everyone for your comments. I have decided to go with a white stone, most likely Caesarstone Intense White, but will be visiting the various stone showrooms over the next week or so to look at other whites (in light of the comments about the starkness of the white options I posted). Looking at a crisp white with a little movement that doesn't clash with the floor and texture of oak panels. Thanks again! :)

Hi Jodi - wonder if you went with the Wilsonart Concrete kitchen benchtop? I am keen to use but wonder how the rough service stays/keeps clean. cheers

Don't choose a concrete-look benchtop from a photo. Have a look at real-life samples, see how they feel to the touch, and consider how the edge is detailed. Are you building new cabinetwork that has been designed for the extra bench weight if considering a cast option? Or are you replacing an old bench top over existing cabinetwork? Lots of companies, such as Laminex, produce concrete-look laminates which are lightweight (compared to the real thing), cost-effective, and easy to keep clean but aren't as durable as the heavier options such as Dekton and Ceaserstone. Your choice of edge treatment and a drop-in versus an undermount sink will also affect the installation cost. A lot comes down to your personal preference (especially the touch part) and budget, so do your research. Concrete and concrete-look benchtops are very much an on-trend fashion item and in 2028 they will seem very 2018 so consider your options for the long term wisely. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls