I think your benchtop material choice really depends on how both you and your husband live and what level of natural wear you are comfortable with showing. Natural wood benchtops to me are very similar to natural stone or stainless steel. The surfaces will naturally age and show use, scratches and imperfections much more than say a caesarstone if it's a high use area but some people love that look and it goes well with an industrial or natural style. My wife and I thought long and hard about it but realised we want the benchtop to look as new and clean each time as possible so opted back for caeserstone (Ocean Foam) which hid small stains and dust :)

Progress, our laundry is becoming a laundry bathroom and sink is in and washing machine working a big relief when you have 3 children under 6. First photo can see washing machine sink next to external door, I was planning to mount dryer above bench but have found out my dryer is not able to be mounted on wall..... oh well I don't use it very often it can live in the garage maybe more overhead cupboards Second photo new external door where window was ,,, am loving the extra light and the direct access to the clothes line. You can see the existing toilet area. The old broom cupboard now has a window for light and ventilation and plumbing for shower Third photo the opening for the new cavity door into spare bedroom yet to be completed. The plumbing showing hole in wall as we have put an outdoor shower both hot and cold, taps for washing machine and sink. We also had to put water and drain in for shower. In answer to the costing $5500 for the demolition, doors windows and all plumbing. cabinets $1500 $500 for the fittings taps 2 showers etc Still have to tile and paint We are happy with the way it is looking

You are required a set down area of a minimum of 200mm either side of a cook top (I'd recommend more though as I don't like to feel like my pots are hanging over the edge of the bench). Your 3m width will leave enough for a small sink (400mm width?) so a quick calculation 600mm settle down + 900mm cooktop + 400mm sink = 1.9m... plenty leftover space in the 3m Good luck! Sophie

where are the existing kitchen cabinets and exact position of the sink (and dw?) stove and fridge? ..please include the length of all walls for better understanding of the total space available......but, assuming that the whole end wall is about 3.6m and the existing kitchen cabinets run along the bedroom wall about 3.6m? (with stove sink and fridge?) having matching kitchen cabinets installed under the window with a matching tall 1m wide pantry cabinet in the corner (no more than 60cms deep to allow doors to open without projecting past the corner) would give the best results ...anything else is just a free standing cabinet and with the new cabinets (and new counter and doors for the old kitchen?) you'll have a streamlined new kitchen with three times the storage and counter space with patience and enthusiasm the new cupboards could be made out of flatpac cabinets available in most Hardware stores