Hi Angela. If your existing kitchen works for you, then replacing your benchtop and splashback will definitely work, as well as save you money. Whilst the Caesarstone's Linen is nice, I would recommend Smartstone Amara - it has a marble look, and is one of the more reasonably priced marble-look engineered stones. I have seen it installed and it looks fantastic. With the money saved, I recommend that you invest in some really beautiful tiles for the splashback (even if they are subway style, get really nice ones), some gorgeous new handles, as well as change the colour of your blinds to match as closely as possible the window architraves. A nice new sink and tap (think carefully about undermounted) will also help. Finally, if you can match your existing fronts exactly, then it may also be a good time to change the dishwasher to a fully integrated model. You could also replace the freestanding canopy, etc., as Design Fusion recommends, but that will cost you a quite bit more (it will require not only the new cabinet, but also redoing part of the bulkhead and cornice work), and you may have an issue with the new fronts matching the existing. All the best!

Hi Sofia, the latest trend is that all white kitchens are on the out, so breaking up the colour scheme is and introducing natural elements, which is now the trend, is bang on. Well done. A natural style includes natural materials and colours. The thing is what sort of natural. This comes back to your style. What is it? Natural rainforest feel, desert, beach? If you think of your home in this light, it helps you to choose the right direction through textures that you can then take throughout your home to streamline it and increase it's appeal. In decorating we also look for opportunities to add contrast, so I see nothing wrong with a dark bench but here's the other lesson! Uniting your colours is vital. You have a timber look floor and a grey splashback - they are different. They need to be merged. Merge them in your benchtop with a Ceasarstone (which is worth every penny you put into it for the resale of your home). Something like this one: http://www.caesarstone.com.au/colour/6270-atlantic-salt ...Which isn't too dark, has a gorgeous contrasting texture and yet the timber and spalshback hues. Wallpapers are in big time and have been for a while and are not going out. Try picking out a major wall here and there and hanging a textured or a natural themed wallpaper ie leaves pattern, depending on the style, in a natural colour palette to match your floor. The whites, greys, blacks are neutrals - which go with anything. Compliment the colour scheme with Green which is a receding colour and will create the illusion of more space in a small space, and you'll have a natural style and theme. Lastly, again, depending on your style and theme, you'll need art to confirm exactly what these are. I am a customised artwork specialist. Your artwork again, will unite all your colours and create a focal point for the space... and so very much more. Have fun!

Hi Melissa, My bench tops will cost me $7000 too and is Ceasarstone Buttermilk but I think it's cheaper than your price based on the benches to be covered. My stone will also be only 20mm thick I have an island with seating with waterfall ends that's 3m x 1.3m Then I have another seating area that's 4m x .9m All other benches are standard 600mm and I have one which is 5m x .6m and finally 1.4 x .6m, so that's over 13mtrs of benches in length. Oh and I also have a little breakfast bar like you have which is about 3mtrs x .3m, so that's over 16mtrs in length. I'm based in the country and I'm getting my stone from Bartlett Bros in Colac Vic 3242

I wouldn't go those dark laminate kitchen cupboards. I have the exact same and I absolutely loathe them now. I use to love the darker colours but now I wish I had just done them white, light gray or even the dark blue (although dark blue worries me a little too!). That dark laminate brown is such an absolute pain to keep clean. They show up every mark. I like your stone bench tops though but would look at other options to create the look you're hoping for with the joins and waterfall benches etc. Goodluck with it all!