Have seen many vanities butted up against walls on all 3 sides and 2 sides as well as the usual wall below a mirror. No idea of operation of drawer/etc. until one was seen in the flesh. Depends on hinges, etc., what its being installed near, etc. Basin top taps are probably easiest to install. They also generally use a stop cock to turn water on or off (for maintenance & the like) underneath the vanity with the basin top taps. More aesthetics than anything else really.

@Aimee, I know this dilemma was never about your layout and only about the "style" but sometimes it's easy for us readers to digress a little but it does help the author, you, to have a good look or a good think about it, leave no stone unturned so to speak!! This kitchen whatever the layout, only needs to suit you as the cook in the home. My kitchen is being designed exactly the same way, for me and not hubby or anyone else in the family as I'm the resident cook too. If for example, I placed the microwave in the usual spot above the oven, now seen in almost all modern kitchens, then only hubby could use it, as I'm terribly height challenged ha-ha.....but I'm having a wall cabinet placed far lower down on the wall, thus suiting both of us!! Again I'm not having any overheads, well a few slimline cupboards but they are like half the height of a standard overhead, so I can still reach the shelf but I'm not having any normal overheads, as they would be useless to me and I'm building for me not for anyone else, so if a future buyer wants overheads, nothing will prevent them from doing so. I see you have no overheads in your pics either, perhaps height challenged like me?? Currently, we're living in a tiny home (7sqrs) whilst building our dream home, my fridge isn't even in the kitchen, I have to take about 5 steps and travel through the lounge and into a back room to access it and I have lived with it for several years now and it's no bother at all but I must admit, it will be nice when it's back in the kitchen where it belongs, it's simply too big for this little home. Good luck with your reno, it sounds very exiting, I wish I was as advanced as you were!!! Finished pics would be lovely. Cheers, Barbara

Aside from how you want your kitchen to function, you need to consider what depths and hues can do for a space. Basically if you have high ceilings, darker cabinetry for your overheads can really draw the eye upward and highlight the feature but if your ceilings are standard it can feel heavy and encroach the negative space. Lighter overheads will reflect the light so the negative space will feel larger. Dark colours are also used to create depth in a room, to draw it back further visually. In my opinion darker lowers would work if you like the two tone look, it will break up the light flooring. Keep in mind you don't have to use colours that are contrasting, try pulling samples together that are a few shades deeper in harmonious hues, much like your picture provided. When it comes to the splash back you can opt for a texture in similar colour family to create interest without adding too many colours. Perhaps a penny round, hexagon, hand made subway or the same stone you choose for the benches. Don't stress about paint colours right now as there are thousands that you can choose to complement your kitchen. Hope this helps!

Hi AndrewJason, I love cavity sliders. they are there when you want them but not visible when you need the space open. Having said that they cost more, take a bit of wreckage to set up and in you WA case you will be wrecking brick walls to put them in which might be a stretch of mess too far. BUT you will need to weigh up if they are worth it in the end. I do not think the build will be too bulky in the kitchen/dining because it will be superbly practical on both sides and it maybe just a matter of what you are used to. Not sure about "Average Joe...…" we are all good at somethings, mine is plans, function, practicality, solar. Yours might be brain surgery, empathy for unwell folks, kinda or you make the best seafood lasagne in the world... we are all needed to make for a great world: and it really is that!!! Good luck with your splendid home: I think it is beautiful. And PS if you do make the best seafood anything I better have your address....!!!!!!! MK