Hello everyone, I'm back. As they never did answer my email, I went to the Melbourne supplier's shop and discovered that, although I do like Kerlite, it is VERY expensive. They gave me the phone number of their tiler, I phoned him, he was going to come out to give me a quote, but never did come. In the end, I didn't chase him, because he did tell me on the phone how much he charges per meter to lay them. :-) Looks like I'll be going with the suggestion of Dytecture and replace just the kitchen area tiles. Now I have a new question. I had a few people out here and am getting contradictory advice. Some say I should strip the existing kitchen, lay the tiles, THEN put the kitchen on top of the tiles ._They_ say it would look better, less cutting of tiles needed, so no patchwork near the cupboards and also the cupboards would be on "higher ground" in case of a flood. The other camp tells me that doing it this way would make the job take a lot longer, and it is better for the cupboards to "sit" below the tiles, sort of a reinforcement and the difference in the look would hardly be noticeable. _They_ say that the people advising laying the tiles first are just being lazy - it is just easier for them. Of course, I would also need more tiles if I put them under the cupboards as well, so there would be added expense as well. While, getting it done as quickly as possible is definitely an attractive proposition, that is not my only criteria, nor would having to supply a few more tiles worry me that much. What do you think?

Seriously you need to check out the Kerlite cladding. No need to sand, the variety is huge even wood look. All you need to do is put on a thicker screed. As I said you do need a tiler that has laid it before. Once it's down, it will never break. Google it, the range is amazing and really beautiful. I did ask the tiler about using it over slate and he said not a problem. Got mine from tile expo.

@oklouise, How terribly soul destroying going to so much trouble only to find your dream idea failed!! I'm still working on my failure project, a lovely redgum table that I got super cheap but decided to try to unscrew so I could sand and revarnish etc...said table is still sitting with a few 10cm baton screws removed and several half out and a few I can't even start as heads are possible stripped. Worse is that the screws are recessed so deeply, couldn't reach the heads properly, still don't know what I'm going to do to get these huge screws out so it's not a complete disaster!! Have bought an extension for the drill and hope hubby can step in and succeed.

you could look at staining this one>? Bamboo Woven Ply - Bamboo Australia | Sunshine Coast or may I suggest a good detail joiner could make it to your custom panel sizing and finish it suitably for the kitchen splashbacks (if that is what it is for>?) I can suggest someone who would be able to custom make this if you wish.