Using stone in the home is for the look, aesthetics and function of the stone surfaces in homes. From floors in travertine and other types stone to kitchen bench tops and bathroom walls and showers in the luxurious stone tiles available there is so much for us to use. Modern living brings modern cleaning products and solutions into our spaces to "make life easier". In some instances this helps and in some cases this can be a issue for the stone surfaces we have in our home, office or commercial environment. Stone can be damaged not just by cleaning solutions. It can be chipped, cracked, mis-used and often it's because "we humans" think stone is durable, resistant to man and stronger than it really is. If stone bench tops are chipped, crack or break we can assess and give a no obligation repair proposal. 1300 627 626 - servicing Gold Coast - Brisbane - Sunshine Coast - Northern NSW - Sydney and Canberra https://themarbleman.com.au/stone-repairs/ The Marble Man can repair chips and cracks on stone surfaces, bench tops, shower walls and floors and bathroom surrounds using advanced UV technology. Our skilled technicians can replace old, mouldy silicone and recolour grout that has lost its original colour.

I've long been concerned about the formaldehyde in laminates, which also continues to outgas after installation, but until recently questions about it were met with a blank stare. A few years ago I was pleased to see a sign in the kitchen section of Masters making a claim regarding that (I think it was the first time I saw the E0 rating?) but when I asked for information about it no-one knew what it meant and eventually they suggested I talk to their 'supplier' which turned out to be the hardware supplier who knew nothing about the laminates. Very disappointing when retailers of better safer products fail to take the opportunity to educate customers and promote those products. Good on you Anne Marie for wanting to ask intelligent questions. (I could start a whole new thread....)

Majestic marble. Old stone. Precious to behold and enjoyed. This is how most consider marble for their home. The Marble Man would recommend marble in the home for various reasons: - looks fantastic - long lasting - high quality and as explained on The Marble Man website - https://themarbleman.com.au/stone-info/types-of-stone/ "Marble is a popular stone commonly used for its strength and beauty and its ability to achieve a ‘mirror like’ finish when polished. It has been used for centuries as a building material and also to create sculptures, as it is soft but strong. It is a versatile material also used for floors, furniture, vanities, bathroom tiles and ornaments. Although it is fairly resistant to erosion and fire, acidic liquids will etch the surface and grit will scratch it. It is not an ideal surface to use as a kitchen bench top where spills and scratching are common. Its longevity will be determined by its treatment and maintenance. Sealing with a penetrating sealer is recommended, and will protect the surface from staining. Regular cleaning with recommended products will prolong the glossy look and feel of the marble." The Marble Man | repairs polish & seal stone surfaces | 1300 627 626

I'm not sure why you'd want to try and make things personal , but I simply ignore or offer my ideas as a counter if someone else has differing colour choices . Anyway , I don't like glass splashbacks , so the resale of a brightly coloured one doesn't have any relevance to me . I have bought and sold quite a few houses and commercial properties over the years , I have always done bright and breezy kitchens , gotten good resale and generally good comments . I favour a kitchen feature wall in a strong colour , with white tiles ( square or subway ) ; or a more subtle colour with bright tiles ; or some sort of feature . My kitchen in my current house has a well-worn white brick wall with red tones and very faded red mortar ( all built 1922 ! ) that had been covered over with framing and plasterboard -- so that was an easy choice . I try and steer away from the boring shades of grey , beige , brown , mid blue , and even white walls -- people who favour them aren't colour-blind , just blind to colour ( and interest and excitement ) IMO .