Second attempt was with Windex and same paper towel, which cleaned the two honed surfaces up pretty well. The lighter Raw Concrete seems to have been easier than the Sleek Concrete. And finally, to get rid of that pot scratch I used a non-scratching Scotch brite pad (what we usually use on dishes) with some diluted Soft Scrub. This one took a little more elbow grease but I'm satisfied with the results. My opinion is that comparing the two surfaces (honed vs. glossy) there is a marked difference. That being said, I currently have tile from 1978 and grout lines that are so deep and narrow I have to scrub them out with a toothbrush. I guess it's all a matter of perspective. We decided to go with the Raw Concrete after all, and like others have said, just expect that it'll take a little more work and show a few more stains. But then again, isn't that the whole point of concrete? That it looks industrial? I hope this has helped someone. If anyone is interested I'll try to post some more photos and real life feedback in a couple of weeks once ours is installed.

Hi Heather, whatever the selection - we always recommend to have the cabinetry finish match as closely as possible to your wall finish - as to not look like two contrasting whites, you may just consider repainting after you've made the selection. Dulux Natural white or Lexicon Quarter are both very popular selections - and not on the too cold or too warm side either. We also find that most clients too will mix finishes - for example using a grey for the upper cabinetry, or on the island bench - to create contrast, you may notice that between all white walls, benchtop and sink the white becomes overwhelming! Good luck - we are loving the sounds of how it is all coming together so far!

Thanks Nicole!! We actually went for white grout too in the end, and stacked them (mid century modern house, we thought it fitted better overall). I agreed with you that I wanted the detail of the tile to shine, not the shape of the tile. We still need to paint the rest of the room, etc., but I'm pleased. We had them sealed and used a supposedly more stain resistant grout (Davco Colour Elite). We loved the designs so much we put the 150mm blue jeans version in our pantry!! Thanks again for your reply. Enjoy your new space.

I agree that it's hard to choose the style without seeing the rest of the house but that a charcoal colour (same as the island cupboards) would tie in best with the colour scheme you have. Depending on the look of the house you have a lot of options to choose from and a lot depends on personal taste or budget. Glass is easy to keep clean and is a modern look if you are not wanting to draw attention to the splashback. Mirror (plain - modern or distressed - character) is lovely if you have something nice reflected in it. If the kitchen is messy though, it doubles the mess. Subway tiles (regular or irregular, tiled in brick format or herringbone) are always a lovely classic choice - but be mindful of grout issues. Arabesque or patterned tiles add more character if you're after tiles with a wow factor. I personally love stone, marble or quartz for an elegant, timeless look and in a charcoal or grey with veins I think would look stunning with the lamps as well as tying in the white and grey cabinetry. You can also do marble tiles that are a little less exxy than a slab although in the end I was surprised that the marble didn't cost much more than the caesarstone. Choices, choices!! Good luck. Your kitchen looks lovely!