Love the flooring. Cabinetry in Chalk looks lovely. Rethink the splashback tile - it’s very blah! If the budget allows have the same benchtop as the splashback. It’s hard to make a call on the bench without any inspiration pictures or pictures of the actual space but don’t discount a sandy colour or a milky coffee colour, both are versatile.

Some pics with white cabinetry and similar floors. All not too modern, not too traditional. Any of these benches appeal.

We have an older fibro beach house with original cypress pine floor and replaced the kitchen with white laminate cupboards ( decided 2 pac white wasn’t worth the cost difference) and stone bench tops in white Attica similar in colour to carrera. So glad we did is subtle but not boring or too bland - and hides crumbs etc

I've had a 2 pac kitchen. Don't do it. It's not very durable. Once the paint chips moisture gets into the craftwood and then the cupboard door fronts bulge and flake away. I don't have any comment on your other choices as I think this current trend is the most bland stuff we've invented in recent years. But if you like it, go for gold. All the ones pictures so far look the same, they are designed to avoid offending, rather than make a statement.

I got 2pac to do my kitchen too -- friggin gold chains everywhere !

With your white cabinets , I would go Raven or similar , for the contrast . I don't think I've ever had white cabinets , but I suspect cabinets in white with white benchtops would be as hard to keep clean as white and charcoal ?

So thats my base -- the wooden look floor , white cabinets , dark bench ( hopefully with some interesting lines or sparkles or specks in it ) . But heres where I'd add some interest -- I'd do 2 or 3 horizontal overlapped ( 'brick' style ) rows of black or charcoal subways , then a row of those subway sized tiles that have a mix of 20-30mm wide bits , each one in black or silver or metal look or similar . When grouted , they basically add a frieze around the top .

Or do 2 or 3 rows of white subways , but then a top row in red or yellow or green or whatever colour you like and/or the predominant colour in the lounge etc .

Basically , add some colour or interest . Hospitals are for sick people . . . . . . . . . .

I prefer kitchens that bring earthy tones in as accessories. And if you have a light bench

, then add a coloured splash back. This is one of my favourite kitchens. If you take away the accessories and pendant lights, and the coloured splash back, it is just a plain blah kitchen. Add them all back in, and it all works and becomes fantastic.

If you are going to have that white subway tile. Then make it a gloss tile, it will reflect the light and add interest.

Bianco Drift or Calcutta Novo would be great. Empira White is too stark against parchment and chalk white. The black and Oyster Grey will make your kitchen look cheap and dated.

I've got black benchtop and black splashback in the house I've bought. I don't like them at all and will be changing the kitchen - but it's personal taste.

Be sensitive to the glare from all those polished surfaces. Lacquered paint finish adds cost and an extra couple of weeks processing time. Black surface shows all speck of dust and fingerprints too. I know this from experience Would suggest maybe repeating the use of the wood youve selected as an insert somewhere in the white benchtops to add interest and function. That gray selection, doesnt work with the wood tones.

Be careful with the Matt subway tile, make sure you put it up against the wall rather than just laying it flat as it looks more cream than when laid flat and as it’s Matt the light doesn’t bounce off it. I used this in my bathroom for my new Airbnb Had to paint the walls navy (which looked better anyway!) as it looked so cream next to white... https://abnb.me/v2xUrur2lcb

If the budget can afford (and usually splashback is small area) why not go a marble tile? Goes with everything!

I’ve just finished my kitchen using Parchment Laminex cabinets. Had trouble with the stone benchtop but very very happy I finished up with Quantum Quartz Dolce ( did look at Caesarstone Shitake) and have a similar looking tile but went gloss in Beige, Boulavard from Bunnings, not cheap but it looks luscious and the ripple tile creates so much movement. With all the neutral colours you can go silly on your accessories. I’ve used black and rose gold for now but can change to orang, green, red or turquoise at any time in the future. Good luck.

After finding it difficult because I fell in love with the Parchment for my cabinet colour I would advise others to stick to white in some form as it’s so much easier to select tones for benchtops and splashbacks.

I feel for you Suzie. Selections, and second guessing your selections, can really do your head in. I got very nervous about our reasonably recent kitchen reno. I regret going for 2Pack. It chips easily and even white shows every splash or droplet, depending on the light and your viewing position. The high gloss finish already seems dated. On reflection, I didn’t recognise that I was being limited by the products being offered or promoted by the cabinetmaker; that their range was limited to make their life easier. I didn’t realise there’s more options out there. Perhaps rethink 2Pack. I wouldn’t have it again.

I've designed the kitchen of 10 of the houses I've lived in the 11th I left as is as I sold it soon after anyway but I really like your colour choices more of the creams less of whites as white is no longer a designer tool. I'd like to see a picture of existing kitchen or a drawing so I can visualise what it's going to look like. All my kitchens were made by kitchen cabinet companies BUT I designed the kitchen, what tiles, flooring, bench tops and dont forget appliance cupboard lots of colour coordinated concealed switches eg I had black tiles on the wall so black switches and I had track lighting because I had large kitchens so I could move the lights to where I wanted them or leave them permanently. Yes I have a new kitchen to design and its taken me 6 months just to get the design correct. I've got wooden floors so I wont need the vinyl planks like I have used previously easy to clean etc.

SUBWAY tiles also not fashionable its more colour you need what's your favourite personal colour? My niece stripped her wooden shaker cabinets, tiles etc out of her kitchen to completely change the location of where she wanted her kitchen to be located within the kitchen area and its fantastic now. I'm doing something similar in relocating my sink not under the window just a few mm to the left as I'm looking at terrazzo tiles look for the benches tough and recyclable.!

1915 double brick home. Renovated kitchen in skillion addition.

Having just finished my Renovation - including relocation of the Kitchen - I can sympathise with your dilemma.

Consentino put out an incredible array of beautiful 'man made' stone benches and it's so hard to know what looks good with what. If you are near a big city, you might be lucky enough to be able to visit a purpose built Consentino showroom where they have most of their products displayed on bench tops and on the walls etc. It's worth the effort if you can do that.

I used Consentino's very expensive Dekton for my bench tops and it is quite dark. I don't have any problems with cleaning. My major problem is My husband - who tells everyone who will listen, that I cornered the market on stone gold. Secretly though, he's very proud of the look, as am I.

Like you, I was having a difficult time trying to decide on the splashback tiles - until my kitchen designer worked out that I would have just enough left over that I could use it behind the hob and also on the wall behind the Coffee Maker. It meant zero waste and I'm so pleased with the effect. I've attached a photo to help you see how it came together.

If you are able to do this with your benchtop, it will be a huge saving to you and will give a cohesive look.

As for which colour. It's really such a personal thing, however, if you have been following kitchen trends you will know that people are moving away from all white kitchens and adding more colour.

Because your flooring appears to have some dark tones - almost black, I think that you could get away with a black stone that has a small amount of white marbling.

I hope this helps with your decisions.

Take care with an engineered stone splashback as it can’t be used behind gas cooktops. I think they look great but I found this issue restricted my choice of a splashback.

Agreed with HU-560526356.

Some engineered stone don't work as well as others - it pays to do your homework - read and understand the specs of your product.

Dekton for instance, has the ability to withstand oven heated or frozen products and you can cut directly onto it........Not that I do any of those things being of the old school.

Jacintam, I'm coming to stay, that looks amazing!!!

@kiwimills, please do! As we’re brand new we have lots of availability!

Ha ha, if u r in oz, as soon as those orders open from nz, would love to soak in that bath!

if you keep your colors simple, you can dress it up with the accessories, try black kick boards, and black edges here's a pic of an or door BBQ area I just finished, I used a light grey bevelled tile, white bench tops with a terrezzo look, good luck

If you're having trouble deciding, grab an interior designer. They know all about light, colour etc. It won't cost much and in fact, if you make a mistake it will cost you more in the long run, if you hate it. Personally I think those samples in your pic go together. I'm not a fan of white on white but if you add some interesting light fittings and as someone else suggested some different textures and splash back it could look great. Maybe have a different finish or colour on the island.

This might help you on colour combinations. They all work. Just pick the one you like. Good ol polytec. Laminex do someting similar on their website too.

https://www.polytec.com.au/brochures/polytec-colour-inspiration-guide-polytec-and-caesarstone-collaboration.pdf