How funny. I just renovated (on a budget) my small kitchen and added exactly the slate look in tiles you have, though they are in fact porcelain. And I placed them throughout the house for continuity. The tiler asked if I was after a retro hippy look but it doesn't look like that at all. My cupboards were the same colour as yours and I utilised the bones of the kitchen and had the doors and Benchtops changed only. I also have plenty of light in the kitchen but chose white doors and as I was on a budget I chose granite look Benchtops, they are very serviceable and it looks great. The blue backsplash was the colour lift and here you could choose any colour to your liking. Basically the kitchen ended up with white cupboards and appliances other than cooktop, with the stainless cooktop and coloured splash back being the focal point. The paint colour are: whisper white walls, integra splashback, white ceiling and for increased contrast I used the same white above the splashback on the rear wall. I would consider painting out the brick but leaving the texture.

If you can't find a more cost effective benchtop than Quantum Quartz look at the detailing of the edges of your benchtop, as the cost of the labour content can add up pretty quickly. For instance a benchtop that looks thicker than the standard slab may have a mitred edge piece, or a second layer around the perimeter. An undermount sink is more expensive than a drop-in sink, as the undermount needs the edge of the cut-out hole finished and polished. These nice architectural details add cost, so ask your Quantum Quartz fabricator/supplier if there is a cheaper way to get the Ultra White benchtop you want by simplifying the details and reducing the labour. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

In that pic the last one looks best but I’m wondering if the lighting is right as the Smartstone (3rd) looks slightly pink and it certainly isn’t (I have it in my bathrooms). Also, see what the samples look like with the laminate sample vertical and the stone horizontal as that’s hi they are going to be relative to each other. The light on a horizontal plane might give a slightly different colour.

What did you decide? Thinking of Whisper White cabinet but worried it might be appear creamy Against the Grey vein in the benchtop