Hi Pineapplerose, I think there may be a few layers to your dilemma. The first is about fashion and taste (as it should be!!) Mid brown or lighter colours will provide a more contemporary look but you'd be best to surround it with fittings and finishes that with a modern shout out. That is, you can stylise the bench top further with your selections. The second is to look at composite stone products which will give you far more choice - usually with a lower price. Note: 'Granite-look' composite stone benchtops are a premium product but well worth the spend. An important question to ask about composite stone benchtops is the % of resign used as this will indicate how stain resistant it will be. (Note: the only products that are 100% stain resistant are glass or stainless steel) If you'd like some kitchen design inspiration, see: 101 Kitchen and Bathroom Design Ideas Good luck: Richard@themakeovergroup (Melbourne)

I would not use a white stone, such as a Carrera Marble in any kitchen, no matter what the colour of the cabinetwork due to the porosity and risk of staining. Better to use a reconstituted stone benchtop which is manufactured to look like stone, such as Caeserstone, or one of its competitors. If you have the budget look at Dekton for whitish stone-like benchtops. As far as the monochomatic scheme it can look very smart, but will depend on the amount of natural light and artificial light in the room. Perhaps consider doing the overheads in white, and paying special attention to your choice of splashback. You may also want to consider how long you will live in your home, as black kitchens are very much on trend, and in ten years time they will have dated and look very 2018. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

check "metal fabricators" and kitchen cabinet makers for local advice

Hi. Someone suggested that we use Evostone in our new kitchen. It’s an acrylic solid surface. I’m wondering g if anyone has used it or knows anything about it - pros and cons. Thanks.