When looking at kitchen cabinetwork doors you should be looking at more than just a sample, but how the edge is detailed. The edging for polyurethane doors is seamless as it applied like paint and the "paint" just wraps around the top and side edges. You can't wrap a melamine finish to the front and four edges of a door, so somewhere there will be a tiny seam between the front and an edge. Some melamine doors have rounded side edges (which are wrapped) but a square detail to the top and bottom edges where there will be a tiny seam between the front face and top edge. With your choice of Jamaican Walnut this seam should be almost invisible, but is easier to spot on lighter finishes such as Laminex Parchment. The Jamaican Walnut in matt should be harder wearing than the polyurethane. Some polyurethane colours yellow slightly with age and exposure to sunlight and are almost impossible to match if you ever need to replace a door. But you could also have the same issue if the manufacturer of Jamaican Walnut stops making it. For resale the polyurethane is considered more prestigious if it is still in good condition. Why don't you ask your builder to see a sample of a polyurethane door and a melamine door so you can see the edge details?

Replacing the blinds and the benchtops could make a big difference. White blinds will reflect light and make it feel more spacious. ...and yes the blue benchtop has to go :) Either lighter or darker is the way to go - there are pros and cons either way. Light will reflect light but show scratches and stains. Dark will absorb light but be more forgiving in terms of stains which may be preferable for a rental. Below are some pics for inspiration. The first pic below shows plantation shutters in a kitchen and you can see how it makes a difference to the light streaming in the window. The second pic shows how a dark benchtop can look stylish. We couldn't find an example of a kitchen with timber cabinets to show you. Renovating for a rental property versus your own home is quite different. We always recommend stone benchtops and this is what all of our clients opt for as it gives them the best long term solution. Something to consider but it costs are a factor then a short term solution is probably best for you at the moment. I hope this helps.

Hi Jodi - wonder if you went with the Wilsonart Concrete kitchen benchtop? I am keen to use but wonder how the rough service stays/keeps clean. cheers

Hi all our terrazzo bench has been installed and in use for over 12 months. This bench was poured in Italy and then finished by a stonemason off-site type. When 1st installed I spilt some lemon juice which created a mark so we are careful not to use acidic items on the bench. I am not sure if this happened before or after we sealed it but I think it’s important to seal any natural stone product and we used the sellers recommended product called “slow drying sure seal” but I won’t vouch for its effectiveness as I can’t compare it to anything. Over all we love the look but I think you need to be a little more careful around natural products than engineered ones so it may depend on your lifestyle