Ditch the grey cabinetry if you want a more impactful kitchen and add a colourful. A coloured island can also be a way to add colour to the space. The flooring is lovely. It’s not a huge kitchen so what’s the reasoning in the two different benchtop materials? Can you post your mood board or your inspiration pics?

What are you doing for the splash back?

Change out the oyster grey

Thanks dreamer. Kitchen splashback: white subway tiles 75x300 with ultra white grout.

Thanks bigreader. Two different benchtop materials mainly for keeping the cost down. If doesn't work I may need to reconsider this combination... Here are some photos of kitchen I like: simple clean and timeless.

I’m still not sold on grey cabinetry. But your selections match your goal look. As above you can add texture and interest with accessories and stools etc.

Thanks bigreader and Kate. We initially opted for grey to ease maintenance concerns. Now I'm thinking of changing the back cabinets to a white colour but not sure if it would enhance or detract from the overall design. Would it be too much white 🤔

With the level of site cutting, I'm concerned that replicating the look in the photos might be challenging due to variations in natural light. And the aesthetic captured in pictures might not translate as well in real-life settings...

Hi Kath, would love to see some photos if you have?

These are photos from the Polytec website. These are their photos of oyster grey cabinets. Personally I would go with all white cabinets in Polytec Classic White, with a sheen finish. The grey just doesn’t give me any joy. And all cabinet fronts should be cleaned on a regular basis, it doesn’t matter what colour they are.

Thanks dreamer. I received white cabinet samples from polytech and my son (a 10 year old) chose the same white shade you recommended. He believes that gray doesn't fit with the colors we've chosen 😅

This is my kitchen with the Polytec White Classic in the sheen finish. It is now 8 1/2 years old.

Thanks dreamer, your kitchen is stunning and looks like brand new! Is your tile grout white?

Yes it is.

Lovely kitchen Dreamer. Always great to see real life pics.

Thanks dreamer. I was thinking about switching the ultra-white grout to a light grey as I've heard it may have potential yellowing issue. But your splashback looks great

White grout has gone a bit yellow in the shower recess, but that is used everyday, with water and shampoo, conditioner and soaps. A kitchen splash back is completely different scenario. You cook, you have oil and sauce splatter, so you clean it…..easy. Owning a home is about maintaining the home as you go. Keeping everything cleaned and maintained as best as your time allows.

Two photos of my shower recess, the part that is in constant contact with water and shampoos etc. and the other part of shower recess which doesn’t get any water on it. Remember this is all 8 1/2 years old.

Dreamer - you have a great kitchen. Could I ask you if you have any comments re the sink in your island bench. It looks like you could have put it along the window wall but chose to put it in the island. I am currently debating sink in island v sink against back wall with the cook top ( no window). I have never wanted to put any appliance in the island but it would have some advantages for me. Interested in your comments on whether you are happy with your sink placement. Many thanks and sorry about hijacking another thread

@littleswamp - my sink is in my island. It just worked out best that way in the layout. The island is only 60cm deep (not one you sit at) and I was a bit worried that I would splash to the floor on the other side but it's worked out fine. My husband and I are very neat so we don't leave dishes piled up. Just a couple of cups and glasses left on one of those minimal dish racks that fits partly over the second sink. It's in a great place for our work triangle and puts the adjacent dishwasher in an ideal spot place for easy unloading.

Hi littleswamp, thank you for the kitchen compliment. The way that I work in my kitchen is on the peninsula with the sink for washing veges/hands etc. , having the sink in that bench works for me. I generally cook 6 nights a week, and I am looking out to the front of our home across the park, I can see the television while making meals. I have left that side zone at the window splash back for making coffee, getting drinks with glasses above in the cupboards and cups in the drawers. As you may have noticed, I’m a organised person and everything has its place. I’m also territorial when it comes to my kitchen, so good to have the drinks area separate from the sink, cook top, and main fridge. No one gets in my way….😃. So answer to your question. My personal choice because I’m the cook in our home.

@First time builder - Sorry but my phone and computer are currently refusing to talk to each other. I'll add a photo of my kitchen when/if I can.

Bring in colour and texture with the splashback tiles. Coppery ones could suit

Thank you Kath and dreamer - we also eat at home most nights and are tidy and organised people, so I am sure I could make it work as well as you both have. I guess it is a very personal decision and now I just need to make up my mind!
Thanks for your replies

If you have sink in the peninsula/island, keep it towards one end so you have decent prep space. You don’t want to be working around the sink all the time. You do need some space on each side of sink for sitting to be washed and dried. Dreamer’s position looks great

I've persuaded my phone and computer to talk to each other. (We use our microwave much more than the hob/oven. So our work triangle is on the fridge/microwave side of the island. I can still go between sink and hob just by turning around. It wouldn't work for everyone, but it works for us.)

There’s no wrong answer for layout as long as it works for how you live. Too many people design for other’s preferences for looks. You need to do a lot of run throughs in your mind with your plan - how you get home from work, how you bring in groceries, how you make brekkie/lunch/dinner, who else uses the kitchen, how/if you entertain, where you like your coffee mugs etc.

My issue, I think, is that I am a minimalist at heart -love clean lines and a calm uncluttered space. My heart likes the idea of a simple unencumbered bench. However my head recognizes that the practical function of the kitchen is more important and, although I can squeeze it all into a straight work line on the back wall it would not be such a practical functioning kitchen ( prep space much smaller, possibly a smaller cooktop and no space for the coffee machine in the main kitchen ( have a WIP))

Also no wall ovens - and as I am in my 60s I would like them. The final advantage is, instead of looking at a wall I would face the dining area and the coast and sea beyond. So much nicer. I think I will end up putting the sink in the island as I see the positives and am lucky to have such a choice. It is nice to be reassured from those that have them . Thank you all for your input and kath and dreamer for their photos

With the selections above, I'm contemplating changing the subway tiles (worried about the kitchen's upkeep) to alpine white Quartz Stone. Do you think it might make the kitchen too plain?

If you have the budget then doing the splashback in the same material as the bench is stylish and an upgrade on tiles. As advice above you can warm the kitchen up in styling.

This is an added expense of changing 3200mm for only 1000mm which is above cook top. Quartz splash back is a completely different aesthetic to the tiles you had chosen. The tiles will bounce the light around because of their undulating finish. The quartz will have some light reflection, but is a flat finish. Noting that alpine white quartz will still need wiping over, the same as the tiles. Either will look good. Do what your budget and your gut feels is correct.

Thanks dreamer and bigreader.

Hello FTB, I can see the simplicity of your colour choices and think it will look lovely because you can have blue glass and pots on the bench one week and green ones with green tea towels the next. It will add colour and variation to the whole room as you want as you go! One thing I would mention is tho: with the sink on the island Might I suggest the sink is as close to the end of the whole huge island as you like sop you have one large area of benching together. best for stools, homework, new papers, laptops, cheers and whine etc. Far better and more useful than two small pieces. Cheers Enjoy. Margot

Hello again!

Select a stool that works with the warmth of the timber and the pendant light itself (assuming edison or filament globes) but brings it to another level, brown leather would be really nice, or a caramel velvet. This will also offset any overkill of white/grey feeling too cold.