Thank you we are looking forward to it :-) I have already done a whole floor plan for the renovations and additions and I have done elevations for the kitchen, which have already had a few changes due to seeing something on Houzz and thinking hmmmm that would work better etc. I will also run the drawings past an architect just to make sure there isn't a better way of doing things. Also we will live in the house as is for quite some time before starting the renovations which will give us a feel for how things should be. Very much appreciate all the advice. Regards Lynda

In one of our past homes, we had one section next to the stove that was butcher block, but the rest reg. There is def upkeep to one & doing a small section is much easier than a whole top. Wilson Art & Formica have some really great new laminate choices---for example, if you like granite look, you can get it with these but a matte finish which reads better in a country kitchen.

Hi Siri, appreciate your time in changing the layout but I still prefer my current one. although I'm happy to resize things but not move around. I made a mock-up last night but not sure if the changes i made will still fit. I've convert the linen to WIL although not sure if the modification i made is enough. I'll send this through to my builder. Thanks M.B. for your valuable input. I also do handwashing but my concerns: on placing the sink are 1. I have to do undermount sink to look good but then I need a drying rack beside it. so logically the the normal sink is better functionally but no pleasing to the eye :). 2. Wife doesn't want a mess in the island bench. also, she wants to utilize the whole thing when we host parties (food in the bench). 3. I prefer facing the window to see my garden/landscape while washing. And if we decided to use the DW, atleast, it's all there 4. Normal double sink and DW will come together in the butler. once the plates are dried up, we can store them in the cabinet?

Use a strip off the front of the existing benchtop to become the front of the new benchtop with a join. Use two new benchtops to fill in bench around the new sink. With a joining seam at the back behind the sink, unnoticeable. The existing benchtop may need to be sanded and revealed to gain a uniform colour. Fiddly but it is the same principle as used on a stone benchtop to make it look substantial when in fact it is not. Best of luck