Hi, your kitchen looks beautiful! came across threads as we too are currently debating diy kitchens cashmere or light grey, we have ordered cashmere and started to have doubts that it would be too dark. Though looking at yours I'm reassured again! I just wondered what wood worktop/and poss stain you have chosen? We looked at a solid wood oak but i thought it looked a bit yellowy. (fab choice on floor too)

Love your kitchen, you’ve done a great job, not only does the kitchen look good, it’s totally practical, drawers are the way forward, even if they are more expensive than cupboards. I’ve just redone a kitchen in a house we rent out, the old one was finally falling apart. I was going to go to Howdens and use the joiner etc we knew, but in the end we used a small local company, which cost us £300 more, but the quality of their interior cabinets and doors was so outstanding, plus they could do everything, including tiling, we went with them. We didn’t change the floor, but did everything necessary, I’m hoping it lasts well and our tenants look after it!

I think for practicality I’d go for quartz on both.. i have given up on ChatGPT as it’s putting things all over the place and mottling everything! However i would add a jute runner in front of the hob and some chopping boards so it gives the wood element. I’d look at Little Greene warm greeny neutrals and complementary colours, I used putti on the island with a lighter shade on the walls. i hope you don’t mind me saying but i don’t think the style of the dresser sits as well with the modern shaker and crittall doors, I might go for an updated style

Agree with Minnie, excellent worktops but not heat or stain resistant but why would you put a hot pan straight on to your new worktop, if you treat them with care they'll last for years. Also its less porous and harder than granite and its the most popular worktop. Seeing more dishwashers that now 'feature' door opening as part of the drying cycle, i'd advise turning that off as i have heard of the steam staining the underneath. Newer tops are now silica low content/free due to fabrication health regulations, not heard of any issues with these, also seeing some that are prints ie the pattern isn't through the top but is layed on the top so where you have edges/cut outs it wouldn't look quite right imho. Any veined worktop will show a joint when you go round a corner as the pattern also changes direction, the joint will be about 1-2mm and filled with a colour matched compound. For hob splashbacks it can affect the price, quartz is usually sold by the slab [3.3x1.4 ish] so if the splashback can come out of the worktop slabs then go for it but if it means having to buy another slab then its expensive. I find that drainer grooves don't really work as they don't have sufficient fall to drain away so you can get limescale build up, i never recommend them.