Yeah, seems like a waste to use granite for that. Even with extras left over from a slab you're still going to be spending a lot for the cuts. That and unsupported stone that deep might be a problem, whereas wood has some 'give'.

Just to clarify, you have presented 3 versions. I believe the consensus is the original version with the wood grain ( linen grain) cabinetry works the best and is most updated. The only thing that is out of place are the cabinets or "shelves" on both sides of the range hood. If this is what you need to find a solution too. I would suggest only experimenting with rendering options for these two cabinets( or shelves). This cabinet ties in all the other hard surfaces. The white is not working. It just adds another element. The black is a little dated.

Hi again- I'm an Aussie and the term 'wood burner' means a metal box with a glass door on the front and in the situation where you have a 'double sided wood burner' that means two glass doors on each end. A wood burning fireplace open either side between two rooms is a different thing. Sorry about the confusion. I looked into building one of those in brick and was strongly advised to place a glass panel on one side ( as Ironwood has pointed out) the natural draughts that move through your home will take the smoke with it. A piece of glass will prevent this from happening.

Hi, I am from Assam, Guwahati. Yes it is warm humid place with lot of rains (like kerala). The bookcase is gradually drying. Fortunately last few days were very sunny and airy and my room has two big windows. Few mor details of my bookcase. It is 8 feet wide, 6 feet tall and 11 inch deep. It was attached with wall with 6 wall screw and has four pair of legs.I ask the carpenter to divide the bookcase into 3 part (32 inch each) and two door system for each part. Every part has 6 shelve from top to botom. There is no plywood or wood in back. I made it that way because the bookcase is attached in my room's inner wall I understand that the bookcase may have very little gap in between wall and wooden planks and i am ready for it. But I have no idea that beacuse of faulty mesurement, it became 1 inch gap between wall and sheve in the upper side. In lower side it is very minimum gap. I stop the carpenters to put the glass door. But now I see that they also make fault in making the doors. The doors are heavier that the shelf. The wooden planks are 1 inch thick while the door are 1.1/2 inch thick. I actually visit few hardwere shops here, but most have no ideas what to do and few says to apply wall putty to fill the gap. But my back wall is coloured (old wall, that why) and wall putty will not set on old wall and timber. I cannot remove it now from the wall otherwise the wall may destroyed. I really need a step by step guide now that what to do after the heves are dry, how to fil the gap and how to put the door without further damaging the shelf.