I think the marble naysayers have jumped on the bandwagon without really living with the stone. I have statuary in my bathrooms and love it. Most stains can be removed with a simple baking soda and water poultice. Acid etching is harder to deal with since it removes the polished surface, but its part of having a living stone in your home. If it becomes too bad, you can have it repolished. With a darker stone, you won't have as many issues as a white marble. In order to really know if you can live with it, I suggest you get a small sample of the stone and do some tests. Here is an example. http://www.dohiy.com/2013/04/21/marble-countertops-the-post-acid-test/ Please note that she used bleach and oxyclean to clean the stone after her test. Stay away from both since they can etch the stone just as much as an acidic food. Instead, clean with a ph neutral cleaner like isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), and for heavy stains, the baking soda poultice mentioned above. You have to remember that marble has been used for centuries as flooring, table tops, countertops, etc. throughout the world and most of these installations are still here and aren't stained and etched to the point that it has been ripped out and replaced. Just think about all of he luxury hotels in Europe and how many times they have been exposed to Hangover type guests without any damage.

You list is all "stone" products. Stone products are natural. The durability is guaranteed with stone. Stain resistant...remove marble and granite from your list. Both can stain and etch and both will do this with "flooring" more than they will with a counter top. Gloss levels all change...but it will take years to do it. All stones have maintenance = homeowner needs to work at keeping stone looking good. Stone = expensive. There is no "benefit" for "reasonable" when working with stone. They all cost plenty of money. Stone is expensive. No way around it. If you want "glossy" that doesn't stain for a "good price" then you have forgotten to mention the BEST option: porcelain tiles. Porcelain will do everything you want for a lower price. Stone is expensive, it can stain (especially "oil" stains) it will "etch" or lose gloss level with certain liquids (acid based liquids will do this) and they all need to be maintained and eventually need repolishing to maintain "gloss". Durable is all you can expect out of stone. The rest of your wish list belongs with porcelain tiles.

Thanks for your input Nitin. Much appreciated. If you could help me out with: 1. What material should one use for overhead cabinets & for base cabinets? Anywhere I can look online for colour combinations? 2. What company shelves/ pantry etc to use? Intend using SS. Have heard of Hettich, etc, but which of them is value for money? 3. What chimney would you suggest? Ducted or ductless?? Any recommendations for vendors ? 4. How effective are graphite sinks or are steel ones better? 5. Flooring - glossy to match with dining room as this is an open kitchen or matt finish ceramic tiles? Wud prefer something that dries faster with less mess. Thanks a ton.

Hello Ani Ani, you can have O.H. storage on the burner side and have a 18" deep 6' high cupboard on the opposite wall for the complete storage solution. Leave 6" space from the door opening. In the drawing I'm unable to see what's next to the sink. Please check your cooking platform depth if it is more then 27" then reduce it . You can go up to 24" depth Second option is, You can have pocket sliding door in the centre of the wall so that you can utilize the complete wall for your storage.