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.

Hi Rasa, Nice to hear from you and I’m glad I was able to give you some inspiration for your kitchen tiles. I’ve included another image for you to look at that shows more of a farm house style kitchen with the coloured tiles. If you worried the coloured tiles might look too contemporary for your space, I would advise going for quite soft, muted colour tones to give you the same effect but in a more rustic style. You can see in the attached image how they have used a soft sheen, textured tile in neutral tones, with a subtle hint of colour to be in-keeping with that farmhouse feel. For your tile colours, you could pick up the off white tone of your cabinets with the grey in the granite, and a very soft hint of green or blue to add a little colour to achieve the same look for your kitchen. I have also added some paint swatches below you could use as reference for tile colours to help you visualise the combination. Off white: Greys: Blue or Green: Hopefully this answers your questions for you and I’d love to see some pictures when your project is finished. Good luck with the decorating. Paola Dulux Design Expert www.designer.duluxamazingspace.co.uk

Thnks a lot gor taking your time from aura interiors.i admired your work been a follower too....im waiting till my kitchen slab is fixed in black granite galaxy.... My idea right now something young and luxurious looking which black n metallic will give... Any suggestions regarding toughed glass for kitchen is it durable... Houzz has so much to offer...great help... Thnks again

Please Read, 1) Following are the photos of my Mumbai apartment (10th floor) kitchen. Water heater and water purifier were already (haphazardly) installed by my contractor before I came to occupy the apartment. Answer : u can shift the purifier above sink , inside the cabinet which will be made by carpenter. 2) We now have to install cabinets above the counter. ( you can ) no problem. 3) I want to get the PNG gas pipes installed to replace the existing cylinders. Answer : This work you can do after carpentry work. 4) When I saw other homes it appears I not only need pipes but some ghastly looking meters/ valves etc. Answer : meter will be hidden inside above cabinet toward right side and pipes will be inside the hob side counter will transfer through the balcony wall to meter again. 1) The gas pipes will come from the wall next to the balcony doors. The sink is just next to this wall. Will it be possible to install the pipes and meters below the cooking counter or is that not practical? - - Don't know what are all the practical considerations. Safety, access to meter to take readings, location of the sink? ). everything is possible.. 2) If under the counter installation is not practical, where should the pipes and other boxes/meters go? as mentioned above.. 3) Is there any practical solution to clean up the wall with water purifier and heater? (please note the kitchen has a 6" thick beam on the top of the wall above the counter, also 6" think pillars one in the corner and the other large one near the microwave as shown. Additionally it has a protrusion on the ceiling, probably this houses the drain for the apartment above me. ( for above apartment kitchen nahani trap chamber it is... )