all about budget and get the right person do the right job.

ikea...do piece by piece but you only follow the size they available..you can mix and match....

beware there are tonnes of quartzstone in market too....

no need waste silicone, won't help much if only seal one portion. If really want use lacquer better but bear in mine your material is 'strong absorbent' type..not sure it will kembang or not after absorb any coating.

try to find out

typically brand and price which come to colour selection and durability....

Cheapest would be from china which 80% contractor is pushing it to their customer due to affordable cost for customer...rest you have korea stone (you will suprise if i tell you Samsung and LG also have their own quartzstone (OEM or not i dunno), then Dupon Japan....also Italy...like Celestone, Ceaserstone (which quite popular)..

Each brand have their cheap and experience variant based on colour and pattern...

my recommendation is get your contractor to quote you first (but you need know detail what brand, model number etc)...then you can COMPARE directly with quartstone vendor/supplier like http://solidtop.com.my

Possibility you get cheaper price from contractor coz they vendor to vendor they have their own rate vs vendor with customer (end user like us)...

i hope you understand what i meant here

1. U fully trust your contractor
2. U take leave and arrange yourself be there during installation + ask for proof its the correct brand and model you want...AFAIK, each brand has it own unit model/pattern....you wont find same on other brand.

which colour you using (code) and how much your contractor charging you psf or fr ?

light and dark colour usually more expensive...

can show pic ?

if i remember correctly there is allowance on the cover or the lower portion of the hood which allow the power cable to pullout > to connect to plug which is 'outside' of the hood...

Are you make plaster ceiling box at the top of the hood else how your vent hose going to out ?

If i get your statement right, mean the cover will pull all the way up to the celing or below the ceiling you will have cabinet...so your hood cover will connect to cabinet and alumimum vent hose will pass thru your cabinet to your ceiling ?

If that is the case, most likely you need to use this for our wiring...

if you could illustrate a better picture or wider view how your kitchen cabinet, celing all going to look like would be helpful.

what material are those ? and costing ?

how much does the island alone cost and which brand quartz-stone use ? Why the front panel colour glass is not one whole piece instead 4 pcs joining ??

i presume overall is 'cosmetically' look nice instead of quality and durability...from grade of material use ?? pardon me for asking this...

yeah...it may be client budget...this is what he/she gets...

All material come with a price. Even quarts got cheaper one like from China.

Get plywood with laminate surface if budget allow. Melamine will kembang if kena air or too much moisture...alot chipboard. ABS is plastic.

http://www.diyroadcasesstore.com/abs-plastic-sheet-black/

my suggestion is skill solid wood with paint and plywood with laminate (formica) IF budget allow.

AFAIK, price of chipboard vs plywood is about 20-30%.

Plywood can get WET/Wash and won't kembang....