SFGate

ASVInteriors Engineered stone such as Zodiac? Solid surface such as Corian? Concrete (there is a discussion thread on concrete going on right now)? Stainless steel?

Interiors International, Inc. All the above as well as Copper and green products like recycled paper and glass.

DaVinci Floors & Granite Manmade quartz products like ASV suggested take care of the 2 main issues folks have with granite: too much natural variation and maintenance issues.

Sandra Rolens Thanks everyone! Very helpful!

Twisted Minds Custom Designs Sandra, I created a page to help homeowners and buiilders alike decide if concrete is a material they would like to explore for their countertop needs. It lists some of the most FAQ's about the material. If interested please read, and if you have any follow-up questions on concrete, feel free to ask, I'd be happy to try and answer.

http://www.houzz.com/discussions/346684/Concrete-Countertops-FAQ-s-by-Twisted-Minds

Jenny Brown Ikea

Island Soapstone Da Vinci - maintenance issues with granite? Seriously?!

Many stones are wipe-and-go as far as maintenance is concerned - not even requiring a sealer. Short of self-cleaning countertops, I do not know of any other option that trumps natural stone for beauty, ease of use and - surprisingly enough - a comparatively limited environmental impact too (see this Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimension_stone I do not normally quote Wikipedia, but have found this article to be well sourced and documented).

A good, well-educated fabricator will be able to help his/her clients select materials suitable to their situation and budget.