gknee Concrete all the way.

simps214 The first material of this ideabook is my first countertop choice. Soapstone is a beautiful, veined natural stone without the sealing required by granite, the care required by marble, etc.

But all the countertop choices were well displayed in this article. Great job-I mean Zinc countertops? All the bases seem to have been covered!

Jessica Warfield I worked for a granite company for years, and the thing to know about vetrazzo is that things can get through and stain the concrete around the glass. So, tea and coffee rings leave marks unless cleaned right away.

inkwitch I love all the options, but price does play a big part in most people's decisions. And for older homeowners, a stone/concrete/marble countertop could be a problem. We drop things. We stumble and lose our balance. Sharp corners and hard edges are not good. And there's always the "drop it and kiss it goodbye" option. I have the same argument against stone floors.

Sonja Dunbar I'll still choose laminate - a lot of bang for the buck and holds up well for a long time. My childhood home which we have as a vacation home has laminate counters that were put in in the mid 50's and they still look pretty darned good!

Sigrid I etched my marble counter within a month of buying my house. I lived in a rented house with a brand new laminate counter and a babysitter put a hot pan on it and it has a permanent, melted-in, ugly pot-sized blemish.

I'm not sure why recycled glass and cement isn't "eco-friendly."

Out of curiosity, does anyone think my ancient, black, laundry-room/workshop sink in my house built in 1910 or so is soapstone? If so, what kind of solvents will get off the years of God-knows what (paint? cement? industrial grunge?) staining it?

simps214 @Sigrid A century old soapstone sink, what a great find!

To clean it I would recommend first cleaning it with rag (don't be tempted to use something abrasive-soapstone scratches) with something mild like Dawn.

Then the remaining residue and any scratches can be removed with wet sand paper. I would first tackle any build up with 180 grit sand paper. Then remove any obvious scratches you wish to remove with 320 grit. Finally the entire sink should be evenly done with 600 grit. Once you're done apply food grade mineral oil with a cloth which should be done every couple months.

Finally you must inspect and test the sink for any leaks, perhaps by filling it with water for a day-just because the stone can last seemingly forever doesn't mean whatever is holding it together does!

Hope that helps and good luck!

Sigrid It does hold water. The taps drip, so they are shut off at the wall.

Part of my problem is that it's an enormous, multi-sinked trough in the basement --- the ideal spot for cleaning paint brushes. And I suspect it's a lovely (if cleaned) and possibly valuable antique. It wouldn't begin to fit in my kitchen and it's the only place for cleaning big items (or paint brushes) in the house.

How would I tell if it's soapstone or slate?

midmodfan Lots of fabulous options! I think it is important to choose a material that complements the style of the house as well as the kitchen - that's what makes these photos so appealing.

One remark to tiled counters: light grout gets dark stains and dark grout gets light stains, it's not easier to maintain. A more 'rubberish' grout or a special sealer might help, though.

We already had a bid for white caesarstone, but our island is a 10 by 4 'landing strip' and so we decided to live in our new house for a while and see what colors/ materials really work best. As an interim solution we chose glossy white laminate with an aluminium edge. It actually looks pretty good, and eventually exchanging it will not cause a financial headache. I just wasn't ready to make an expensive commitment and it was good that I listened to my gut.

jrills I love my amazon pearl quartzite counters. Its not a quartz composite, but a gorgeous natural stone that has the depth of onyx and a marble look, but is essentially indestructible. Makes it worth the price tag in my opinion.

Dona Rosene Interiors Great article Vanessa! Excellent coverage of all the many options we have today. Thank you!
Dona Rosene, Dona Rosene Interiors

Lloyd Architects Great resource--thanks for compiling. We chose a black honed granite for our home remodel several years ago and we're still happy with it. Lots of good options out there!

murlynnhome We remodeled our kitchen a year ago and chose soapstone. Half way through our planning we changed our minds from granite to soapstone. I have no regrets and absolutely love it. We picked the slap our counters were cut from - a beautiful green.

2B Design @Sigrid Sounds like a great find. Soapstone or Slate? Slate has a much harder surface. Soapstone can be scratched with a fingernail. Soapstone has a modeled look created by white-ish veins. The color of slate is very integral with nearly zero veining. They are my two favorite kitchen counter surfaces, so either way I recommend doing whatever you can to salvage this gem.
I would love to see photos of your counter and share ideas about what and how to reuse it.
I'm attaching a photo of the latest kitchen renovation we did using slate.

Sigrid 2B Design
Thanks for helping me figure out my sink is slate. I'm not updating my kitchen, which has marble counters and I don't need anything that size. I'll keep the slate sink in the basement laundry room, which I've thought about upgrading, but it's not the top of my list. I think it's really a choice of keeping an underused, antique and really nice feature in an unappreciated spot or removing it and selling it so someone else can appreciate it, but I'm not sure by the time I put in a cheaper sink and redo the plumbing, I'll be left with a profit at all, not to mention one worth the aggravation.

lynnag My intention when designing my kitchen reno was that it would biodegrade when some buyer down the road decides to renovate again. I went with butcher block - from Lumber Liquidators: it was affordable, but not the best quality of butcher block. But I'm happy with it, and if at some day I'm not, again it will biodegrade. And, I really like the warmth a wood counter gives to the room.

62oliver When we were choosing my island counter I loved that stunning veined marble. But marble is very expensive and finding one huge slab would be challenging. But the kitchen with white cabinets and marble island is gorgeous.

taureg There are beautiful homed finishes available from Caeserstone. Don't buy them - constant maintenance and problems around the sink because they are porous.

2much2do Not sure why architectural glass was not included. Not recycled glass bits but a sheet of glass. It is not pompous, easy to clean and now can be done thinner in colors etc.

embracegrace Great round up of some of the beautiful choices out there. In our new house, we opted for quartz (Hanstone Specchio White) for the durability (no sealing! no worries!) and earth-friendly use of 24% recycled glass and mirror. It looks like terrazzo without the tendency to stain. I love how easy it is to maintain--Sharpie, pomegranate juice, turmeric are just a few things I've wiped up. Plus, I think it's beautiful.

You can see a full tour here:
http://www.dejongdreamhouse.com/2012/04/introducingour-dream-kitchen.html

Jean Batty Would never use honed black granite again. Put in my dream kitchen and it was a nightmare with kids and rings from glasses. Sold that home to empty nesters who can afford to baby the counters. And believe me I tried every type of recommended sealer, cleaner, etc. Never again!

happyjackjane We've had Corian countertops in our home for 17 years, and I have no complaints. It doesn't stain, barely scratches (though you would have to look very hard to see if there were any) and cleans like a breeze. We picked a neutral brown-speckled finish. Corian has come a long way, and now has more varied patterns...I'm leaning towards that in my next home.

usahalseys We have had many of the mentioned options in various homes. Never again will we have Corian - way to many scratches and scuffs. Granite is IMPOSSIBLE to keep clean and polished. Good old fashioned laminate is definately one of the most durable products and is in our sights to be considered for our upcoming kitchen reno. We are looking at a quartz option first as most everything we have read and noticed at home shows do speak highly of this product. We did recently see the recycled paper countertop at the Seattle home show - gotta say I was impressed. Bit too new and untested for me currently. Great comments above - thanks for the input.

robgard The prices quoted for quartz is a bit high. Here in NJ at Lowe's quartz can be had for as little as $50/sq.ft. installed.

sbgooder The cooper counter is stunning, but could it be used in a outdoor kitchen that is protected by a roof?

Rona Jones I went to a private seller of granite and it was 1/3 the price that Costco, Lowes and Home Depot quoted. Also for my cabinets.
All the retailers were at about the same price of 30K. I single sourced the cabinets and counters and got everything (granite top, Hickory cabinets) for 10k.
I have 15 lf of counter tops and also a island 4 ft x 8 foot. I chose a better finished top with a 20 year guarantee on the finish and also a thicker slab 3 cm thick.

embracegrace Robgard, thanks for commenting about the price of quartz. I agree that they are listed much to high in the article. When we were looking around, quartz and granite were in the same price range.

dekoker Why isn't quartzite listed? I really like the look of it better than granite, especially for the lighter colors -- more flowing and subtle showing veins. All the white granites I am seeing are speckled.

Sharon McLeod It must depend on location. In the Ottawa Canada area, quartz goes at about $100/sq.ft installed. Granite is completely variable depending on colour.

aobabe I love how they said laminate countertops are not the most durable. My family is cooking 24/7 and we have had our great-looking laminate's for 30 years!! Don't be fooled by their statement, if you are looking for a long-lasting, and customizable look I might add, laminate is the way to go. (Crazy Cheap too!)

littleredhen33 Hi all :-) I'm just at that crucial finishing stage of my new kitchen.....The units are painted wood in a what looks like a pale green (French Grey in Farrow and Ball colours) - easy to repaint in years to come if i get bored with it!

I had planned on a granite work surface (and that's still the front runner) but was let down by original plans so all options are back on the table. Now, as a new member of houzz, your article has set me rethinking....

I still need a work surface for the harder working areas of the kitchen (one worktop already in is wood - nearer the dining area). The budget is there for granite (although not the more expensive end!!) but what other options might be suggested and if it is granite, what colour? I had thought of plain black (the contrast of dark top over light units) but looking through houzz, the options seem endless....

Just thought i'd throw it out there and see what you think....

Thanks!

susanmitch Love the soapstone

Mega Builders Great article and beautifully illustrated. Great job!
With iron, zinc, copper and aluminum established as potential catalysts to Alzheimer and other dementia deceases, my recommendation is to stay away from them for food prep surfaces.
Another benefit to some of the engineered materials in solid colors is the ability to produce large spans without any seams. This, for example is a LOOOOONG white Corian counter in a Mal Corboy Kitchen. This is not possible with natural stone or wood and would be a problem with most other engineered products as well.

Sonja Dunbar I feel the main reason people pick the more expensive materials over laminate is status. We can put laminate on the floor and it's fine, but for a countertop it won't hold up - NOT! All this fancy countertop stuff is pushed by the home improvement stores so they make more money. I will always have laminate and I probably do more cooking than most of the people who HAVE to have the expensive countertops! I set hot pots on my present laminate and the heat does nothing to it. If I feel like changing colors in my kitchen, it can be done without spending a fortune.

chreste I have a 13 foot, all one piece copper counter, back splash and farm sink. I love it. I can leave a raw chicken on the counter, wipe it off with a paper towel and come back in 3 hours and not one germ exists. Not something I actually do, but I could. You have to face the fact it is a "living" finish, and if that guest puts his/her wine glass on the counter and spills a few drops, you will have a lovely lighter spots for a while, but the beauty of copper is worth it all.

claudiawilliams Look at Revelle (www.revelle.us)

repovich My daughter found a soy-based product that is really inexpensive, and can be designed to look like just about any type of product. Has anyone ever heard of it or used it? I am looking to do a reno in the next year hopefully and would like some feedback if anyone has any.

egpr32 What about silestone?

dekoker I think some people are confusing fabricated quartz (like Ceasarstone) which is ~93% quartz, with quartzite which is cut stone like marble and granite. Quartzite is very hard and resilient like granite.

gemhouse We wanted the look and ease of a stone finish top when we did our kitchen, and opted for 600mm sq granite floor tiles. Five years on and they still look good, with very few grout lines.

John Silvers Construction, Inc Hi Vanessa,
Great article on counter top options. We are building and installing a High Definition WilsonArt laminate in a kitchen that has depth and a granite look, definitely not your grandma's laminate. It has made me take a new look at laminates, especially at the $3.50/sf price for the laminate sheet.

I'm a custom remodelor in Florida, and am looking for ideas for the kitchens and baths for a beach house. I'm considering concrete tops or laminate. My crew does the whole job start to finish, but we have never done concrete tops. Could you point me to information on how to make concrete tops. Also, do you have additional edge possibilities for both?

Thank you,

John Silvers

ncb1962 I have both soapstone and solid wood countertops and LOVE them both.

tractormama One can significantly reduce the prices quoted for some of these surfaces. I took Julia Child's guidance and my experience in long-ago chemistry labs. I just finished building completed a new home using soapstone for all the countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. I had soapstone tiles shipped to me for about $10.50 a square foot. A professional tiler installed them for about $3.00 a square foot. This is great stuff. I also looked into using copper countertops -- again from the web one can find the copper and materials to install. It's not a big deal whether you go with a pro or DIY.

Studio NOO Design Thanks Vanessa for all these options BUT marble should never go on the kitchen counter, way too porous, not easy care, will stain with liquids ! If you like this look but want resistance and easy care, check out the new Caesarstone faux marble quartz collection.

embracegrace egpr32, Silestone is a brand of engineered quartz, like Cambria, Hanstone, Ceasarstone, Zodiaq, etc. They are essentially the same composite of quartz and resin. The costs vary mostly because of marketing. Cambria, for instance is well known, but you pay more to cover their marketing. Many people like them though, because they are based in the US. We went with Hanstone because we liked the style (Hanstone) and it was fabricated closest to us.

James R. Salomon Photography I love the look of this kitchen. Which of your projects is it from and where is it located? Is it also in NYC area?

Jerri Holan & Associates, AIA Very Informative and Thorough - Especially liked the section on countertop materials. Thanks,

Jerri Holan, FAIA

Lisa Kubacak Hi John Silvers, I’m Lisa Kubacak with Wilsonart LLC, you mentioned looking for countertop edge ideas, I thought you might find these edge options helpful. http://www.countertop.com/edges/

Lisa McCoy, Lowe's Home Improvement In our area alot of people are interested in concrete countertops. What is your opinion on concrete or textured concrete countertops? Pro's and Con's.

proximity kitchensystem Concrete is porous and makes up for it by being soft. One of the least practical materials for a kitchen counter EVER. It was originally used by DIY types because it was cheap. At this point, it's not even reasonably priced any more. Sealing it requires chemicals which have questionable properties.

proximity kitchensystem No mention of stainless steel? Various pre-sized counters are available from John Boos & Co. (which is also the largest supplier of maple block tops in the US). We make the proximity kitchensystem Standard Counter in both stainless steel and teak...

annzhouse We had a beautiful black granite counter top in our previous house. Loved it. It never marked or stained or scratched and we didn't baby it at all. Would happily have again in my next house. Yes it is expensive - we priced it at a kitchen factory - $$$$$ -bit actually bought it from the local tombstone maker! They did a great job and it looked like the kitchen professionals did it for about a 1/4 of the price! Sometimes you have to look outside the box to save dollars!

John Silvers Construction, Inc Thank you Lisa, I went on the site and it has exactly what I'm looking for. In my area, the solid surface manufacturers own the town, it's good to see laminates making a comeback.

Green Home Chicago Design Center There are several products that have not been included in this article.
There is a fabulous product called Squak Mountain that I see a lot of.
Green Home Chicago Design Center.
We also have a local product called Gilasi that is local recycled glass and they are now going to make it with resin so that it will not stain.
Two fabulous but different choices.

Debie Wilson We have fabricated and installed solid surface for about 25 years and although the cost has dropped dramatically in the past 8 years, the product is not popular anymore. It is impossible to please every home owner, in regards to counter top materials, but there are many, many who have had solid surface in their homes in the past and are very loyal to solid surface in future homes. We have kind of changed directions in our business, in order to survive the economy and will be phasing out of counter tops completely in the next few months. We have gone in a completely different direction. We do still have former customers who have moved or are building a new home and contact us to fab/install the solid surface counter tops in their next home. The product is warm to the touch, very affordable, appears seamless, has the ability for NO grout or caulk lines around the sinks, and is repairable (if it does chip or a crack forms). Also, you can sand and refinish the entire counter top with a sander, at any time. I will always love the product and use it in my future homes. To each their own, I guess.

proximity kitchensystem Debie - when you refer to "solid surface" are you referring to Corian and Avonite or similar, or Caesarstone and the rest of the quartz stuff? I've not found the quartz product to be that seamless, or sandable...am I missing something?

psp2pdx nothing about Corian?

Debie Wilson Our shop only worked with DuPont Corian, LG Himacs, Staron, and the newer Livingstone product. We used to fab/install Avonite and some of the other solid surface products, but over time narrowed down the field. DuPont Corian used to "own" the market, but kept the cost of their materials so high that it left room under them for other manufacturers to come in under them and now they still have a good product that is less expensive than it used to be, but the perception that DuPont Corian is expensive is hard to change now. I could have used any of the brands in my house, but with the latest project we did, I went with solid white Livingstone. It seems no different than the Corian would have been. Corian is less expensive than it used to be, but Livingstone is cheaper than just about any of them. Livingstone is an acrylic product which is much better than the solid surface manufacturers that use polyester in the mix.

The engineered stone products like CaesarStone, etc., usually have the same type of seams in them that granite has. The seams are kind of beveled on each side, but still very noticeable. The engineered stone sheets come to us pre-finished on one side with a shiny surface. It is possible to repair a chip in the E-stone yourself by filling it with clear nail polish, letting it dry, then using a razor blade to scrape off the polish level with the counter top.

I guess that I am more tolerant of small scratches in the surface of the counter top than most people, because I felt that once a homeowner found out how great solid surface was, that would be the last counter top that they would ever have to purchase. The only reason would be growing tired of the color of solid surface that was chosen (which I did with my first house). It is best to go with a neutral or white and paint the walls...ha ha! Some people can not stand the small scratches than occur with pottery, mugs, etc. that slide across the counter. They would be best with a different product. Everyone has to make their own choices.

Granite Grannies Fun fact: I've heard from several realtors that Corian is the only countertops material that actually decreases the sell-ability of a home. A potential home-buyer knows they can rip out formica easily, but with Corian they know it's expensive so they don't want to throw it away, but they still don't want to live with it.

nancypcollier love this custom counter..

munir hussain weery good job

jean25 My beautiful concrete counter cracked.....it was heartbreaking. I replaced with Corian and love, love it. I live in Calif. with earthquakes, I don't trust concrete or granite. Cracking sucks. In the bath, they said mt granite had fissures and it is part of the beauty. I'm putting Corian in there, too.

mcd53 How many people have room for two dishwashers and two sinks. Years ago when I needed room so my sink wasn't full of dirty dishes I used this thing called 'clean dishes...get an allowance'. Worked every time.

jean25 As a life long realtor, i have never heard any- not one complaint about Corian or solid surface. The integrated sink is a huge plus with Corian. The complaints I hear are only about color of granite or Corian color. People want to keep counters, not buy a house and have to change. I 'm the same. I will market houses with Corian counters and lately, get great response. Granite has been overdone.

cathiepeterson I totally disagree with the suggestion of faux marble. The imitation marble looks fine in pictures but cheap in person. It has no depth. If you want a marble look, get marble. I have had both. The real marble is beautiful, stunning and I run my hands over it every day because of its' beauty. There have been big improvements in sealants. I am not the type of person that would like the natural stains and marks. I do always wipe up immediately and I haven't had any big issues. Is marble worth it? YES! It is absolutely gorgeous! I combined it with absolute black granite which actually has to be wiped more often because of fingerprints but it gives me 2 different working surfaces. Everyone that comes into my kitchen is in awe of the look of the marble. Mine is a Vermont marble (much harder than calacatta or carrara) and it is honed. I originally preferred polished because I thought the honed wouldn't look like real marble but worried about etching, so I had it honed. Marble has so much depth and beauty that either way it is gorgeous. I like the honed much better than I thought I would. I actually prefer it to polished now. I LOVE IT!

Shobha Bhushan Granite is suited for asians and those who use do a lot of chopping,frying and using natural gas for cooking purposes

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC Very interesting and comprehensive article. I'd like to weigh in on Caeserstone--just installed their "Raven" color in a kitchen with white cabinets. It's very attractive. I was convinced that it was indestructible, wouldn't show etching, etc., after all I read about it both from the company and online. I'm becoming very disappointed since there are definitely marks on it that won't come out, marks that are very similar to the etching I see in marble. It also has a few scratches, and because it is dark, needs to be wiped and dried immediately to minimize water marks. The reason I used it was to avoid having to "baby" the countertop, as some have said about marble. Next time I will go with my gut and get the marble, etching be damned!

proximity kitchensystem NOTHING IS INDESTRUCTIBLE. OK, sorry for yelling, but jeeeeeez.

As the man said, "you pays your money and you takes your choices".

I have executed over 400 kitchens and designed over 3000. What I find is that most people think that if a product doesn't match whatever unrealistic expectation they might have of it, their civil rights have been violated.

Things require maintenance. You can't "use knives on granite" - the surface will eventually show the wear, but that's not the point. Your knives will be dulled almost immediately.

Everything physical degrades over time. Every material has its advantages and its drawbacks.

I use maple "butcherblock" counters, but not with the expectation of cutting directly on them, for daily use I use a cutting board. This board is their to take the abuse and show the marks of that abuse - this keeps the finished counters clean and looking new.

Granite is hard, and virtually water- and heat-proof. I have never sealed (or stained) a granite counter unless a client insisted. I'd rather have the use of the top without worrying that some petroleum based chemical is winding up in my food.

In short, let's all relax a bit - nothing lasts forever, and the expectation that we have the right to be above this most fundamental natural law is simply ridiculous.

Also, the memories of our lives can be embedded in the wear and tear on the homes in which we live, the clothes we wear, the objects that we collect.

It's life, people. We should maybe relax and live it.

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC Hey, Proximity, I am totally aware that everything eventually deteriorates, and that nothing is perfect. It's kind of annoying however, when the companies that sell this stuff try to convince you otherwise. Then I feel duped. But I don't feel that my civil rights have been violated. (wink wink)

proximity kitchensystem Diana - you can call me Pete...or if you're feeling formal you can use the customary "Sir" or "Your Majesty "...YES I'm kidding. And I completely agree, if the expectations have been formed because of...lies...you've been told, well, yeah, that's not right at all.

Shobha Bhushan Just for proximity to know that some materials have their own pitfalls no doubt,just a few tips on them in some way to educate them about the choice seems normal to me.
We all know that nothing lasts forever ,just that some points have to be clarified before a client spends hard earned money

retire2012 What about quartzite counters? Indestructible. We love for kitchen--beautiful

Panageries Here’s a new one for you… bronze! Just like the zinc and marble countertops mentioned, years of use add patina and character to this robust yet sophisticated material. Bronze adds sparkle and the “cool to the touch” temperature is a great addition to a steamy kitchen! Visit our website at www.panageries.com for more inspiration, and send any of your design questions to info@panageries.com! Now… get your perfect counter top installed already!

Mario Ramirez Dear Vanessa
I would like to ask your opinion about Porcelain Slabs countertops
they come in a wide arrange of colors and textures
one full piece, no seams
all properties of porcelain, large format like granite slabs

donatthestonecollection Neolith Sintered Ceramic Slabs make a great Kitchen Countertop that is low maintenance, extreamly durable and eco friendly

Desiree Eddington Kitchen backslashes

donatthestonecollection Yes by all means

donatthestonecollection Neolith Back wall and counter

ajaubrey We put in white and gray carrera marble countertops in an all white chef's kitchen over 4 years ago.......I cook a lot and I am not known to be dainty. Citrus removes the finish and it does etch but it looks absolutely gorgeous, I never see it in a friend's kitchen and it is so easy to maintain......just wipe down! Yes, it does develop a patina over time, but that IS the beauty of it. I would do it again in a second, but if you are a perfectionist.....do not!
Bellisimo!

proximity kitchensystem patina good. perfectionism bad. Any questions?

K. D. Once again glass is left out... Glass countertops are very beautiful in any type of kitchens. Glass offers design options in terms of color, texture and lighting that far exceed anything that can be accomplished with stone, granite or marble.

The glass possesses a degree of transmission creating an illusion of depth that changes depending on the lighting during the day and evolving into the night.

777wilson like for a feature wall in a hallway

Lorelle Pottie where do you get glass countertops? would look great in a home bar!

K. D. Lorelle, visit ThinkGlass.com website and you will see all the different styles possible for your home bar. Shelves in the back, raised bar with artistic colors, bar with LED lights... It will look great!

Stephanie You Great article- I need to look into those copper tops!
I think Himacs quartz ran about $45 - 65 per square foot depending on complication of the material.

toomuchbeige Anyone care to comment on color for laminates? A maple kitchen with white appliances........Should the countertop always be neutral or at the price of laminates it seems you could have some color fun. Do we "match" walls or cabinetry?

Sharon McLeod I usually prefer a good contrast. Especially if the floor is dark, I'd go dark. Maybe Labrador Granite.

mountainlady When we built our home, we used butcher block on our island. After a dozen years, a leaking faucet and numerous ugly wear marks, I hated it. I tried using mineral oil occasionally, but didn't take the time to maintain it properly. I decided to replace it with marble, but I am so glad I didn't take the easy and expensive route. I found an awesome product, EZ-DO, made by John Boss. I totally scraped and sanded it down to where there were no black water stains and few other marks. I left a few for character. I now love it and promised myself to apply touch up coats when needed to keep it looking nearly new and clean.

robigana We use local hardwood, eucalyptus known as Tasmanian oak. I had bench tops installed 20years ago and they were only resurfaced once. Brilliant

erobinso Does anyone know where to get the best pricing for granite in vanvouver?

K. D. @ Erobinso Before you commit to granite, have a look at Glass. There is a ThinkGlass reseller near Vancouver : Austin Custom Kitchens - 2406 King George Hwy - Surrey, BC V4P 1H5 - (604) 542-9906 - http://www.austinkitchens.ca

Remember that glass doesn't need any sealant or protection, completely maintenance free. Also a hot pan will not change the colour of the glass. The luminescence of the glass is also a unique aspect to take in consideration.

Have a look before you go with granite.

The Cabinet Guy, LLC To my surprise, there was no suggestion for slate countertops. Although I am only aware of it being quarried in the Northeast US, I do not know if is distributed around the country. The color choices are somewhat limited and are dependent of the area that they come from. I have used Sheldon Slate with tremendous success, www.sheldonslate.com and they quarry out of NY, VT and ME. When I had my custom cabinet shop, I was a dealer for them and sold a number of projects using it, including my own custom kitchen that is now 10 years old and love it!!!!! Slate does not appear as soft as soapstone, but is softer than granite and is a naturally honed product. Essentially, it is like silt that has been compressed over millions of years, so very dense and finely textured. It is naturally anti-bacterial and incredibly resistant to staining. It does have natural veining, like soapstone, but I have not seen the heavy or dramatic veining that I have with soapstone. It is essentially maintenance free, although, they say you can oil it occasionally if you like. Also, it is typically cut in 1" thick slabs for counters, which I find more elegant and less chunky than the typical 1 1/2" granite thickness. It can be made into sinks as well; again, all of the typical uses of soapstone. I haven't priced it in awhile, but expect it to be $100 or more a sq ft.

proximity kitchensystem Slate is one of the best materials there is for counters...see your high school chemistry lab, for instance.

I love it green, grey, mottled, purple...any way i can get it.

It's "sedimentary" rock as opposed to "igneous". This essentially backs up what you said: formed by pressure as opposed to heat (granite).

Sheldon Slate is awesome.

Good call.

jacksonbeth Quartz countertops really ARE the next "granite". We are a new home builder and work with Web Don to bring in some really nice, quality quartz countertops and slabs Very good material. View some photos of different materals here at http://www.web-don.com for ideas.

angiejohnson105 They only thing they are missing is natural quartz which is the most durable material out right now.

ajlphoenix One great way to keep cost down while leaving most options open is to have a small kitchen with just a few linear feet of counter.

Right Now Redesign LLC For a small kitchen remodel with a tight budget, I'm using laminate. I'm going to use it for the countertops but also extend it so that it serves as a backsplash. It's Wilsonart Venetian Ale and has a very textured look.

The Cabinet Guy, LLC Right Now Design, thanks for your input on laminate; most certainly should not be forgotten. Yes, it is definitely not as durable and as chic, but it is a great alternative to the popular and more expensive materials out there today. It is made from printed photos on paper that are imbedded in resins, etc. , so with major improvements in photo technology through the years, this material has come a long way in its offerings and finishes and textures. Although I have done my share of traditional square edge laminate counters, I have sold a lot of post form laminate which is formed as one single sheet of laminate over a substrate that is rounded on the front edge and rolled up and over the backsplash so there are no seams and very watertight. These are fabricated from blanks, so there are seams at exposed ends and corners, etc. Also, they have come out with other front edge profiles. There are options out there for under-mounted sinks with a traditional cut-out that is laminated and sealed, but I am not keen on them as they just don't hold up. Anyway, thanks again for mentioning it.