We built our house 17 years ago and used honed slate for the counters. It’s Vermont slate (which the kitchen designers recommended over slate from other areas.) This honed slate is really durable—no need to seal it because It doesn’t stain or spot. One plus, for me was that it isn’t a counter material that you see everywhere. Here is an example.
https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/26313bc10e849064_4-3274/home-design.jpg
Another vote for Cambria. I replace every countertop in the house 1.5 years ago. They look brand new. I chose this brand over Zodiac, mostly for the color and reflection.
We have zero staining, no chips. 7.5 foot island came in one piece. I had to have a small bathroom counter replaced as the sink hole was cut very off center (not sure why they even put it in…it was that noticeable).
We had Viatera quartz counters installed 5 years ago and they are still absolutely beautiful. I cook nearly every day and the kitchen is the hub of our family. No nicks, stains, or wear despite our very hard use. The only thing we do to protect it is use hot pads when taking something out of the oven.
While I’m at it, can I put in a plug for a sink? We have a Blanco Silgranit single sink with the drain on the side rather than in the center and how I adore it!!! Very durable and the color choices are lovely. Plus it’s so deep I can throw any dish or pot in there and the kitchen still looks clean.
@Bromfield2 that’s beautiful.
I will add to the sink love - I too have a deep single sink (rather than the double) and oh how I love it! It is so much more functional than the standard or double sinks. But what I love even more than the sink is the touch faucet. IMHO this is a must have if you are designing a kitchen. Not the “wave your hand over the top” hands free but the touch where you touch any part of the faucet for the water to turn off and on. This is amazing when you are cooking or prepping and your hands are dirty or full (especially chicken). You can use your arm to tap the faucet and water turns on or off.
Another vote for one large, deep single sink. Love love love how much can fit inside and “disappear”.
How deep is your deep?
Fortunately my new kitchen has a deep single sink with drain on the side. I have just had it with the double sink I currently have. The garbage disposal is in the shallower of the two sinks and it makes no sense.
@Empireapple, what brand is the faucet you have? We will be replacing the faucets in the sink and vegetable sink. That sounds amazing.
@Iglooo I believe the sink itself is 10 in deep but it’s under mounted so we get another 1 1/2 inches.
@Nrdsb4 we also have a Blanco sink and I love it. My faucet is a Hansgroh…and I love that too.
Another faucet option I saw at a relative’s very high end home…a sink that actually had a little foot pedal to turn the water on. Very nice when hands are full of pots or dishes!
We have those kinds of sinks with the pedals at the scrubbing station at the OR where I work. 
I have a Blanco sink with a double bowl (uneven) and a divider about 4 inches lower than the top of the sink. OMG. such a functional design. The larger bowl accommodates the biggest pots I have, and with two bowls, the functionality doubles. It is like having two decently sized sinks. Lower divider lets me wash cookie sheets without splashing water all over the place. Love it.
No way I would want a lab-like pedal under the sink. My cats would sit on it and get the water meter rolling. 
I have had granite for 20 years in my kitchen and it looks exactly the same as the day we moved in. I am amazed at people who think it is high maintenance. I do nothing to it other than clean it with soapy water and use a granite spray. I put hot pots on it, even use a knife to cut things. I have had no staining or anything.
I am now tired of the ubatuba color but I cannot justify spending $$ just to replace something that looks new.
We have silestone in our vacation home and I love that too, but I am not quite as hard on that as I am at home, so not sure about long term durability.
@Empireapple What brand is your touch kitchen fauce?. We are getting new appliances for our vacation home and the current kitchen faucet is a touch faucet that doesn’t work well. You have to tap it several times to get it to turn off. We didn’t install it and can’t see a brand name on the faucet either. I like the idea of the touch faucet, but I’d want one that works.
My friend has no cats or pets but loves her sinks that all have foot pedals. She designed her kitchen and remodeled her house and loves cooking and baking. She loves gas and installed that rather than induction.
I’m a more casual cook and am fine with our kitchen. It us handy that we have a single fairly deep kitchen sink and a really deep laundry sink, all stainless in our kitchen. H likes using the deep sink to wash out his grill from the smoker, the pan used to smoke turkey and other big, messy jobs.
My touch faucet is a Delta which I have had a two houses now. I loved it so much that when we moved we installed a new one at the new house. My husband got the “wave over the top” for the second sink. He didn’t think it would matter as long as it was touch free but it did. You had to be more specific about waving your hand the right way and that didn’t help me if my hands were full or dirty. I had him take it out and put my original touch faucet as I had in the previous home. I really, really love it and it is great with kids too if they are messy. You don’t get your faucet messy from paint or mud or whatever!
Broomfield2 I think maybe your faucet was installed wrong or it’s time for a new battery. It should just need one tap.
Nrdsb4 HTH
Counters. Seven years ago chose granite over quartz because of the colors/patterns available (in price range- no high end priced products considered). Eventually should reseal the granite according to info. Otherwise both have same hard surface and can take knife use and heat. Chose Corian for bathrooms (and side kitchen counter-desk area, with integrated sinks so no corners for gunk) and love the softer feel. Was told by my realtor to choose whichever i wanted regarding resale value here.
When choosing faucets do not just consider the outward appearance and function. Look into the inner parts- cheap ones will not have the same inner workings. One reason I like Delta and paid attention to their levels of quality (ie not the cheapest). I’m not into battery operated gizmos- the single lever is so easy to use. btw- past and present experiences with Delta replacing spray hoses quickly at no cost has been excellent (I suspect my usage was at fault- don’t ask…).
Ah yes, those OR hand scrubbing sink faucets with foot controls. No way did I ever want anything industrial in my kitchen, including stainless counters (yes to sink only)- a home is not a hospital! Or a pro’s kitchen- and the one I was a student dorm food service worker in. Nor do I like old fashioned looks- ugly sinks way back when.
I feel compelled to add one more kitchen item that I think is a must if possible for a remodel. If you have gas I absolutely love a duel fuel stove/oven. The burners on top are gas which is amazing for cooking but the stove is electric which is ideal for baking. I didn’t even know a duel fuel existed until a salesman recommended it when I was saying that I loved gas for cooking but electric for baking.
My other must have is a true island - no cook top or even sink in it. I like it as a work or buffet station.
I agree with above, and have that exact setup in my current kitchen. Unfortunately, it’s not in the budget to change the location of my stovetop and vegetable sink (on the island). I have stacked electric wall ovens that are in good shape, so not changing that out. I will be changing out faucets, so I’m liking the input on those.
We are gutting the master bathroom at great expense, and sanding and re-staining the wood floors throughout the entire house. Painting the entire place inside and out, and several AC units need replacing. Also getting rid of a dated large glass block window in wet bar that blocks view of gorgeous yard. Landscaping has been neglected, so much work needed.
Every budget has a limit, and doing much to my kitchen other than counters, fridge, stovetop, and faucets is not feasible at this time. Some of the advice is great for anyone considering building from scratch, though!
