If you want to be unique and one of the trend setters, pick a laminate in an interesting color or visual texture. It's making a bit of a comeback in retro inspired kitchens as well as being an inexpensive and durable method of adding color and pattern.

Formica Oxygen
{{!gwi}}
Formica Lime
{{!gwi}}
Formica Cassis
{{!gwi}}Wilsonart Pomegranite
{{!gwi}}
Wilsonart Regimental Red
{{!gwi}}
Wilsonart Woolamai Brush
{{!gwi}}

There are several manufacturers of recycled(crushed)glass countertops like Vetrazzo Enviroglass, and Icestone.Since they are recycled glass embedded in cement they need to be babied quite a bit; resealed every 6 -12 months because standing liquids (coffee, tea, wine, lemon juice, etc.) can seep and stain.

1) Different
2) Durable
3) Affordable

At best you can have two of three. Pyrolave countertops are different and durable. And drop dead gorgeous IMO but they are a "tad" expensive :)

Only one advice from me- don't use Corian DuPont for kitchen counter top-I have it and it cracked twice!!! Picture speaks for itself!

I fell in liove with the glass but very expensive. Check out the quartz counter tops.
They are becoming very interesting and maintenance free. Cambria has some new colors in the Waterstone line that are really nice

We decided on Cambria quartz for both the kitchen and bath. From information I've been able to gather, it is more durable than granite and maintenance free. Should be about the same price as a middle of the road granite.

I got a sample of green icestone--it's one of the glass and concrete surfaces. I left a cut lemon on it for a few hours as a test and it really etched into the surface. I ruled it out then.

I have a Paperstone (Richlite) cutting board and the thing looks like it barely survived WWIII after just a year or so of use. I'd personally rule that material out.

Have you considered a metal -- stainless, copper, zinc? Advantage to those is that you can get the sink welded right in for absolute ease of cleanup.

Then there's also:
tile
slate
soapstone
glass
resin lab counters
wood
vetrazzo - concrete
quartz
quartzite - solid surface
marble

I know this topic has been discussed several times, but I am struggling to find the threads. I did however find this one.

Countertop Material FAQ

There are now patterned quartz slabs by Caesarstone called Motivo.

Here is a link that might be useful: Caesarstone Motivo

I don't know why circuspeanut's list has:
quartzite - solid surface

Quartzite is a natural stone. It is Corian that is usually called solid surface.

Quartzite is sometimes sold as granite though more and more places are labeling it as quartzite. It can be white/grey looking similar to marble or have brilliant colors and dramatic patterns. It's composed mainly of quartz, harder than granite and on average more expensive than granite. If the stone is totally quartzite, it doesn't etch, but some white quartzite apparently has something calcium based mixed in and does etch.

I'd also suggest going to a few granite yards and wandering around if you haven't already. A lot of the ubiquitous granite uses the safe boring granites. There are more interesting ones.

As cloud swift said there are some interesting granites. In fact on this board I've seen some drop dead gorgeous granites that are anything but common.

And GreenDesigns' idea of laminate is a good one. There are some very interesting choices out there.

Caesarstone has a bold collection called Concetto if you like lots of color and movement. Semi-precious materials are embedded in the resin.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.concettous.com/

Yeah, sorry Cloud, that was supposed to go

quartz - solid surface
quartzite

Also, marmo/lino with stainless edging comes to mind.

> I got a sample of green icestone--it's one of the glass and concrete surfaces. I left a cut lemon on it for a few hours as a test and it really etched into the surface. I ruled it out then.

If you didn't seal and wax the sample before dowsing it with juice, you're not being entirely fair to the product.

Here is a link that might be useful: IceStone care

>If you didn't seal and wax

Seal AND wax? I think it's plenty fair to not think any counter is worth that.