Although, I think that wood countertops will look just fine, some alternatives to copper you may not have considered are pewter and zinc.
I'm attaching a link to a somewhat informative website that deals with metal countertops.
Also, if you perform a google search for pewter or zinc countertops you'll see some good images.
As for your floor choice, slate is a great material.
Some people say they find it hard to stand on for long periods of time but we installed it in our recent kitchen reno and we love it.
Here's a mid-construction shot.
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Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Here is a link that might be useful: Metal Countertop Info

Are you leaving the cabs stained or would you paint? If you are keeping them in a wood stain I am not sure wood counters will work and I would think about a metal or formica tops. I believe zinc and pewter change like copper but stainless steel is not living and will remain the same except for scratches but eventually they blend together to form a patina that is lovely. If you plan to paint the cabs a color I think wood would look wonderful! And painted cabs with slate and wood is a lovely combo. Congrats on your new home!

You should take a second look at the copper countertops. Some people here have diy'd them and the patina is part of their charm. You don't want to keep them looking like a new penny forever. And I think they would go great with a slate floor.

Here, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Copper

If you browse around on Youtube, you can see videos about doing zinc or copper counters. If your spouse can run a soldering iron, you're good to go.

I'm thinking a wood edge is too much wood for that kitchen and agree that wood counters might not be right either. If you were into painting the cabinets, it might look ok - BUT oak is hard to paint without seeing grain everywhere. Maybe adding more darkness by gel staining the cabinets dark might be too darkness much after adding a slate floor.

If you have time and like it, maybe do milk paint with a sand through here and there to the oak. Its not everyone's cuppa, but it might help brighten the kitchen and blends really well with wood counters. A nice cherry red or burgandy can transmit the same feeling as cherry for a fraction of the cost.

I think your new house is a diamond in the rough. The yard and that garage-workshop are amazing. Consider going slow - live with it for a while before doing a lot. What you want to do may change.

What I hear you saying is wood counter, wood flooring...what about the cabs? Painting? I think they would have to be to balance all that other wood. Copper sounds gorgeous, so does any metal that will patina. I love the ides of cherry countertop and floor with a painted cab the best though. Metal is noisy.

I think if you want to go with wood counters, they should be stained dark. Then, I'd want to see lighter for the floor or you may end up with too much dark.

Since you mention being in your 50s, you may want to consider cork or something else soft for the floor. It will serve your back, joints and feet better over time. I am in my mid 40s and have had issues with pinched nerves in my feet a few times and I have to say that the difference between carpet, wood and tile is magnified when you have problems with your feet. I'd make the flooring a priority in your budget because the rest can wait. You could even consider a nice vinyl tile. You don't just have to go with the 80s shiny type of stuff. There are now very nice ones you can choose. Not only will they be easier on your body but they are warmer and you get less drastic breakage if anything gets dropped. I was shocked when I dropped a glass jar on linoleum in our bsmt and it did not break. On our old tile floor in the kitchen it would have shattered and spread glass fragments for yards. The bsmt lino was on a slab, which makes the non break extra surprising.

I know people like the look of copper, but have you ever smelled or tasted a penny? It gives me the willies to think of it near food. I know copper pots and such are nice, but I don't want my food in contact with it.
I'd consider the stainless for your counters or a nice laminate if you don't do wood. Those also have come a long way in the past few years. Not all laminates are faux stone any more.
I'd keep an eye on CL or at the local Habitat for Humanity Restore for an island that you can use. If you did make your own island top, I'd consider all butcherblock so it does not look choppy and the diners can have a softer warmer feeling surface to rest their arms on.

I think if you want to make the space a little darker/richer looking, I'd do that with paint more than the permanent fixtures. Then, if you feel you went too dark after it was done, a new coat of paint costs less than a new floor or counters.....

Of course, you could gel stain your cabs to go darker, but then it would probably look better with a lighter counter and floors. I agree about wanting contrast so once you pick your darker element, I'd keep the rest light to medium toned. Despite the large space and skylight, if I were to make a mistake in one direction or the other, I'd rather it be too light than too dark....

Thank you, everyone! You've all given me some ideas to think about. After reading these posts and talking with my BFF, I am going to retract my statement that countertops MUST be first and go instead with flooring first -- for several reasons:

1.) It will require the biggest outlay of money.

2.) It's the one area I feel most decisive about -- i.e., though lovely -- not wood -- nor bamboo, nor cork, nor vinyl, nor granite nor marble (though thank you for thinking about my aching joints!)

3.) Past experience has taught me in order to do such projects-- time, money, and energy all have to come together at once. Right now we have all three and my husband and son are raring to go just as soon as I make the call -- that may not be the case six months from now. (Sigh. Such is the life of a carpenter's wife.) : /

4.) I think it better to lay flooring now before the cold weather sets in -- probably not a good idea to lay slate in the middle of winter.

5.) Once I see how the slate looks, then I can make a decision on the countertops.

Yes! You've all helped me realize I am about 98% certain we'll go with slate. I actually have a slate floor in my current kitchen (will post pics later when I figure out photo bucket) and after 13 years I still love it. People thought I was crazy when I chose slate and that was when all sorts of lovely tile was the rage, but my thinking then was similar as now: I want timeless, durable, non-slippery, low-maintenance, practical for our purposes and to still looks nice no matter what the men drag in on their boots. ; )

Hmmm....I never even thought about painting the cabinets -- but I do like the idea, especially milk paint! I really do like the look of milk paint! And I like the fact that the painting could be done "later" -- maybe next summer.

Thank you, too, for pointing out there might be too much wood going on if I go with wood countertops. That is definitely something to consider.

Have already looked at a number of custom-metal countertop sites (copper, zinc, etc.) but I just can't envision the entire countertops being all one sheet of any kind of metal. Plus while I do like the aged patina look I don't like acid spill spots and scratches and all the dings and dents that come with soft metals. Hubby has actually done some lovely copper work (lamps and planters) and I know he'd do a great job, but you see he's from the Southwest and I'm afraid he'd go a little nuts and get too south-western adobe-ish if I just let him have at it. ; ) Maybe a natural (no stain) sealed cherry countertop with stamped or hammered or beveled copper edges might be a compromise.

Then, too, if I go with wood countertops we could always tile over them 10 or 15 years down the road...

But enough about countertops for now. I really feel the floor throughout the entire area should be slate. I agree, in part, with the notion of living in a house awhile to see what you want to do. But I thought slate flooring when I first walked into the house and every time I've looked at it online and every time I've been there since. (God willing, the cherry flooring will come later with the living room and bedrooms.)

But first things first...I still have to finish packing! :o