We are moving 4 years after putting in a huge dream kitchen, with idea help from gardenweb posts! (I've been a lurker.)

This time we are downsizing and will have a smaller, simpler kitchen in a mid-century ranch. We are seriously looking at laminate. Maybe something fun like a Wilsonart Indie boomerang pattern, or a Formica FX180 marble look.

My husband really wants an integrated sink, but our cabinet maker (and laminate fabricator) won't do them. Neither will the big name counter place in town. So, I'm wondering if I scramble to find a place that will do it by calling everyone in the city, or just convince him we have to go with a thin edge drop-in sink. Why are there integrated sink displays all over the internet and at Lowes, but longtime laminate pros won't do them? The seam on the display at Lowe's looked good to my picky, technical husband. Is it really not possible to get them installed like that in our house? Our size is such that we shouldn't have to have any seams in the counter, which will be good with moisture.

Also, we're getting the Thermador 30" Pro-Harmony range. I've read about the heat of other ranges maybe being too intense for a laminate countertop next to it. Should I be concerned about it?

Thanks for any insights you can offer.