practical or classy?

practical. Empty nesters and retired

if your house is medium grade or up, i'd say quartz. no work now, and when you go to sell it will still be in perfect condition.

medium grade and down, a granite without a lot of movement in it.

life long practical, if you look you will find that most of us still use laminate and you will find that like the vinyl floors many still use, it has been upgraded a lot.

Easy! Soapstone of course. No other product compares to the natural properties of this stone.

Thanks for all your input.

Next step is deciding on cabinet and drawer front style(s). I like the look of slab front. It's clean, no dust or crumbs catching in grooves or corners. What is the best material to use - we want to have them painted (a change from years of various wood styles and shades)?