There are many brands of solid surface, and among them Corian is probably the best reviewed here. Joe will likely weigh in, he is the expert, but I think it's a great material. I have two big sisters who could have chosen any counters they wanted. They both chose Corian.

Before you choose your counter consider whether you want it to be the star of the show (busier, more movement and color) or whether you want your backsplash to be the focal point (in which case you'd want a quieter look for the counter). Perform some Google image searches with the materials you already have, and browse the different looks. It's half the battle just figuring out what you like. Good luck!

Personally I really like corian but I understand that it cannot take extreme or repeated heat so it's not good next to the stove, I have granite next to the stove. Two different countertop materials work in a galley kitchen but I don't know if it would work in yours.

Someone else posted that they put a bathroom floor heater up under the countertop just to get around that cold stone problem.

Going with a lethered of honed finish on stone helps warm it some. I think there are some soapstones that are much warmer than granites.

Practigal, granite can't take direct heat either. Stone can fracture under heat stress. In fact the only surfaces you can safely put a hot pan on without a trivet are stainless steel and soapstone. But then most people are accustomed to either using trivets or an unused burner for their hot cookware. There's no additional burden in using Corian in the cooking zone.

My soapstone always feels soft and comparison to the granite I had in my last house. I love that I can put pans directly on the surface.

My MIL has had Corian in her kitchen forever, put in a new color when she did a mini remodel. It's absolutely warmer to the touch than stone and more forgiving when you drop something from an upper cabinet. It's her only counter material even right next to her gas cooktop but she keeps a trivet handy. She is old school, cleans everything with Comet (pretty sure that includes the Corian!!!) and they look and feel velvety and clean. Your kitchen, your choice, regardless of trends - do what works for you.

My mother renovated two kitchens (primary house; beach house) and used corian both times. The first kitchen was an all-white 80s kitchen, that with an appliance swap and change in cabinet hardware, was apparently the "selling feature" of their home in an upscale neighborhood 5 years ago. The other is an almond-y color in a brownish beach kitchen that's around 15 years old. No problems with heat damage in either kitchen. One had a gas cooktop directly on the corian, the other had a range abutted by corian.

We did a reno 2 years ago, and did pure white corian on the kitchen island (kitchen is modern white and walnut slab cabinets) and pure white corian in our master bath on top of a vintage midcentury teak repurposed vanity. To incorporate the modern look we were going for, we did the vanity in a thinner style. Both look great and modern, and I think are priced around the same as a lot of granites and marbles.

I had Corian in a prior house and I loved that counter. I built new and chose granite for a whole bunch of reasons this time around. They cost about the same - most people seem surprised to hear that Corian is generally not a "cheaper" option. You will get some people on here bleating about "it's plaaaasstic" but that line of reasoning has just never resonated with me at all. Anyone living in the modern era is surrounded by plastic in a million various ways. I'd use Corian again. I love the pure white look myself.

One other possibility is paperstone.

And I agree with everyone else. Get what works for you.

I think Corian has a lot going for it. Laminate is another "soft" option and I think it looks great in certain settings.

I've had corian for nearly 19 years and have loved it. No, I don't take something out of the oven and set it directly on my countertop, but I've heard that shouldn't be done on granite or quartz either.

I too disliked the hardness, coldness, and reflectiveness of the granite and quartz I looked at. I have quartz in the bathroom, but didn't like it for the kitchen. I have had laminate (kind of destroyed it around the sink), Corian for 15 years (loved it, wanted it in the new kitchen), and now have soapstone with a silgranite sink. The soapstone is nice, but it was expensive. I would have been just as happy with Corian for the counter and sink.

As far as heat resistance goes, soapstone is supposed to be one of the only counters that you can put a hot pan on - but I don't. I still use hotpads and still run cold water in the silgranite sink when I pour boiling water in it. Habit, I guess.

I agree. I use a trivet on everything. It's others-who don't regularly cook in my kitchen that I worry about. I think granite has a better chance of surviving....

I've had white Corian now for 32 year - had the integrated sink put in almost 14 years ago. When I redid my kitchen last summer, I re-used my Corian countertops as they still look brand new. I had to add a new 5ft countertop (we moved the refrigerator), and the new one matches perfectly - just needs a few more scratches for patina.

I LOVE my countertops and would not have anything else if it was given to me!. They always look clean and fresh, have gone with all three color schemes I've had over the past 32 years (three VERY different color schemes). I adore my big single Corian sink - best sink in the entire world. Hot things? Well, perhaps it's because I grew up in a house with Formica when it was the "hot, new thing", but I have enough sense not to put a hot pot on a countertop and have trained my family to do the same. I do put hot pots right in the sink, but the water is running - no problem.

I'm not a big fan of some of the patterned Corian, but the white is a classic that is forever and always looks great. I painted my cabinets gray, and the backsplash is white, honed marble big subway tile.

Anglophilila, that is the coolest range! (and the corian is lovely too, I just put some in our upstairs bath remodel).

My leathered granite is not nearly as cold as polished granite. Not as soft and cozy as soapstone, but still very nice.

I have Corian which is about 8 years old in my current kitchen (to be remodeled) but the only issue I had was other people putting hot things down without a trivet. I have one circular mark from a pot that could be buffed out. It's not noticeable unless you are looking for it. I also have the integrated sink. I love it but it does get grubby - diluted bleach works along with softscrub to clean it up. I also have it in the one bathroom we haven't remodeled and it is about 28 years old, an off white with a small wooden inlaid edge that matches the cabinets. It looks fine.

If you like to roll out dough, the Corian may be too warm for that. I make pie crust once in a while so I work fast.

Love my corian! Installed November 2015 with integrated large single sink, amazing. The cold of the stone products was one thing I couldn't stand and no seams, love it. No issues with pie crust or cookie or any dough I roll out. Always had formica so I use trivets or a cooling rack to put hot pans on. I run hot water before draining the pasta. Small price to pay. Very expensive, even on sale through HD (because I knew who would fabricate).

"I run hot water before draining the pasta."

rs, I don't get that. Do you mean you have a Corian sink?

Thank you so much everyone! I'm sorry that I am late to reply. I've been busy countertop shopping! I live in a small city so it's tricky to see things in person but I've had fun hunting down some of the new paper-based products as well as some different stones. I still love the feel of Corian but can't resist real stone so have pretty much decided on soapstone. I'm so excited! Now the hunt is on for slabs that have amber undertones rather than the common blue or green (I'll be leaving it unfinished). I have a beautiful sample that is just perfect and I get to go on a road trip next week to find three slabs that match. Who knows what else I'll fall for while I'm at it!

If the five of you who liked my pictured top above want to see how it was done, click here.