Hello KathiMark, You might check into a material that is relatively new to the market of countertops, Quartz. You may know of it by some of the brand names that manufacture Quartz; Silestone, Cambria. Quartz is a very hard, non porous stone. It is actually harder than granite and marble, and is not a composite of various stones and minerals, like granite and marble. As a result it is extremely durable, heat resistant and stain resistant. However, on the scale of countertops it can be expensive. You might try obtaining quotes from different manufacturer's and in differing colors to obtain a reasonable estimate. It is available in a few dozen colors. Take a look at a few Houzz examples of Quartz countertops: https://www.houzz.com/photos/1960s-lake-oswego-home-traditional-kitchen-portland-phvw-vp~344737 Best of luck with your kitchen and please let us know if we can be of any assistance, Elizabeth

I think most people would say granite or quartz (Silestone, etc.). But there are SO many options, each with different benefits and drawbacks, so it is worth considering others too. Houzz has a series of Ideabooks on different countertop materials that might be helpful. Here's a link to some of them: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/query/countertops

Hi Michele, intown123 is correct. Quartz manufacturers recommend not putting anything really hot on the countertop surface. Be sure to use a hot plate or trivet. Granite, however, is heat resistant. Both materials are scratch resistant. You will want to only clean granite with a granite cleaner, because anything harsh can break down the sealer and then potentially damage the granite. Also, I would consider re-sealing your granite countertops every few years depending on the color that you choose. Both granite and quartz are wonderful options. They offer very different looks.

I am very happy with my Kohler Whitehaven apron front cast iron sink. I have the grates for the bottom and they are very helpful in preventing metal scratches from pans and silverware. I have had it two years and it looks almost new still. Occasionally - like once every week or two, I give it a gentle cleaning with Comet if needed. Otherwise I just wipe / spray it down at night. My previous sink was also a cast iron sink. I had it for 18 years and by that time it needed a gentle cleaning once a day. However, it still looked very good, so I put it in my basement kitchenette.