I wouldn't do anything differently. I have Costa Esmeralda granite. It's gorgeous, pairs beautiful with my cabinets, and is pretty much bulletproof - doesn't even need sealing.

Really more context needed. If you post photos of your cabinets and floor then others with similar cabinets and floor can tell you what they have/like/don’t like about their countertops. If you have a busy tile floor then that will limit what will look good / work for you. If you have a typical wood floor then you may have more options.

Needs/usage/maintenance/style of kitchen, etc are so varied and really the best way to narrow down is to compare the pro’s and con’s and costs. Thought this link might help you get started. https://worstroom.com/types-of-countertop-materials/

You can also mix counter types (island vs counters). https://www.houzz.com/magazine/5-tips-for-mixing-kitchen-countertop-materials-stsetivw-vs%7E116872294?epik=dj0yJnU9RWlnQUk2UlhqVXZNb0g1VC1udzdxWHNXYTdOV094UGgmcD0wJm49QzFYZnZhenI2QnNEUVNlckNUb0UydyZ0PUFBQUFBR2ZvWEU4

Redoing counters is a good sized upgrade. I think it should come with an evaluation of the functional layout. And the flooring. This could lead to a delay in getting the counters done. In the longrun the finished space would be worth it.

I agree with all of the above. What I learned the hard way during my first renovation (previous home) was that you must pick out your slabs in person. I picked out based on a small sample that the contractor gave me and what I ended up with was very different. For my current kitchen, going to the stone yards was one of the favorite parts of doing our whole house remodel.

You will also want to make sure that you test samples of whatever slab you choose. Do a search on this forum for the threads with “countertop geology” in the title to learn more. Also do a search on white quartzite staining, because some people have spent big money on beautiful counters only to be heartbroken when they develop water spots and stains.

ETA: if I were to redo my current kitchen, there is very little I would change, and only minor things. I love my counters (called leathered white titanium, but they're mostly black) and they are very easy to keep clean.

I remodeled a kitchen in 2018 and then got to build a house in 2021. I used the same material in the second kitchen, Taj Mahal quartzite, but this time I was able to get 3 cm slabs in the new location instead of the 2 cm slabs that were available in my previous location. With 3 cm slabs you just do a simple eased edge and there is no need for laminating (building up) or mitering the edges.

In both locations I was able to visit several slab yards and pick the exact slabs I wanted, although it was harder in the new location due to covid and reduced inventory.

I have Belvedere soapstone…a very hard variety. Installed by the master of soapstone, M. Teixeira. Simple to care for. Won’t stain or etch. Has beautiful veining. Wouldn’t change a thing.

I have leathered steel gray granite counters in my kitchen and love them. I would choose them again. They were on the cheaper side and do not need to be babied. I prefer natural stone. I do not like the look of quartz at all. I love the look of real marble, soapstone, leathered virginia mist granite and even leathered uba tuba granite. With all that said it comes down to personal taste, style of the kitchen and cost.

My counters are a Corian knock off. The only downside is there is no sharp edge to curl ribbons when I wrap gifts in the kitchen.