Countertops and backsplash

July 14
We're picturing a butcher block to top the island which will have painted cabinets in a cream color, but we really haven't decided on countertops for the perimeter yet. Below are samples of some of the things we've been looking at against a sample of the cabinets that will be around the perimeter.

granite, Caesar Stone, and basket weave slate,
originally uploaded by Grant13.

For some reason we've moved away from soapstone and are considering granite or Caesar Stone. Granite is beautiful and is clearly the most popular solid surface (at least judging by the kitchens showcased in the home and garden magazines). But the Caesar Stone is appealing to me because it's not very busy (at least not the type we're considering) and would allow us to do something more dramatic with the backsplash (currently considering the basket weave slate sample below as an accent over the cooktop). In terms of cost, there doesn't appear to be a significant difference. Granite is more expensive, but we're learning that the cost for the material is less significant than the cost of fabrication/installation. For an example of a kitchen with Caesar Stone, see picture below:


We also haven’t ruled out tile for the countertops. Seems to us that if you’re going for French Country or anything slightly rustic, tile is actually more fitting. Maintaining the grout doesn’t really bother us. And it would be significantly cheaper. It’s just so out of vogue right now.