It looks like the wood under the counter has warped. Maybe it got wet? I wonder if the wood were replaced if the counter would lay flat again.

If you do replace, I'd stick with the cultured granite. You already have a lot of different materials going on in your kitchen. It looks nice, but one more different surface might be one too many. Also, if you're getting a new dishwasher, I'd go with stainless.

It never ends, does it?

Yes! Definitely go with a stainless dishwasher...Can't wait. That maytag is old and sounds like a freight train. We looked at the wood...it's the cabinet. I'm going to get cultured granite samples today. Thanks for responding!

Make sure you figure out what caused the wood to warp before installing anything. It will just happen again.
Could it be the dishwasher? That would be fortunate since you are replacing it, anyway.

I like your range!

I had the countertop people out. Turns out the heat from my crockpot over the past few years caused the solid surface material to warp. Good news is that there is no damage to the wood base or cabinets. Bad news? Can't be fixed. So...new countertops for me. Anyone have advice on what you'd do if you were starting over? I may not keep the island counter..might start from scratch. The backsplash tiles need to stay...can't imagine how much work that would be to replace. Or possible replace just the decorative ones. I'm thinking granite may too busy? Thoughts?? Wish I could just see my kitchen redone with different options and pick one. Ahh...wouldn't that be easy!!!

There are lots of choices, granite being just one of them. For us to help, you need to do some research and decide on the material you are interested in. The choices range from laminate, quartzite, corian and granite.
I think a light giallo would be nice in your kitchen. Since the island is plain, a slightly busy granite would be fine. But granites come in almost solids too. Your backsplsh really is not busy.
Since you have the cabinets, the backsplash and the floor, the tricky part will be trying to "match up" the tones that are already present in your kitchen.
I can't make out the color of your counters. From the close up, it looks like it is speckled. Visually, you are used to seeing something that reads as a solid and the island is a solid so I can see your hesitation in going with a granite with lots of movement. Also, you are used to seeing this color on the counters, which you might be able to duplicate if you choose to,
So, figure out what material you are interested in, what colors you like and we can all help you narrow down options.

The first thought in my head was "what a lovely kitchen". Then I was so shocked and sorry to read about your counters. What a shame! I would have thought they'd have told you to protect your counter from heat caused by things like crock pots.
Anyway... I highly recommend Silestone. We've had it for eight years now and I love it as much if not more than I did when we first got it. It's natural quartz. I think 93% quartz and fillers. You'll be amazed at the choices too. I linked to the color sample page, but be sure to check out the gallery linked from that page. You can see it in person at HoDe. Just make sure the installer doesn't take the cut outs with them if you'd like to do something with them. You paid for them. We're going to someday build end tables and use the pieces to insert into the tops.

Here is a link that might be useful: Silestone

You may or may not be able to keep the backsplash when replacing the counter. Depends on the counter material you choose and how thick it is or what they need to do to install it. Most backsplashes are installed after the countertop is in. A new backsplash may not be as difficult or costly as you think.

You might look through the Finished Kitchen Blog, or Houzz for examples of what different colors of counters might look like in your space. Not the specific materials, per se, but the colors and overall effect. Then you might have a better idea of the colors you might go with (regardless of the actual material). That might help you narrow down your search once you go looking at the real thing. There are so many choices out there it can be hard to decide if you don't have a starting point. If you think you're going to keep using the crockpot, you should look into materials that aren't affected by heat. My experience has only been with tile and (now) granite counters, so I have no helpful advice about the durability of the other types of materials.

Your kitchen looks very cozy and inviting. I'm sure you'll be able to find a beautiful material for your counters.

I have heard that crock pots can damage some granites. I think you just need to elevate it somehow so it is not directly sitting on the counter.

My first thought is that if you use a crock pot regularly you need a surface that won't warp over time because of it. So it looks like cultured granite would be out of the running. I'd start bybdoing research in that direction.

Thanks! I think I want to go with granite for that exact heat reason. I just don't want to worry about it again..or I'm still looking at Silestone and then would have to be careful..I am also going to ditch the island..I think I really want the same material on all counters. This backsplash tile is causing me grief and not letting me choose the countertops I really love. So..I suppose chiseling it out may be in order. Has anyone done this? I'm thinking DIY for the demo..and then have something else put there professionally. I hate to choose counters based on 15 year old backsplash tiles. And like what was said above..theres a good chance the lower row of those tiles would have to be removed anyway. I appreciate everyone's thoughts...I'm going to make a decision soon!! Usually I love these types of projects..but this one is stressing me out!

This thread reminds me of the children's book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie..."

I use a crock pot quite often on our Silestone, always in the same place, and I think maybe once or twice I've used a hot pad. No damage in eight years. The guy that installed our confessed after I refused to let him take the cutouts that they make them into hot plates, so my guess is it's safe for heat. I do believe they tell you now to use a hot pad, but I'm sure that's to save their "b-u-t-t" just incase.

Wow!! Started shopping..what a job! Can I ask an opinion?? I'm going to select a granite because it's priced better than the solid surfaces and I won't have to worry about the dreaded crock pot fiasco! Would you go dark and contrast with the beige floors...or light (creamy, beige, whitish)...the cabinets are a medium, so I'm thinking I could go either way with them. It's the floors I am wondering about. Would love thoughts! May as well do this right..for the LAST time :)

i would personally go with a darker granite for the contrast, but either would work. i think contrast is striking... and then you can go lighter with your backsplash with some darker accents of some sort if you wish...

Thank you! I was thinking the same thing. I've heard so many people complain of keeping dark granite clean though. Plus with my light floors, I also think the darker granite would look good. I'm going to take a door off today and head to the granite yard. Maybe I'll print off my a picture of my kitchen...I need some fancy program to show me what different choices are going to look like. These granite samples are so small. Whew...what a project! But..I did buy a new dishwasher yesterday :) Yeah!! My door will finally open without breaking a sweat!