I would do stainless and quartzite purely for the reason there is already a lot of wood. I would do the same material in the same run if it were my kitchen. I don't see myself needing to spray down the kitchen. That being said this is your space and do what you like with it. If choose to mix up the run I would stainless on either side of the range to end of uppers/the set of drawers area. Then I would do the quartzite on the rest. Or you could do the back run stainless with quartzite on the island. The other thing you need to consider is the amount of stainless appliances you have in your kitchen. You do have enough warm feel from the wood to pull off a stainless steel counter. Here are some pictures of stainless steel countertops with different mixes. [eclectic kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by san francisco architect Andre Rothblatt Architecture [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by sydney media and blogs A Beach Cottage [traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by denver kitchen and bath Exquisite Kitchen Design [eclectic kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by atlanta architect Soorikian Architecture [modern kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2105) by hong kong architect Original Vision Limited

And we're no further ahead. To a purist, everything must be real and genuine or it's dishonest (with arbitrary exceptions made for non-genuine materials the purist likes, such as IKEA cabinetry). For the near purist, materials must be honest and the method of use must also be honest but non-genuine materials are acceptable if the method looks correct (in other words, really good fakes are honest - stone veneer around the foundations on all 4 sides of the house gets a pass mark). For the practical person, a concrete-look countertop is honest because it's a more user-friendly surface than actual concrete, just as brick veneer or hardiplank may be a better cladding than clapboard. It seems to me we're all applying our own definitions of what the term "honest" really means, and perhaps confusing it with "genuine" which isn't quite the same thing. I've personally always been conflicted about wood veneer furniture. A lot of it is pretty poor quality junk, so neither genuine nor honest, but what about the very high end veneered furniture? Where does a veneer cabinet that's a real Chippendale fit into the honesty scale? I suspect, when it comes right down to it, aesthetics plays a bigger role than we think in deciding what's honest. We dislike McMansions because they're ugly more than because they're fake, while we like 1920s mock Tudors or modern, brick veneer Georgians because they're well proportioned and attractive, even if they're not the real thing.

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Thanks for all the feedback. The wall itself is only 4 inches so I don't think it's especially thick, but in any case I am having the structural engineer look at it. One structural engineer I spoke with who has not seen it in person said it most likely is not load bearing, but I'm not taking any chances. I've looked at the condo docs, but thanks for pointing that out. I considered making it an opening but that really doesn't work. (Actually, maybe that's what I'm doing?) I haven't laid out the room yet but especially due to the fact that the current owners added the fireplace that creates a break between the dining area and the smaller living room, I really need a larger continuous space. But thanks for the ideas! I will keep the ceiling as simple as possible! Thanks for the thoughts!