You left out laminate. It is still a viable option and quite durable except for the heat resistance and the limited options in utilizing undermount sinks. It doesn't seem to be used in upscale kitchens right now but there is no reason it shouldn't be--it is in Europe, as is solid surface. I started another thread as a response to the same thread without seeing this one, and my commentary is that there isn't really a "new" material to supplant stone....only existing materials.

Thank you for the food for thought - I guess I never really thought she was angry because she doesn't really sound angry when she's talking. And maybe that's what I find so bizarre: it's as if during the course of a normal conversation she starts in without any warning (and usually there's no relevance to whatever the topic is), and with no change of tone of voice and usually with a smile still on her face. You are absolutely correct when you say her life is of her own making, and to be honest, I'm not sure what her real beef is. She has a well paying job, a nice boyfriend, and a decent place to live. Her dad and I live about 1/2 hour away and see her a couple times a month. We moved here a couple of years ago, and she followed with the stated intention of attending a 4 year university which is about an hour away. She had been accepted for the fall semester this year, but then failed all her classes the semester before so was ultimately told she would have to reapply. Now she's got the opportunity to transfer in the Spring semester, but is saying she doesn't know if she wants to do that, she wants to live closer to campus, it's too far to commute, one reason after another why she can't do what she said she wanted to do. She consistently makes impulsive decisions that aren't well thought out, then doesn't seem to realize that she had the choice to make a different decision. When she's complaining, it's always somebody elses fault that she's unhappy or upset. Even when she failed her classes she blamed it on her bad roommates, but never did seem to get that she could have chosen different roommates, or at least checked out the ones she ended up with a little more thoroughly. I feel like we've been as supportive as anybody could reasonably expect: we've had her living with us off and on over the last 3 years, and we give her financial assistance as long as she's working towards her degree. DH and I are in agreement that she won't be living with us again - it's just too much drama in the house. Anyway, thanks for listening and responding - you really did give me a different perspective and I think I will try to suggest to her that she gets some counseling the next time she starts in when we're alone. And as far as Christmas goes, we're going to do something different this year: since it will just be the 4 of us, we're going for a bike ride on the beach, then out for Thai food. I told DH that we need to do something to try to deflect all that negativity, and hopefully this will be novel enough to do just that. Happy Holidays - Becky

Sjhockey Last I looked everyone was wearing clothes. LOL Clothes may or may not be clean depending on how they were cleaned and where they were before your kitchen. I avoid putting purses(I seldom carry one as they are notoriously full of germs) and other grungy things on the counters. A few years ago, we had a bad case of campylobacter food poisoning. It was most likely due to cross contamination from someone cleaning or prepping salad greens in a contaminated environment. We were at a pot luck and never identified the culprit but at least 7 became ill. Two very icky pieces of clothing- lab coats and ties. My former boss wanted to implement lab coats. I produced the research study and also tried to explain that kids are fearful of lab coats. Fortunately, the idea was dropped. So keep DH from dropping his tie on the counter. Here is an interesting fact- people who constantly wipe their counters tend to have a higher bacteria count on their countertops. Turns out you just keep spreading germs around. I had a neighbor who wore out her Formica from constantly wiping her counters In health care, you are taught to spray the contaminated spot, allow the solution to sit for the required time and then place a towel over to absorb the contaminated area vs wiping it off. I must not be too obnoxious as my friends always vote to come to our place for events.

Sherry, I see alot of comments about what others would do or wouldn't do. Here's my take..I've been in these shoes. lol We live in my mothers home, she NOW lives out of state, and has off and on over the last 15 years. There has been times in the past 15 years, that she's moved back to her house with us..(It's a small house 3bed/1bath!, to small for a family of 5, then throw another adult in..'nough said. So space is the key!) Anyway, some problems are..parenting now is NOT like it was 20-30 years ago! She has her opinions and sometimes she did step in on the boys. She really didn't like being in that position, and I didn't like it either.(So she has for the most part learned to bite her tongue!) There was a time, when we didn't pay mortage/rent, but paid all the utlilities, I did all the shopping, cooking and cleaning. She'd pitch in on some things when I was working and she was on the "bench" with her consulting firm. We have always talked about getting some land and building two houses or having a duplex or splitting up a large house into 2 fully functional homes. So I certainly see where you and your kids are coming from. It's nice to have the family unit together. And it was done for generations! So here's my take as the married kid with kids who's lived with their parent... I still think it's a grand idea...I also think that what others have touched on..space, own kitchen, TV room, bathroom, entrance..are KEY! But certainly you and hubby and DIL/DS know your family dynamics. I think it's amazing that are really thinking all of this out ahead of time. My brother is sucessful and married..trying to adopt now..and lives 5 hours from the family home..He has NO desire for "fairness" of mom's time. I think you should approach your other children and ask their opinions too..