It will absolutely work. I've been on GW for almost 3 years and have seen kitchens with mixed countertop materials. Frequently the mix is on an island or penninsula (I'm talking about where materials actually butt up to each other). I'll try to find some of them and post them for you but I'll probably not have time until tonight. The first 2 that come to mind are RHome410 and ElizPiz's. RHome's doesn't have the different countertops up against each other but it still might help since she has 3 different materials (stainless, laminate, and wood). The stainless and laminate are separated by a wall. Her link is below. ElizPiz has 2 different materials on her island (and a stunning kitchen). I don't know how to post 2 working links below, so here's the link you can copy and paste: https://plus.google.com/photos/114340186129992852319/albums/5329422431124238225/5385569862608492866?banner=pwa#photos/114340186129992852319/albums/5329422431124238225/5385569861181095554 Here is a link that might be useful: RHome's lovely kitchen

I just had to post here...OMG...the lady that wrote Laminate and luxurious in the same sentence.."NO". I hope I never have to meet someone like you in my lifetime. What a bunch of snobby, snarky..people! I am sorry..I think you can have a beautiful, luxurious kitchen without paying for granite, quartz, soapstone...etc. My goodness. I am building a house now and get to hear from our subs about all of the snooty women that they have to deal with...literally walking out of a house because the closets aren't big enough... What kind of country have we become? I say..if you want to buy high end appliances...beautiful cabinets..and put it all in a laminate kitchen. I think it can be stunning! Don't listen to all of these snooty fruities.....do what YOU want..and the people that matter...won't walk into your kitchen and take a mental note of your laminate..I would think it was beautiful! And for those of you who think that I must be some low life...my husband is a doctor! There....rant over! :-)

I made my own hardwood kitchen countertop out of sycamore. Sycamore provides of nice combination of a wood that is moderately dense, beautiful and yet still reasonably priced. I began with rough quater sawn lumber (which was also book-match cut) and had them finished down to 1" thick planks which I joined together. The finished counter was 12'x2' with sink centered in the middle. Based on strong encouragement from an expert friend in the hardwood business, I sealed it with Waterlox. Following his advice I block sanded the counter down to 1,000 grit paper, to a near glass finish and then applied 7 coats of Waterlox tung oil. The oil will need to fully cure between coats so this can take a bit of time (it has a strong odor too). Waterlox indeed seems to be some impressive stuff. Very waterproof, and cleans pretty well too- (I use vinegar). The only problem I have noticed is that a particular type of soap was spilled and sat overnight on one spot and it seems to have eroded the finish. Despite 2 years of frequent use the counter still looks good. Yes, it is susceptible to dents and gouging, but wood seems to have an odd way of naturally "healing" over time too. All said and done, I'm happy with the results and would probably do it again. It definitely makes an interesting look for my kitchen.

well, what do you have chosen for the perimeter? I think you can actually use pattern/movement in some counter area whether perimeter or island....not necessarily both. What will happen if you go very plain/pale is you don't get a counterpoint with ceiling. You want that kind of jockey of the eye between ceiling and counter, otherwise the ceiling dominates. I would take a granite with movement for island, maybe honed, if the perimeter is a plain selection.Don't rule out soapstone for the island.....yes...seriously.