If you'll cut on it, butcher block. Or laminate. ;) I occasionally cut a slice of apple or two on my old stuff, but I hated it and wanted to rip it out. Seriously, don't cut on the counters. Keep a large cutting board stationed near where you prep. As Dianalo mentioned, it's bad on your knives. It dulls them, which leads to more cuts on fingers because a dull knife is a dangerous knife. Given your list, I recommend wood. Thought about that at all? Not shiny, usually not modern, can be rustic, casual, cozy, and not speckled. I have a black walnut island top. I LOVE it. I do not cut directly on it.

Terible (I feel funny writing that name ;-) ) - We wanted the bling to come in through the granite. That's why either Bianco Antico or Cafe Imperial appeals to me - they have sparkle. I was also considering mini crystal chandeliers as pendants for a more luxurious aspect. The kitchen opens up to the family room which we are redecorating (new furniture, paint, carpet, etc) when we redo the kitchen. Family room: Here's some other pics of rooms in our home, to give you an idea of our style. Most of our rooms still need more furniture and accessories. We're also lacking colour which we'll eventually add through artwork and accesories. I'm a minimalist but not THAT much of a minimalist!! Dining room: Master bedroom: Powder room: Living room:

You may want to rethink the wine rack above the fridge. The fridge puts out a fair amount of heat, which could damage any wine kept up there long-term. As far as countertops go, I am in love with soapstone, but I know some people have issues with its softness. On the upside, scratches and nicks can be sanded out relatively easily. Good luck!

The germ thing - my sister likes to be able to bleach everything. Everything. On a regular basis. I reserve bleach for poultry and meat contamination. You can bleach stone, but depending on the stone you choose, there can be consequences... You can bleach laminate and quartz. But you left out one very budget friendly option - plain solid surface. Is that because you want a stone-y look? Black and white Corian are in price group A, as are some stone looks, and they can be less expensive than high-end laminate. And there are so many brands of solid surface these days to choose from. Also, solid surface goes on sale like everything else. Just keep your eyes peeled. I came across this ad for A group installed at $49 per sf. in CA. I hope it's OK to post an ad. I wanted you to be able to see the colors offered at this price. I'm not affiliated with these guys (or DuPont) in any way. Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Mart