My countertops are solid surface that isn't as thick as Corian, but is the same kind of material. It may be a local name because when I google it, the fabricator I used is the only one that comes up under that name. I used this material because they had a blue that I liked . . . I didn't really like the Corian blues, and in my color scheme -- cream cabinets, yellow walls, blue counters -- it was important to me to get the blue color right. My integrated sink is a lighter blue, speckled. The integrated sink is one of the things I like best . . . absolutely NO place for yucch to collect. It almost never looks dirty, but when it gets stained, a quick swish with soft scrub does the job. To solve the problem of not being able to set hot pans on the countertop, I had the area next to the stove inset with tile the same color as the cabinets. I also have one long serving counter done in the same tile so the area by the stove doesn't look out of place. It has worked perfectly . . . I'm thinking my next kitchen will have the same thing. I've liked my solid surface counters a lot. My make-up table is the same product in matte white. I get lipstick and other makeup on it regularly, and just soft-scrub and it comes off. You know the pitfalls -- you may be cleaning more often -- but if you love the look, it will be worth it.

Thank you all for relating your bad experiences with Corian. Rivkadr, I'm sympathetic and so appreciate your sharing the negs of solid white corian. I know that a mottled pattern would hide a great deal, and granite would be perfect, except that I want solid white. Quartz will chip and who knows what else, solid white corian may be a huge mistake-all solid surfaces would have same problems. Unsolved problem. Ok, how's this? I just made it up (as I'm prone to do). Get light wood counters from Ikea. Somehow make them white-paint? Cover with waterlox-but then would the waterlox darken and yellow the white? I think all tung oil finishes would darken. And the poly and urethane, if even food safe, would scratch and crap up. As an aside, a few weeks ago I went to Scavolini, saw great modern kitchens, and their personnel said that most of their customers don't cook!!!! Perhaps a laminate? The kitchen is increasingly becoming high end-but may be ok. nuts,

Yo Ken, if your still around your up on this one. Far as Composites go I am with the Larry/whoever We are for the most part. Composites are really no longer using recycled material because there is just not enough of it so most of the raw stuff is virgin,the energy used to make composite is an enviro no no, when its time to remove the project composite is not real big on bio degrade its tricky to burn shreading it would be silly. Bottom line composites are not so enviro freindly. Info like that might suggest its not all that good to clean it either, with anything. I dont agree>> composites will out last Ipe, left to go silver/gray Ipe is as close to no maintance as a person can get. With the softer composites like Choice/MoistureShield even trex= tjunk I have found a coat or two of TWP 116 seals up the decking,locks in the color and keeps mold,mildew,stains from causing major problems. Of course not needing to do this is the reason the Wallet goes for composite in the first place. I my own self dont like composites at all for the reasons stated in several posts here and on other sites. Welcome aboard Larry!!! Sorry I dident understand your intent at the begining . John

We didn't use solid surface (too expensive), but we did buy a sheet of ceullular PVC and cut it down for that purpose. Was about $150 for a 4x8 sheet, which made a fair number of windows. Here's an example of ours (we did paint the sills, as they were a slightly different off-white color than our trim white.) Its a bit annoying to cut - it melts a bit while you cut it so it's helpful to have a helper stick thin wedges between the cut as you go to prevent it from gluing itself back together, but it also routers/sands beautifully. We did a deep sill (12") plus horns as one piece, since we are building with ICF and have uber-thick walls. An example of ours, mid-painting.