Kitchen Renovation Inspiration Part 2 - Countertops

So the other day I showed you the inspiration for our new kitchen. Today it's about what countertops we might want. While I love the look of the inspirational kitchen, I think the brown countertops might limit updating in the future. I want to go with something a little more neutral that will go with just about anything.

I know Granite is all the hype right now, but I just can't buy into it. Sure it's great, expensive looking and popular, but that's not a reason to buy something. Here are a few alternative options I've been looking into:

Dupont Corian: I like the look of this in Sandalwood (shown), Burled Beach and Tumbleweed. They are all neutral colors that look rich and are easy to take care of, and is less expensive than granite or solid stone surfaces. I like this look for the main countertops.

If I had an unlimited budget I'd get an eco-friendly countertop made of recycled materials. However right now they are much more expensive than any other type of countertop so I guess I'll have to wait on that one.

For the kitchen island I really want Heirloom custom wood countertops. They are fairly more expensive than the Corian (or granite for that matter) but since it's for a small space, I am hoping it works in our budget. Also the island will be used as our eating area so I hope the wood top makes it feel more like a table.