I think teak is best. It is also $$$$. About twice as much as other woods I priced. I've never heard of red cedar for a counter. Lyptus is another choice and can easily be stained to look like mahogany.

I have teak. It is wider boards and I sealed it with Waterlox. We have enjoyed it now for a year and it still looks great. It is around the sink and cooktop. Lots of heavy use. It was quite inexpensive from the lumber supply place that my cab guy uses. Way way less than the granite that folks are using. Hope this helps, c

I know that teak is used widely in boats...I think because its natural oils make it less prone to water damage, so it would be good around sinks, I'd think.

From boats.com: "Teak is an almost perfect wood for boats, since it resists rot and is very stable from warpage and cracking. On the downside, it dulls tools quickly because it is full of silica, and the very oil that helps preserve it from rot also makes it hard to paint or varnish."

Oh, just reread your post and see you'll have stone around the sink. But it still seems like teak would be a good surface for washing down, etc.

I've seen mahogany island tops...Gorgeous. I've never heard of cedar, which also has oils that help preserve it, being used for counters, but both woods are pretty soft, I think.

thanks to all. I have come up with a new one to cosider: antique heart pine! I want that warm honey color.

Ipe is also fabulous--very hard, dense, oily wood as well.

Whatever you get, *please* consider using reclaimed or FSC-certified wood. Having a hand in destroying the Indonesian reef system or South American rainforests is a heavy weight to bear for the sake of nice counters in your kitchen, esp. when so many other options exist.

Good luck!

Hi.
Teak is very good because of its water-resistant quality. Mahogany may be the best choice over all because in addition to being fairly water-friendly, it is the most stable of the four species you've mentioned. Cedar and heart pine have a lot of expansion/contraction cycles to worry about. Mahogany is also very strong and holds details very well, if you're considering a fancy edge treatment. Teak may be all these things too, but I have no familiarity working it other than it's nautical reputation.
Casey