Soapstone would look nice and traditional if you're going for that kind of look. I feel like it works well for cottages/traditional older homes best.

Honed light coloured granite will stain so you'd have to be OK with patina.

What about wood counters finished in Rubio Monocoat? Lots of colours and effects possible. Dries to a matte finish. Can be redone if there is wear.

Designed for floors, counters, and furniture. Counter instructions:
https://store-adb79.mybigcommerce.com/content/pdf/RM%20Furniture%202C%20Data.2.14.pdf

Great specs including resistance to many substances:
http://www.monocoat.us/Resistance-Testing/

I really like soapstone so I'd probably do it all around. But if you want a lighter, stain resistant countertop for the perimeter, what about engineered quartz. It is supposed to be pretty tough, heat resistant, not heat proof, but pretty tough. If you want light and even more durable, what about stainless steel? I think it's a bit of a chameleon style wise, it can look modern, but also can fit into a more traditional kitchen.

I love stainless. Once it develops a patina it is not that shiny. So practical for a cottage where you don't want high maintenance stuff.

i'd like to cast a vote for maine's own deer isle granite. if you don't care for the feldspar, another choice might be freshwater pearl quarried in frankfort, maine.

Is it your plan to ever rent the cottage? Will you have guests preparing food there? Will kids/teens be eating/drinking at the island? If so, I would avoid wood, though I think it's a beautiful surface.

I like the idea of honed granite, but I confess to a bias for soapstone which we put in our NH lake place. It's on both the counters & the island, which have seen much use in 7 yrs. and still look good as new.

If you do soapstone, my advice would be to find a dealer/fabricator who works specifically with it.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post. Gives me lots of info to consider. I have granite here in RI. It's very dark but no stains. I hadn't heard that granite stained. I thought that since the cabinets may be painted grey, all soapstone would make it to dark.

Honed, light coloured granite will most likely stain. Even my River White polished granite immediately developed a grease spot after 3 coats of sealant (apparently wasn't enough). Honing makes the surface much more porous so being happy with "patina" is necessary, IMO.