Now black granite is "in," but I expect that fad to wear off, too. Still, stone has a timeless quality and I don't expect it to scream "yesterday's trend" like Corian does.

I don't like it, but if you do and it suits you and resale isn't a pressing issue, do what you like. If you want real white, I think some of the white quartz counters are very nice. Pricey, tho'.

My opinion is get what YOU want.
Yes, you will find many folks anti corian here, but it's just generally because it's not the trend right now. And if you have to worry about resale, that just depends on where you live. Around here, corian that is in good shape would be seen as a plus. Most of the homes in my neighborhood have laminate still.

That said, there sure are upsides to it. It's softer than stone, so less things will break on it. I personally don't find it plastic-y looking, unless it's in bad shape and in need of an refresh.

You don't have to worry about it cracking, and you have no worries about seams - they are truly invisible. It's a renewable surface as well. When it starts getting too scratched, you simply call someone in to recondition it and it's like new. And, personally, I LIKE specks, which is characteristic of both corian and certain quartz too. Not everyone likes that look.

I thought the new LG HIMacs were lovely, and the samples had lots of depth and were beautiful! They were all about the same as my medium class granite was per sq ft. So, no it won't be more budget friendly than lower to mid range granite - but possibly so for one of those more expensive whites you are looking for.

I would much prefer a really upper end nice corian type surface in my kitchen than some of the ugly granites I've seen in some homes. I have truly seen some that I just thought were nasty looking. Mother nature can churn out both gorgeous beyond belief stones, and some ugly ones too.

Go for it and do not worry about everyone else.

It is not as heat resistant as stone, but it is more forgiving than stone to a dropped glass, and more forgiving than laminate to scratches and wear.

I think it still has a place, its still a good option. As with all things, you have to decide which of its properties are most important, and which shortcomings you can live with.

I have granite in one house and corian in another. I like them both. I have seen some U-G-L-Y granites posted on this board. Some of the blue ones are just ugly. I'm sure those who have the ugly granites think my Corian is plastic looking. (My corian is the tumbleweed color for those wondering.)

Honestly though, no one cares what others have.It's what you like in your own kitchen. Of course, if every house in your neighborhood has granite and you plan on moving within five years, then I'd say get the granite.

It must depend where you live how expensive the corian vs. granite is? In a recent NJ thread they were saying a nice granite runs around $90, but in other places they are only paying $50 installed for granite! In some places the corian is the MORE expensive option, so why bother? Some people seem to have access to numerous granite yards, others do not. If corian is less expensive in your area, and granite is more difficult to get plus $$$, I would consider it too. But if inexpensive granite is everywhere...why not?

People say go with what you like, but for me price comes into the picture.

I dont think any manmade material comes close to the look and feel of natural stone. So I would get even a 'cheap' granite over any corian etc.

But these are personal preferences so get what you like.

blue/green granites are simply out of the world (in my personal taste) ;)

That said, in the unlikely event that I ever sell my house I'll probably have to rip them out and put in granite to make the kitchen more buyer-friendly.

I have Swanstone, which is similar to Corian with a matte finish, but a slightly higher heat resistance. It's heat-resistant to 375 degrees, so I put hot pots and pans on it all the time, just not the super-hot ones! It's a wonderful baking surface, too, with super-easy clean-up. Nothing stains it (I've had my kitchen counters since 2003 and my bathroom vanity countertops with integral sinks since 1989) and I never have to worry about what to use on it.

Seams are the vulnerable point in ALL countertops, regardless of material. Glue is not going to be as heat resistant as the countertop material. With manufacturered counters like Corian and Swanstone, you will need to remember where the seams are, because as others have pointed out, they are completely invisible. I have a U-shaped kitchen so have two corner seams. I really appreciate the seamless look of the Swanstone.

If you're concerned about resale, then it's best to look to your local market. Like southernstitcher, my neighborhood mostly has unremodeled homes; cheap, beat-up tile counters are most common (this was a 'summer home' area for a long time). In my neighborhood even newer laminate is an upgrade, LOL.

A good RE agent has already told us we over-improved our home...but we've had years of enjoyment out of everything. In the end that's really the only thing that counts, after all.

But I like the look of Corian and Silestone in a very modern-style kitchen (Italian slab cabs, metal, glass, yadda, yadda), but don't like them in traditional styles, and definitely not in country styles. Candice Olsen is a Silestone spokesperson and she uses it very nicely in her designs, which are almost always modern.

In SoCal, Corian can cost more than putting in granite.

I'd also like to add that Corian, when used properly, can look quite chic. It all depends upon the style of the kitchen and the quality of the design. Take a look at the Henrybuilt website (www.henrybuilt.com) for examples of very high end design that combine gorgeous natural wood (real walnut, oak, and teak; no stains or glazes), Corian, and laminate to achieve an elegant, understated look. Even if "organic modern" isn't your cup of tea, anyone who appreciates good design would certainly agree the photos demonstrate that simple materials can be used to achieve a very high end look. Lastly, although many would argue that this look isn't mainstream, it is most certainly classic.

I put granite in my kitchen and one bath, and I adore it in both places. But in my master bath, where I was going for a very stark, modern look, I installed pure white corian. And I adore that. I get LOTS of compliments on all. People who love my kitchen also ooh and ah over my corian-laden master bath. It's just what was right for the look.

I'm just not seeing your vision of the kitchen. Corian and engineered stone look fine until you see them next to granite. Granite has a depth and sparkle to it that makes the other stuff look kinda "dead" in comparison. Also corian has a matte finish and granite has a polished finish so I'm afraid you might get a mismatched look.

You have a lot of contrast in the black and white colors so I think you want to keep every thing else the same-- same edge profile and finish. I could see corian and a honed granite or soapstone; or polished quartz and polished granite.

You might be able to pull it off if the island is a different color than the cabinets and made to look like furniture so that it looks intentionally mismatched.

Before you make your decision, look at samples of corian and granite side by side-- don't rely on those little 2 inch square samples of corian. Try to get a larger sample or take a granite tile to a corian showroom or a friends house to see if you really like the two together.

I think that there are some solid surface or quartz colors that have some glittery and translucent bits that give them more "life". Avonite comes to mind. These colors might work with the granite better.

Riverspots sez People like me, looking at stained and pitted 15 yr old Corian sinks and counters want to go a different route when replacing. . That is so strange people would not fix it. One of the things about Corian is how it can easily be refished - just a couple passes with an orbital sander (more passes with finer grit takes it from matte to shiney, though people don't do the shiney much any more) No reason at all to leave it "stained and pitted". Actually I can't imagine how one would even GET it to become pitted. I've been pretty harsh with my 21 year old Corian and it still looks new and perfect.

I keep the Corian because, well, it is there (and I am cheap and lazy and green and contrarian). I am fortunate that it looks great in my contemporary kitchen. Also, I am in a really cold climate and appreciate its warmth compared to a stone.

By the time I sell, I'm sure they'll be something else in vogue. No clue what. Kitchen remodeling is a huge industry that needs change to thrive.

If you want some other options to consider though, there are several brands of quartz with the same look you want.