Countertops: Solid as rock

Granite may be the most popular stone countertop, but its cousin, slate, is getting a closer look by many homeowners. Like granite, slate is durable and impervious to heat. Unlike granite, slate is fine-grained and non-porous, and is much more resistant to chemical and food stains.

Sheldon Slate, a family owned mine in Maine and New York, produces standard and custom countertops in a variety of edge profiles, as well as vanity tops and sinks.

Natural slate is anti-bacterial, stain resistant, noncombustible and unmatched in strength and durability, says the company. Colors include variations of red and green, as well as gray and black, with honed or polished finishes.