Laminates are very much "in style". They can mimic granite at 1/3 the price. How I determined what to use in my farmhouse kitchen remodel were these points: IMHO.
what is the current market value of the house?
My home is modest and the value is modest too. No way was I going to drop a bucket load of $$ on the counter tops for a house that that does not warrant the investment. I would CRY if I ever moved and I had to leave the counter tops behind! I love my granite look Formica. Believe me, I am ready to move on short notice! i miss the 'burbs! LOL!
what is the period of the house?
If you are trying to keep in the period, why not use a nice laminate? 1950's retro house can use the great laminate "period" looks still available, for example. Check out the website Retro Renovation for great inspiration. Lots of renovations on period homes and not all use the hard surfaces.
what is your budget?
keep in mind that all hard surfaces will price out at 3-4 times the cost of laminate. I would have loved to have put Silestone or Corian In my kitchen reno but frankly, I did not want to spend the money. We replaced the entire plumbing in this old farmhouse and that was not inexpensive. I would not have installed a dishwasher or laundry room without replacing the old crummy galvanized pipes with new. Those pipes left a rusty film on all surfaces. So worth the $$ investment. My mantra is that the counter top should not be worth more than the whole house! Lol!
we could have moved to a new house vs. spending the remodeling $$$ we have so far! DH is living his dream. And he is paying out the nose for that dream!
. ( waterproofed the basement, replaced windows, put in new sidewalks and patio..the bathroom reno is next year! Won't he be surprised!)
I am not a hard core cook. I am never going to use a counter top for a cutting surface. I am never going to seal a porous (granite) top. I am not going to set hot pots on top of the counter. I want and love lighter colors where I can see where to clean, etc.
Ultimately, it is your kitchen. Research the different pros and cons of each countertop option. You will be surprised at what each offers. better Homes and Gardens website has comparison info as does HOUZZ.
have fun! Post pics!
sandy