Birch or Maple. Birch is perfect for cabinet casework, as it has a rich sheen, and it gives the end product an elegant finish. Maple tends to be very yellow, can have grain striping (small veneer strips used across the panel), and is about 40% higher cost than Birch.

11 linen colors and 3 different texture levels has made Wilsonart Interiors the #1 choice of our customers. Scratch and water resistant, this will keep its clean look for years to come. Matching 5/8" drawer boxes and the same price as plywood, Wilsonart interiors wins hands down.

For a low-cost resilient surface, melamine is a popular choice. The stock colors are Black, Fog Grey (pictured) and White. Melamine can also have matching drawer boxes. No material is going to survive a flood (except maybe fenolic...but that's a story for another time), but sink bases should have a drip pan for peace of mind.