Looking for an affordable countertop? Teragren says bamboo is the answer. Its newest offerings—priced between $26 and $32 per square foot—feature vertical-grain caramelized bamboo with a strand bamboo core. Bacteria-resistant and formaldehyde-free, the counters are pre-finished with a food-safe mineral oil/beeswax solution. Both the 30-inch-by-96-inch and 36-inch-by-72-inch versions measure 1½ inches thick. Teragren, 800.929.6333; www.teragren.com