Decisions, Decisions
We are at a crossroads with the countertop selection now, and we keep flip-flopping.
We had it in our minds that we wanted Soapstone, but we didn't realize how much the color varied from piece to piece. We both were thinking it would be a dark dark gray, almost black (like in chemistry class). The piece that is available to us is not almost black, and it has veining and a little green to it. Below is the soapstone.
The other choice is Absolute Black Granite that can be honed & sealed or polished. It is definitely black, and there is absolutely no veining to it. The picture below shows the honed & sealed sample.
We will have slate tile floors, so either will match just fine. We just can't seem to make up our minds. Tell us, which one do you prefer?
We had it in our minds that we wanted Soapstone, but we didn't realize how much the color varied from piece to piece. We both were thinking it would be a dark dark gray, almost black (like in chemistry class). The piece that is available to us is not almost black, and it has veining and a little green to it. Below is the soapstone.
The other choice is Absolute Black Granite that can be honed & sealed or polished. It is definitely black, and there is absolutely no veining to it. The picture below shows the honed & sealed sample.
We will have slate tile floors, so either will match just fine. We just can't seem to make up our minds. Tell us, which one do you prefer?
posted by C&C at 12:50 PM
13 Comments:
Hmm. Well, both choices are absolutely gorgeous, so I don't think that you can go wrong. What colour are your appliances? Have you already picked out a paint colour, or are you leaving that until you've decided on the counter choice?
Can't wait to nose around your blog-- your project looks fantastic :)
Kimberley
Thank you for the kind comments. The appliances are stainless and I think the paint Cara has picked out will be a light creamed coffee color. We are leaning strongly towards the soapstone b/c it seems granite is the choice of every cookie cutter McMansion around here and has unfortunately become a snobby status symbol for all the "Dallas wannabe's" here in northwest Arkansas. It is very unfortunate b/c granite is a very beautiful stone. I think soapstone matches a Victorian era house better.
-chris
It sounds like we both wanted the same thing. I went with Black Andes granite. It wasn't as black black black as the Absolute Black - it has some very dark grey in it, but it looks pretty much black. There are no veins in it either. I love it in my kitchen (you can see pictures of it on my blog). If you have any hesitation on the soapstone, you shouldn't get it. So I vote for the granite. :)
I like the veins in the soapstone better and I think they would look nice with your appliances.
I just found your blog and have added it to my reader. Keep up the good work! Your blog is so inspiring (which I need with the huge fixer-upper we just took on).
And I noticed that you are a freelance artist. May I ask what kind of art you do or if you have any samples online? I love looking at new art.
I would go soapstone... there is something very unique about that particular sample's veining and coloring, too! Plus, as you said, it's more "period".
Looks like we're going with the soapstone. We called the stoneyard and they put our name on the slab of soapstone. We didn't have to put any money down so we can still change our minds like we do often. I don't think we will this time though.
-chris
I think that the veins in the soapstone will be a nice complement to the wall colour-- it'll tie it all together nicely in a way that I don't think the black granite would.
I feel your pain regarding granite and mcmansions. Here in Atlanta it seems that's all they're building and I do have the instinctive wince when I see granite now... Luckily (?) Tallulah House's foundation can't support granite countertops ;)
Congrats on making your choice!
We have similar tastes! What color are your cabinets? I looked at a dozen soapstone slabs and used it in my butler's pantry. It is a dark greenish/grey stone. If I oil it, the green takes on an bright emerald hue, which is lovely. I don't oil it and it still looks great, just more muted.
The flaw is that fingerprints show, no matter what.
I think you can see my SS if you search "butler's pantry" on my blog, www.fixerupper.typepad.com
anyway, on my blog you commented about the farm sink. have you decided on a big sink, or one that is separated down the middle? I recommend the big sink. I bought the 2-sink variety and find that neither sink is big enough for my calphalon pots and pans.
my 2 cents!
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Good luck!
The cabinets will be white or more accurately, a creamy/off white (I think). We got the double bowl apron front sink b/c our current original sink is the single bowl variety and it seems to make it more difficult to hand wash with only one bowl.
-chris
I was on my way to read paint posts...
Glad to see you're going with soapstone-- I really wish we could've done that in our kitchen. I like the fact that it can be oiled-- colors are so alive without being in your face with oiled stone (I really enjoyed carving with it!) and then the top layer can be sanded off if it gets used a lot. The historic home my mother works in down in FSM has its original soapstone counters. They're awesome.
I have an unpolished sample of granite on my counters now. I do not have a sample of the soapstone.
Hello C&C,
I'm in Eureka renovating an old house in historic district. Haven't been able to locate a source for soapstone counters. Can you share the name of your source?
Thanks!
Terry
Terry - we bought our soapstone from New Century Countertops in Springdale, AR. Their phone number is 479-756-0893.
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