New to this website-glad to find some great tips. After seeing the textured soapstone slate laminate, I'm a believer - my search for "affordable granite" has ended. Abbycats, thanks for the pics - they led me on yet another online journey and the decision for slate soapstone has been made. This is my problem. Genanla, I must have that ogee edge you gave as a link. But the price is out of my budget. QUESTION: I've seen ogee-shaped molding added to counters and the change is beautiful. But can you cover it with the matching slate-colored laminate in this odd shape? I've seen the wood trim and it's not for me. If I painted it to try and match the slate color, which may be hard to match, would this look too "soapstone"-like? I've looked at other laminate colors with black as a background color -then painting is much easier to match than slate. Any other ideas to get this ogee-edge look "as one" with the laminate counter? I have been looking for so long and can't believe what has happened to laminate technology - never thought to check and so glad I found you all. As a contrast, I was thinking of real slate/soapstone in subway pattern up to cabinets (stuck with white formica). Would there be a way to edge the counter in real slate soapstone or tie in the ogee edging with the soapstone backsplash? Any ideas, please, need HELP! And I agree with you all - I have not been impressed with most of the granite I've seen, unless it's one of the exotics. Oh, don't get me started checking my bills and bank account again, my roof is leaking! Honestly, your time in responding is very much appreciated, thank you. Lorah P.S. If my post came out twice, or combined, had some trouble getting the hang of this. Here is a link that might be useful: RE: Wilsonart Oiled Soapstone Laminate

Bestyears, My cabinets were painted in the factory and called antique white, but I can tell you that it is a near perfect match to BM's Marble White OC34. Thanks for the photo, this is all so helpful. I am in the process of calling marble yards and getting pictures sent to me, and saw some in person. I really love the largest tile in my photos as I feel that the deep charcoal vein and warm tan veins, with the clear white background is most complementary to my kitchen. Finding that is proving to me most difficult. Makes me think that subway or marble mosaic is a much easier choice. But then again I have waited this long to find the right thing... I am so grateful for all the ideas and help you all have given me. I was on the building forum a ton about 5 years ago when we built our house and I could not have done it without all the wonderful support, ideas and knowledge! Kitty

LOL - That's a large part of why we went with what we got. We were both very drawn to marble but wary of the etching / staining issues (I had not yet found GW). The slab yard even sold the Arco Baleno as a marble. I do love the colors in it, I just had wanted a warmer kitchen that I'm winding up with. Personally, I think you have lots of warm with the cabinet and wall color. Why not get a sample of Carrara and try it?

Well, now just how horrible do I feel, replying now over 2 years since the thread's last posting? Or for the fact that so little has been accomplished in yet another 2 years' time? I've read back over the ensuing posts a number of times over the past year however, and really appreciate the positive comments and words of encouragement. Although I've been AWOL for too long, rest assured that all of you at GW come up each and every time someone comes over to my house and asks about the kitchen. Few people believe me when I say I couldn't have done it without you! Also, additional apologies to jwm211, gam51, cran, marybeth1, cookin45, and anyone else who was unable to see the pictures for a period of time. I run a webserver out of my house, so whenever lightning strikes (literally) or TimeWarner has an outage, the pics go down. Thankfully TWC is actually pretty good about uptime. Now for the update. Since my pics from the first part of this thread, the following have been done: - installed faucet for sink (Delta Victorian, SS finish) - oiled the soapstone (duh!) :-) - installed weathered-iron cabinet knobs/pulls on all cabinets - replaced old wood ceiling fan with overhead light - bought a (very) small kitchen table so I could sit/eat! - installed handle on dishwasher - installed garbage disposal Here's a picture I took standing from the back area of the kitchen (it's shaped like an "L") looking at the main portion, from late April. It's pretty similar to how it is now, and gives a good feel for what it looks like "lived-in" on a day-to-day basis. Soapstone had just been oiled too, considering how dark a charcoal it is. :-) As you can see, it's still not quite finished -- namely, it *still* needs the tile backsplash (deee, yep still planning on the Sylacauga Alabama marble tile you have, assuming it's still available), undercabinet lighting, and a pendant light over the sink. Plus a new set of outlet/switch covers. Once those are done, the kitchen will pretty much be complete as far as I'm concerned. Meanwhile, a two-year update on the soapstone: is it possible to love soapstone even more now than i did in 2008? Time has done nothing to diminish my passion for those soapstone counters -- maybe that's an odd word to use, but I couldn't think of a more-accurate alternative. It does require periodic oiling -- for anyone thinking they can oil soapstone twice a month for the first 6 mos and then it's basically done, that's not been my experience. It doesn't fade to as light a chalkboard-grey as it was when I first got it, but it lightens enough that I'm compelled to oil it every, say, 2-3 months now. It certainly doesn't have to be done, but... I love oiling the soapstone and look forward to it. Nothing beats that just-oiled near-black charcoal colour with the veining 'popping' :-) I apologise once again for the excessively-long AWOL, really appreciate the kind words. If anyone would like any specific info on any of the parts, or would like to see more pics or closeups of anything, by all means just ask and I'll put them up! Cheers to you, Supra92