I just spent the afternoon fondling soapstone!

16 years ago

We took a three-hour drive today to pick out our soapstone slabs--woohooooo!!! I finally got to meet THE florida_joshua and florida_mimi--and how sweet and gracious they are! I was so very glad we went, because in addition to meeting those wonderful folks, we ended up picking a completely different stone than we had expected. We thought we were going for a Julia and ended up with a Black Venata. We also got to feel many different stones and see some of Joshua's gorgeous work. We enjoyed every minute there. And, wouldn't you know . . . I completely forgot to take my camera! Mimi, if you see this and can snap a pic or two for me, I would be so grateful. Then again, I suppose I could just wait a few more days and see it in my kitchen. :)

We are hoping for the installation to be late this week, but that all depends on our cabinet maker. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it will be this week, because I'm pretty sure that I can't wait.

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Comments (15)

bayareafrancy
16 years ago
Oh, how fun! Is Joshua doing your install??

Those softer stones feel so velvety wonderful!!!!! Nothing like em!!! My Santa Barbara is gorgeous, but if I had to do it all over again...I think I'd go Black Venata. The feel is just too luscious!

:-)

Francy
holligator
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, he is, and we can't wait!

I love the look of all the different soapstones, and I knew I could be happy with any of them, but DH was a little picky about the look. When I showed him pics of different varieties, he gravitated toward all the ones that didn't have clear white veins. Julia looked the quietest overall in terms of veins that stood out, so that's what he liked the best--in the pictures. When we went there and he got to see them up close and experience the different feels, he said "I really like these thin, white veins." Practically the opposite words had come out of his mouth when he was looking at pictures.

Joshua happened to already have a pic of what he thinks is one of my slabs. It does look like it could be the right one, so here it is...
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terible
16 years ago
Holigator, what a beautiful stone you and your husband have chosen.
I live in Florida, were abouts is Florida Joshua & Mimi's Store?
holligator
Original Author
16 years ago
I live in Florida, were abouts is Florida Joshua & Mimi's Store?

They are in Punta Gorda, over near Sarasota. Their shop is called Creative Soapstone. They don't "advertise" their work here, but they can't control customers raving about them! :-)

As I mentioned in the first post, it's not very close to me, but they are willing to travel for a small mileage fee. So far, working with them has been an absolute pleasure. I will, of course, post pics of the finished job, too. Very, very soon, I hope!
coleen3201118
16 years ago
Congrats, holligator - that's a pretty stone and you are lucky to get to have Joshua and Mimi install for you! Funny how those veins grow on you. Before I saw soapstone in person, I thought I didn't want any veins, but then, after, I wanted all the veins I could get!
terible
16 years ago
Thanks Holligator,
What a bummer I'm way across on the other coast. Getting new counter-tops is already exciting & now you have double the excitment of having Joshua. I'm am so happy for you and can't wait to see.......
holligator
Original Author
16 years ago
Don't despair, terible--I'm pretty sure he has done work on the east coast, as well. We are way up in Gainesville, and that wasn't too far, so unless you're in Jacksonville, the east coast should seem like a hop, skip, and a jump. The mileage cost seems like a bargain when I consider that I'm getting someone with so much knowledge and experience specific to soapstone.

The stone fabricators around here tried to talk me out of soapstone because it was too porous (and because they didn't sell it). Showed what they knew. When I explained that it was actually far less porous than granite, they thought I was nuts.
sleepydrj
16 years ago
Beautiful!!!! It looks a LOT like mine!!! I got my SS from a marble/granite place, and they don't have named varieties, so mine has been nameless. I guess it is very close to black venata.

enjoy!
bayareafrancy
16 years ago
*sigh* Holligator--it is beyond gorgeous! I never saw a slab with skinny veins like that when I was looking. Just gorgeous! Wow. Wow!

:-)

Francy
User
16 years ago
I love the look of your slabs and can't wait to see the finished product. How lucky to have our resident "rock" star doing your install!
mary_in_nc
16 years ago
Absolutely gorgeous slab! How lucky you are to meet Joshua . Next week I am going to to M Tex to pick out mine! I can't wait! So many slabs to see and touch!
angelcub
16 years ago
Whoo hoo, holligator! That's a gorgeous hunk of rock! Just wait until it's installed - You'll love it even more. I was just thinking yesterday when I gave mine a rubdown ; ) that it had already been a year since my install. I still love it as much as the first moment I laid eyes on the final result.

I'm sure Joshua will do a wonderful job and you'll be doing the happy stoner dance, as well. Keep us posted and you know we want pics!!! : )
fnzzy
16 years ago
oh my holligator! That is beautiful. I'm so jealous. dh nixed soapstone and wouldn't even look. Oh well. I can't wait to see it installed and you're so lucky to have someone so knowledgeable and so friendly working for you!
remodelfla
16 years ago
For terible...
I live in Coral Springs, Fl. (Broward County- west of Ft. Lauderdale) and have been communicating with Mimi (Joshua's wife?). They are so gracious and helpful it's unbelieveable. I never thought I was a soapstone kinda girl since my kitchen style is by no means classic, country, or rustic. More casual/contemporary/natural maple. BUT... I'm drawn toward the stones that have lots of veining. You all have drawn me into your web with the thoughts of the velvety feel and matte finish. I still don't know if it'll work with my kind of kitchen and all the earth tones in my home but I'm strongly considering some kind of soapstone variety for my perimeter cabs. Anyone have pics of Brazilian Rainforest? I think it's a little lighter which I may prefer for my application. Anyway.. don't let the distance stop you from using Joshua. I hope I DO want the soapstone because I'd love to use them.
bayareafrancy
16 years ago
I just moved my laptop to the kitchen so that i can keep touching mine while I'm at the computer!! And with the Bee's Oil, it smells good too!!

Francy

I just spent the afternoon fondling soapstone!

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I just spent the afternoon fondling soapstone!

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