I would never try to talk anyone *out* of soapstone or the materials you've looked at, but I'm pretty happy with my slightly speckled, fairly matte black laminate.

I don't know what it looks like, but I guess it doesn't look that much like laminate because people ask us what it is pretty often and then are surprised by the answer.

No great close-up pics here, but hopefully enough for you to get an idea of what it might look like in total.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vix's Budget Kitchen

Here's Basalt Slate laminate by Formica:

Laminate is the easiest to maintain. Lasts forever too. There is so much environmental waste with stone retrieval. The resins in the laminate are not entirely green, yet, but its longevity and ease of maintenance can go a long way. Have you looked at Paperstone in black. I have it. So far so wonderful. There is also the TopLab epoxy material. $$$, but resistant to nearly everything. And there is also the Finish ply material, Parklex. See the Milder group on-line for more on that material.

I am doing my large laundry room counters with Formica Chemtop. It comes in a bunch of colors and I think it does look a lot like soapstone. Not to mention it's very affordable.

I picked it out months ago... goes in in about 10 days... can't wait to see it.

PD

Here's a pic of Chemtop

Mrs. Bridges: we must be connected somehow. I am replacing my 30 year old oak cabinets and butcherblock-look formica with white farmhouse style cabinets and black countertops.

After seeing and feeling several stone countertop options, I'm going with black formica. The formica surface has served me well all these years and I'd rather invest the cost difference in a better floor.

It's all in your desires and priorities. Please post pictures of your ultimate design choice.

I looked at lots of formica but what I didn't like about it was the light reflection when it was on the horizontal surface. It was about 1/3 the price of our soapstone but somehow it just didn't do it for me.

I read once that Ina Garten has solid black Formica on her perimeter countertops (white cabs), and you can't tell the difference between that and the honed black granite she has on her island. I think it looks great, and you know hers is a working kitchen, so performance is not an issue with Formica.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ina Garten's kitchen.

great points, thanks so much and I agree with all of you, great suggestion, pllog. Phillyhaus, how was the cost of paperstone? Did you compare it to slate? It's not that I don't care what the surface is made of, but I care more about the flat black look and am willing to compromise. I have lived with a huge old Monson slate sink at my cottage and love it, but it's very hard to keep clean.I have also lived with formica in my home for 20+ years. I totally have been planning on slate and live not far from the Maine Soapstone guy. We are early days of our construction so at this point our budget allows the slate. But I am just reconsidering...why the heck get slate if I can save so much and have the look I want?
Also, this friend has a neighbor who just got a gorgeous soapstone counter, sinks, windowsill. When my friend was oohing over it, her neighbor said: it IS nice, but good old formica isn't bad either. So that got my wheels turning...plus, the savings could help to offset the cost of the lacanche range arriving in June which I am wracked with guilt over.

i think the black formica looks nice...the little formica seam at the edge blends in with the black and other dark formicas/wilsonarts. there is a coffee shop near me that has this formica and it looks great. we almost got it, but got ikea butcherblock instead, because it was cheaper. the only drawback is having a drop in rather than an undermount sink. if this doesn't bother you...then go for formica. i like the laminates because they are hard, but not quite as hard as stone... paperstone is interesting but so much more expensive that we didn't even consider it.. kren

Wow! What a coincidence. We just came home with one of the pre-made Home Depot basalt slate formica countertops to see how it would look in our kitchen. My husband was all ready to go for granite when I showed him the pre-fab formicas. He totally fell in love with the basalt slate--imagine--just minutes before he was convinced he didn't want Formica. I actually came here looking for tips on how to install it when I came across this forum. I think it looks great and it's not trendy. I'm worried that people will get tired of some of those busy granite patterns, but I figure (hope) black is classic. I'm really happy with the color and texture. I say "Go for it!"

I am also considering black formica - Ebony Oxide matte finish - kind of mottled black and very dark grey. Am a little worried that the black will look dirty a lot of the time without constant wiping - but I really want the black look-so I think I am going to risk the higher potential maintenance...

Any opinions on the following fine design point?: I am considering the preformed formica with a bull nose edge because the smooth laminated surface extends all the way under the counter for easy cleaning. I also really like the look of modern cabinetry with the plat panel cabinet drawer and doors that run all the way next to each other, with no gaps between them, usually with brushed stainless steel handles. Do you think it will look odd to have the rounded edge of the countertops with the sharp edges of these modern cabinets? Or am I obsessing? Thanks, Jennifer

I think honed black granite also looks like soapstone....just another option.

jtberman: well, you are not alone in obsessing about that. We chose a square edge because we wanted a clean look. Because I did not want mitre joints in my corners, we were doing a custom (not preformed length) anyway. Regardless of whatever edge you choose, make sure you see a sample from the fabricator, I don't like our edges at all, as a white edge shows. KD told me to go over it with a sharpie!

Another point to consider--premade countertops use the lighter (1.0 mm) postform grade of Formica (Grade 12). (Integral backsplashes & wrapped bullnoses)

One of the reasons I intend to make my own countertops is so I know I will be getting the Grade 10 (1.2 mm) horizontal grade of Formica.

I "inherited" matte black Formica in our last home (in the master bath) and this one (in the kitchen), so I can share our experience.

It was no coincidence; the last house was decorated by a fancy-schmancy decorator, and this house was her (that decorator's) OWN house, 2 owners ago.

I happen to know her and her 2 adult children. Her son told me that she NEVER cooked -- she used to joke about putting vending machines in the kitchen! I guess that's why she also felt that WHITE CARPET in the kitchen made sense. It looked dramatic, all right, but -- yeesh!

DON'T DO IT.

The matte black looks sensational -- for about 10 seconds after it's been cleaned. After that, EVERY speck of dust shows. Water drops are awful; little white rings.

So unless you either don't care that it will rarely look perfect, or you don't mind constantly polishing it -- and I mean at least twice a day; more, if you actually USE that counter -- don't do it, at least not in a "working" part of the kitchen; maybe on a credenza area or something.

Now, I stress that I am ONLY talking about solid, matte black. The slate-like picture above and the others that other posters describe would be fine, I think -- we have a mottled black granite in our kitchen, and although it does need a little extra work, it's fine. Also, I think the problem would be with any matte solid black surface, not just laminate, and even with some shiny blacks, too, like Absolute Black granite. (I happen to like laminates, by the way.)

But you can get virtually the same very dramatic look with something that isn't pure black -- it will look more sophisticated, too.

I was SO happy when I replaced it in both homes.

It's funny, there must be something in the air! Because I too was convinced I didn't want formica....until I looked at it again and came home with some samples of Basalt slate and a few others that looked very nice! It turns out I just don't care for MY formica. I'm still saving and planning on a granite island, but I suspect I'll probably end up with formica on the perimeter.

On a totally different topic, has anyone ever removed the formica laminate backsplash in order to do a tile backsplash? How did you do it and how hard was it? I remember reading something that suggested it was quite difficult and that you needed a heat gun and it was easy to damage the walls.

Thanks for the feedback - I really do use my kitchen heavily. Maybe I'll go with a neutral and then go with black appliances - which will provide some of that pop and save some money so I can afford a great sink and faucet- and color on the walls for excitement.

I guess even with the bullnose, there is an edge at the ends of the countertops.

How much of a concern is the Grade 10 vs. 12?

I initally decided I wanted matte black laminate countertops. I wasn't dying for stone and really liked the price and functionality of laminate. I became concerned about keeping matte black formica clean based on reviews and my own "tests" on samples. I went back to the drawing board and decided on formica's "mdf" and "cardboard." Both were simple, neutral, and did a better job of hiding the dirt/fingerprints. Then my husband put down the gauntlet - he wanted quartz (maintaining that was the only thing he insisted on throughout the process (who was he fooling)). Anyway, I picked a quartz that looked like the "mdf" formica. You don't hear that everyday.

Hello,

I want to share my black laminate counter tops. Mine are Wilsonart premium in Ebony Star. They are black with little white dots throughout, they also have a texture to them, they are not smooth. I love them. I have the mitered edge that matches the edge on my corian, which is on my island. I have no problems keeping them clean. I do not have a dust/dirt issue with them.

And

Elaine

We wanted a slate look in through-body porcelain tile because we don't like the maintenance of stone or concrete.
Ours is a color blox tile called something like "black black" but turns out not true thru-body - the under body is a dark reddish hue, but also turns out that any chips end up making the counter look more slate-like. We used black epoxy grout and 1/8" grout lines (1/16" was just too hard for DIY) and schluter system instead of bullnose.
But I can say that pretty much everyone who walks in and sees it (the people that we allow in the unfinished house) asks if it's slate. So I guess we got the look we wanted!

Here is a link that might be useful:

sandsonnik, we just had a guy come out to give us prices on new laminate. We were going to need the backsplash pulled off, and he said we could do it oursles. Just to use a hair dryer, or an iron for several seconds till it melted the glue. Then pull it off. Seemed simple enough, but who knows? :)

jtberman--I've included a link to Formica's website. According to Formica, ''Grade 12 is recommended only for light duty horizontal surfaces.''

Here is a link that might be useful: Formica Grades & Collections Guide

We put formica (Butter rum) in our office that my DH had custom made. It looks terrific and we are constantly getting compliments. In fact one friend insisted that it was granite and we had to tell her no, it was formica. So go for it!!