There was a recent kitchen reveal with marble and soapstone, but all cabs were white if I remember. The marble and soapstone looked good together, but the soapstone was quiet for balance. Have you checked out the finished kitchen blog to see how others may have done this?

I'm trying to decide on cab and tops myself now. I wanted all white cabs too, but considered a darker island. I talked myself out of that as I'm afraid that the dark island trend is coming to an end. I've read that several places and think it's probably true. During that time, I also thought about two different tops with the two cabs. I think that would be too busy for me. I've got some gorgeous slabs of honed Carrara on hold and am thinking about doing them on the perimeter and doing the white-cabbed island top in a dark wood. I'll get some contrast there with tops being different, but won't be trendy with the cab colors.

These decisions are so hard, aren't they? I loose sleep over them! Good luck!

kjsomd - I have to agree with your instincts. I like the way mixed cabinetry looks, but I think there has to be some continuity to tie it together, or it does look like two different kitchens. As breezygirl said - check the finished pic's and see what you like. I'm planning on white perimeter cabinetry and espresso island, but all will have the same counter top - either quarzite or granite that looks like marble.

breezygirl - say it isn't so.....! The dark island with white cab's is coming to an end? Uh, oh....

I find that contrast works when either the L and island are different woods but with the same counter material or if they are the same wood but with different countertops. Unless that is, the runs are actually separated and mixed materials and colors are a theme in your kitchen. Then it works beautifully. Also, say your sink cab or uppers flanking the range were a dark wood or painted color wood... then mixing it up could look great.

We've actually done cream cabinets with soapstone on perimeter, and espresso stained island with wood top (for budgetary reasons). Originally we were going to put Bianco Antico, as that ties in creams, whites and espresso nicely, but the wood top just might be permanent depending on how it looks...I'm a little concerned about it looking like 2 different kitchens, but hopefully that won't be the case. If so, I'll go back to my BA on island idea, or maybe marble.

My only other thought is that you should consider what kind of use the island will get. That's why I didn't put the soapstone on mine...my 4 kids (who will sit there to eat) will surely end up banging it up excessively. I like patina, but not in the abuse form it would likely be from fork-banging, curiosity etching, and the like!

I am still thinking about white perimetere cabinets with a painted (probably light turquoise) island. I'm still debating about countertops, but I'm leaning towards the Mint Ice Corian or butcher block, for the perimeter countertops and a marble (or granite/quartzite that looks like marble) for the island counter.

As far as two different kitchens, I don't think it will look like that...but I've always wanted my island to look like a work table. I also have a wooden dining table, on the other side of the island...so that's one reason I'm undecided about the butcher block. It's pretty, but I don't want too many wood tones (wood looking vinyl floor, too).

As for what's going to be 'in' or 'out' in the next year or two...probably lots of things. I'm certainly no expert, but a lot of bright colored countertops seem to be gaining popularity (I might do the Corian, despite this new trend, rather than because of it) and I think that's a natural reaction, after all the neutral wood and stone. People get tired of seeing the same thing in the magazines, and want something 'new' in their kitchen.

My advice, don't worry about what's popular (which changes so fast) but get what you like and you know you'll be happy with for the next ten to twenty years. Whatever that may be (whether it's popular or not) will make you smile, every time you walk into your new kitchen :)

Our cabinets are going to be painted tomorrow and I am losing sleep over what to do! I have a small L shaped kitchen with a 60" island. Our original plan is to paint the cabinets white with a brown glaze and paint the island black. My table and kitchen hutch are black. We have wood floors and have chosen a dark granite with lots of orange black and brown color. The big dilemma is...to glaze or not to glaze?? The paint color is an off white which is gorgeous by itself, but it is a different shade of white than the trim around the windows and baseboards, does that matter? I keep hearing glazing is on its way out!

My interior designer gently told me that I should either do different tops (island-perimeter) or different bases, but not both. I just took her word for it.

i did white perimeter cabs and cherry island (and baking center) all topped w/ calacatta gold marble. i thought about using soapstone with the marble but i felt all the veining would compete. at least they would in all the soapstone slabs i saw. i think if you are thinking about using marble and soapstone together you need to find the slabs as soon as possible to be sure they work together.

Kjsomd,
We will have a black-painted island (F&B off-black) topped with white marble, and white painted cabinets (F&B slipper satin) topped with soapstone. Our floors are also light coloured porcelain tile. We are very happy with our decision to add some contrast. It gives a focus to the room and gives eyes a place to rest. The overall look is still very light. Despite some trepidation on our part, the marble and soapstone are coexist beautifully together. The island stands out like a piece of furniture, which was a considered decision and one we're happy about. The reverse colour scheme (light atop dark, and dark atop light works well). I posted our sopastone recently, and hope to post pictures of the island and marble soon--once the first coat of paint is complete.