your cabinets are quartersawn oak - so you see alot of the grain? If so I'd go with quieter stone. I like #2.

I like the second better--I wouldn't really call it "quiet"--still has a lot of movement. I love lots of veins in soapstone, but the first looks more localized. I like them spread out in the second.

:)
Sarah

Cheril,

The most beautiful piece of soapstone I have ever seen had nearly sparkling gold veining. My cabinets will be qs oak. I'd love the first one in my kitchen.

I love the first one. The second one is very pretty, too. Can your fabricator do a computerized layout of your kitchen on top of pics of the slabs to see which would be optimal for your counter pieces?

I think either one would look great. The color of the veins in slab #1 sound like a great match to your quartersawn oak. I can see why you're having a hard time choosing.

Check out the Finished kitchens blogspot and look at jaymielo's kitchen. She has soapstone countertops with quartersawn oak. Also, check out berf's kitchen and ndvweb's kitchen who both have soapstone with lots of veining. All of these posters should still have pics on the forum if you search for their names. Looking at these pics will help you visualize how a fabricator can layout your counters and which slab you are more drawn to.

Oh, wow. I have no idea!!! some help I am! you can't go wrong. If the first one pulled at your heartstrings - then you should take it. The movement is beautiful and you love the vein coloring. If you can't get a computerized image of the counters, it might just help by putting some painter's tape in 25" sections on the slabs.

I love the first one, particularly because of the caramel colored veins. The second one is lovely also. I think you'd love either of them. Do you know what kind the first one is?

Both are beautiful and would look great, but I'm also hearing 'heartstring pulling' when you write about the first one...and I like the sounds of the caramel veining. It's always a good idea to think about how it will be cut up and where each section will go...It may break up the busy-ness, or it may concentrate it all in one spot.

I vote for number 1 - it is beautiful

Here is my island which has lots of action if this helps you visualize. I originally went looking for something very quiet and ended up with this more dramatic stone and love it.

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Anita

I like the first slab better myself, and I am also thinking I am hearing more appeal to you in your description. I don't think of quartersawn oak as that busy -- actually a lot less busy than a standard oak, so I think the broader veins in the first one would go well with it and be a contrast to the tighter graining of the quartersawn. The caramel color also appeals to me and I would have bought it if I had seen something like that. ;-)

I absolutely adore soapstone with alot of veining... the more the better. And... caramel color veining maximizes my love for it. I'm #1 all the way... and when they template, I'd want to be there to make sure they got as much of that glorious veining in the most obvious place possible. Did I mention I love soapstone with veining?!

I like #2, but I'm a "quiet stone" person, and chose very similar slabs for my kitchen. Either will be beautiful with your cabinets, so follow your heart.

I like the random movement of the veins in #2.

Which type of soapstone is featured in your pictures, and where did you find it?

Thank you everyone. What great comments. Both slabs are Pa Original from Philadelphia Soapstone. Joe and Andrew are very nice and quite easy to work with. I'm going to ask about the computerized layout. Maybe I'll play around with it myself too and see what I come up with. I don't think I can go wrong with either, but hey, what's the fun in not obsessing, right? I think that caramel veining may be the deciding factor. As you can see in the picture below, slab #1 is has enough veining so you wouldn't have to worry about it all being concentrated in one place. I have two slabs so the veins can run horizontally on both legs of the L in my layout.

I thought I'd have the seam placed to the left of the sink and template it such that the quietest part of the stone is where the seam is. The guys at Philadelphia Soapstone think I should seam it in the middle of the sink which could be better since I wouldn't have to worry so much about matching but I've never liked seams in the middle of the sink so I'm not sure what to do. Any thoughts?

my gosh, both stones are amazing!

I'm more of a 'quiet stone' person so I love #1 but honestly, #2 is just as beautiful - I don't think you would regret either choice.

Thinking... your soapstone will be standout regardless of which slab you use but I think that if you use #1 (the quieter stone) then your cabinets will be more noticeable.

I really like #1....but #2 would work as well. Go with #1 as you really seem to like that best (reading b/w the lines!)

oooooo--I love number one. Here's a pic of some of mine right after installation (also Original PA)
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My layout is somewhat similar to yours, and I have one seam located to the left of the sink. The stone shop did a great job when placing the templates on the stone so that a vein appears to run through the seam perpendicularly, giving the impression that there is no seam at all. The installers did a great job on the seam also.

I think I've read that it's not a good idea to put a seam in the middle of the sink, although I can't remember why. Hopefully someone else with more knowledge will chime in.

I just got DH involved; this should be interesting (he's away so I sent him pics).

Yes, Buehl and Americancolleen (and everyone else), they'd both work well which is what's making this so hard. Arghhh!

Berf, thanks so much for posting a picture of your penisula. I looked for you in the FKB but you weren't there yet. Your soapstone is gorgeous.

Happytobehome, what a great idea for handling the seam! I'm going to scrutinize these slabs right now to see if there's a place with a vertical vein that work for the seam area. Thanks too for giving me more incentive to stick with my gut and not do the center of the sink seam. Hey, this is getting really exciting. I think I'm only weeks away!!!!