Soapstone and marble are a common and lovely combination. For one of many GW kitchens with this combo, see Katieob's former kitchen:

{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Katieob's 2009 kitchen

Oh that kitchen is exactly what I want to achieve!! It's perfect- thank you for posting it. Her layout is even like mine. I'm going to search old posts to see if I can find out what soapstone she used. Thank you again. With my mom and sister half way across the country, you guys are the next best thing.

Hi Secondhalf,

I'm glad you enjoyed the picture of Katieob's kitchen.
In her post, linked above, she says her soapstone is Green Mountain Original.

P.A. soapstone is the same or similar (I've always been confused on that) and is one of the harder varieties and has very thin spidery veins.

Katieob still participates on GW and would be happy to answer a question, I'm sure.

Here is a link that might be useful: P.A. soapstone post from last year

Thanks again Francoise47- I learned a lot from the soapstone link (I thought Green Mountain was from Pennsylvania and that it had a green tinge...silly me). I will contact Katieob- I see she's doing another kitchen and I wonder what she is glad she could change about her 2009 kitchen.

If I had been able to find the right soapstone, I would have had that combination. You just need to pay attention to the veining and balance it. One of the two might be dramatic, but having both with a lot of drama would probably be too much. That's the main risk in my book, but it's a consideration anytime you use multiple surfaces.

Fyi, my new counters are in and they are PA (Pinheiros Altos) soapstone. The fabricator told me the quarry that makes PA closed...so it may be hard to find PA now. My kitchen is too small for an island, but we used a marble saddle for the window sill! (Need to get a better picture of it - the sill looks really small from afar in this pic). I agree, depending on the veining the two can go great together. Good luck!

Like Lascatx, I searched for the right soapstone to work with my marble (heavily veined Carrara on the perimeter in my case). The soapstone I was seeing in my area was too green and veined for my taste. If done carefully, it can work. Someone else besides Katieob has done the combo well here. Was it imfletcher? Let me noodle that...

Sorry, off topic: Abouttogetdusty -- your counters and kitchen look great!

Thanks, francoise47! On the homestretch...anxious to move back in. I've been sneaking in to run the faucet and dishwasher ;-) And I can't stop oiling the counters!

SecondHalf, hi. I meant to answer your RI fabricator question, but now don't see the thread, so I'll post here.

We used Minas Granite (though I think they are changing their name to Black Diamond Granite). I know they work with granite and marble, but don't know about soapstone. The owner, Geneci Silva, was very patient, sending us to several stone importers until we finally found the stone we liked. Then he stored it for us until we could get started. Once we were ready for countertops, he was out to template within a few days and the counters were ready within a week. We needed an l-shape with a sink and cooktop cutout + runnels on both sides of the sink.

We wanted a curved end to the peninsula part of the L; he and his operations guy spent about an hour with me, laying out how the curves should look for the best appearance. Together we also laid out the counters on the stone (it took two slabs) so that what I thought was the best part of the stone would be in the most visible places.

Geneci and the ops guy also listened to what I wanted for the sink cut out and the runnels. That part turned out just perfect.

They are a small operation and don't have high tech equipment, such as lasers for measuring or computer-driven cutting. I don't know how important that is to you.

We used some of the remaining granite for a buffet top and for various surfaces for the bathroom that we also were updating. Again, Geneci was very sensitive to time issues and getting the material to us so that the bathroom work was not held up.

The company is listed as being in Providence, but the fabrication shop is in Assonet (Exit 11 on Rt. 24). If you'll email me, I'll send you Mr. Silva's phone number.

Abouttogetduaty- I swear it was only a few weeks ago that you were "about to get dusty!!" When did you start? Your counters are gorgeous.

Breezygirl- I'm worried about the green as well. That's not what I want and I hope that I can find the dark, quiet soapstone that I need. What did you end up using instead?

Thanks everyone. One more question: should I pick the marble first?

Abouttogetduaty- I swear it was only a few weeks ago that you were "about to get dusty!!" When did you start? Your counters are gorgeous.

Breezygirl- I'm worried about the green as well. That's not what I want and I hope that I can find the dark, quiet soapstone that I need. What did you end up using instead?

Thanks everyone. One more question: should I pick the marble first?

We picked out the soapstone for the countertops first. It was what we based the entire kitchen on to be perfectly honest and it's the only decision that has never changed. We then found the perfect marble although for the backsplash (island will be soapstone like the perimeter).

Neither has been installed yet (a long, drawn out, horrible story that is getting better now) but here are my slabs:

Secondhalf--I agonized over what to put on my island. I couldn't find a granite that complimented my marble without looking plain and cold. I ended up with a black walnut top. I love it! I'm sure you've seen my pics before as I post them far too much, but here's one I'm not sure I've posted before.

Good luck with your hunt!

Gorgeous combos, holdensk and breezygirl! Holdensk, what kind of soapstone is that?
Thanks, secondhalf! We gutted the kitchen, bath and mudroom and moved some walls. I designed everything (with Gardenweb's help!). No architect. DH and I did not lift a finger though - we are dangerously un-handy. It's been 8 1/2 weeks - the contractor told us 7 from start to finish - so I know it hasn't been long but I don't like when people tell me what I want to hear (I'd rather hear the real deal or worst case and then be pleasantly surprised).

Barroca soapstone from Brazil. Apparently it is considered by some to be the "classic" soapstone.

Wow, is anything better than looking through slabs of gorgeous stone? It was probably the best part of the kitchen remodel! It makes you want to find uses for more stone in other rooms!