"Love soapstone's look but not the maintenance and patina."

As a soapstone owner, just to clarify, your statement is only half right: ZERO maintenance, ...and beautiful patina :)

I have a dark counter, not as dark as jet mist would be, but so far (getting close to a year) I don't find the upkeep a problem. If I had gotten a lighter counter, I would have to wipe it down just a much I think. I have a honed finish, maybe that is why fingerprints are not an issue. My stone is also a very nonporous one that likely didn't need the sealer (which spoiled the color, so I am not in love love love with it but it is fine) and it is really easy to clean. I believe that jet mist is the same. Hope that helps.

We recently finished rebuilding our kitchen after it was damaged by a burst pipe. We had white cabinets before and white cabinets after but we used to have black counters and switched to light. Made a huge difference. The space feels much larger and brighter. I never realized how much the black counters sucked the light out of the space. They looked nice, it's a classic look, but the upkeep was a pain.

Here's a link to my reveal with a before picture. Seeing essentially the same kitchen with both options may help.

Here is a link that might be useful: My reveal

Go with both!! Different slab for island than counter top!!! Love that look!!

ctyctm: You are absolutely right, the patina is beautiful! I have never seen it in person (outside of science labs in college). I have only seen pictures. I love the look of soapstone but would be bothered by the water spots and knicks. Do you have pictures of your kitchen to post?

Raee: Could you clarify what difference the sealer would have made that you would have "loved" it more? I really like the honed look, but my contractor/flooring guy said that it is more absorbent for water rings. Which is a reason I am not wanting the soapstone.

Christina222: Wow what a difference. I also think putting glass front cabinets made it open up. We are putting glass front cabinets in our kitchen also and your photos made me even more excited about it. Love your counters. I know quartzite can be more expensive, so I will have to see if that is in our budget. I am really hoping the fabricator will give us the good news that we only need 2 slabs.

RightDi: That would be my ultimate dream!!! But we have a Galley kitchen. It will have a small pass through but technically not an island. I am contemplating making that different but am getting mixed reviews if it would look good.

I have polished silver waves granite (somewhat similar to jet mist: black background with white and gray streaks), and I have no trouble with prints, crumbs, or stains. In fact, I have to remind myself to clean the counters, because I can't tell they are dirty. Really love it!

Aqua Grantique is a lovely alternative to soapstones with no need to seal as it has a 0% absorbtion rate. The material is technically a gneiss but all the properties of a granite.

Have you seen this thread?

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous jet mist thread

Check out joygreenwald's granite - I think its really beautiful and would give the look of SS without the chipping and spots.

EDIT: whoopsie I see you already have haha

Here is a link that might be useful: Bros Blue Leathered

This post was edited by Swentastic on Fri, Oct 3, 14 at 12:16

Ginzhomestead, my granite (Verde Lavras supposedly) was a soft medium gray-green, which was what I wanted, similar to some unoiled soapstones. But the fabricator put color enhancing sealer on it (against my instructions) which changed it to a dark gray-black-green. So I do have a much darker counter than I had planned. Also when I googled this stone I read that it really didn't need any sealer at all.

That Aqua Grantique is lovely, Krukowskistone!