Do a google search for slate to learn about slate's pros and cons. Do search on the kitchen forum at the bottom of the threads page (the search engine is working this morning) for "slate countertops" to see what others have said. I think slate is beautiful but I don't know anything about using it on countertops.

Good Luck!

I think I read here with slate is that the surface is uneven, so you have to be careful when putting something like a wine glass that can tip over.

Edlakin once posted beautiful photos of his Brazilian slate countertops. (Ignore the cranky posters and focus on the wealth of information and the gorgeous slate pix in this thread.)

Up here in the far Northeast, Vermont slate counters are not unknown. There are a few manufacturers; apparently the Vermont version is slightly more robust than Indian et al, and at least around here will run you about the same price as soapstone or mid-range granite.

I love the idea of wood for an island and slate for your periphery. What color/finish are your cabinets?

One of Edlakin's photos:

Here is a link that might be useful: Sheldon Slate Quarry, NY and ME

Hi. I'm just going to share my own experience. When we bought our old house, it had maple butcher block counters (the former owner had a kitchen supply business). We loved it, but had to be careful to keep it oiled and dry (it water stained something awful). While looking into our new counter top, I considered quartz, because Consumer Reports had praised it so highly, with granite coming in second. I really looked at the materials, and fell in love with marble. My grandmother had always had a marble prep slab, and I loved its silky feel...and we've been to Italy, where you can find it everywhere.
Then I began to read the different posters on this website. My DH didn't want to worry about staining the island surface if we got marble, so we decided on granite. So we ended up reusing two pieces of our old maple top, dyed deep brown and lacquered, on areas for serving and "show" only. The granite is everywhere else. I baked four cakes the other night and took 'em right out of the oven and put them on the counters. I love it! It's easy to keep clean, too.
Choosing the color took awhile, but with help from GW kitchen contributors, we chose our granite and looooovvvvvve it!
Follow the threads on quartz vs. granite, Corian and its knockoffs, marble vs. soapstone, and so on. You'll learn so much.

My neighbor had beautiful slate counters in her kitchen. When she moved and remodeled the kitchen in her new house, she chose slate again because she loved it so much. Her new counters are gorgeous (and very smooth!). Her slate is quite dark and resembles soapstone except that she doesn't have to oil it. I wish I had pics to post. She has 3 teens and doesn't baby the counters at all and they look great.

a good friend of mine had to go with slate instead of soapstone, as she really wanted a grey look and the soapstone available was too green.....she is a super neat and tidy person, but she gets a lot of water marks, scratches and it has chipped in two places because slate is a layered stone - it can flake right off.....the colour is really gorgeous and it is honed, so it is smooth - you just have to be willing to live with potential chips and scratches!

i am in the same boat as you - i have ruled out slate although I love the colour and look - I am still trying to decide between soapstone and either jet mist granite or cambrian black granite! good luck!!

In our old house we had a lovely kitchen with Brazilian green slate countertops. I once chipped an edge by swinging a cast-iron Dutch oven into it, and there was a tiny, barely visible crack that developed in one slab. We never sealed it and it looked great after five years, when we moved to a different house with a horrible old kitchen that we only now are beginning to renovate. I think that kitchen was the reason our house sold in five days when we put it on the market. This time we'll go with soapstone, but not because we didn't like slate: soapstone just seems right for the design we plan here. I don't want to mess with sealants, but don't mind oiling, and find it sort of cool that the color of soapstone changes between oilings.
Lynn

My architect/designer sez these days Granite prices lower than nearly all the other solid surfaces and contributes to its popularity espec if u r not looking for esoteric colors. Marble, which i have alot of in our offices for multiple conf and other tables, even in a dark shade, is "delicate" in the sense that it is brittle and can crack etc, and in a lite color maintenance is brutal b/c it will stain (not an issue with, say, a dark wine color marble like we have but it does crack). I have seen some Granite Tiles used where costs need trimming and when done in larger tiles, and done well and creatively, the look is acceptable and grout lines minimal. So you may be able to compromise in one area this way...it is the long lengths of granite that set you back.
Soapstone is a joy b/c of the touch, and if you like it oiled up black, stains not an issue. Natural colors of soapstone are lovely but we have only used that in dining area cabinet tops in bar-like areas...and natural is not good for kitchen. (It also is great in bathrooms, even flooring b/c it isnt slippery). But soapstone is a more old-fashioned/colonial like look...not slick and modern
My favorite for counters is Stainless Steel!!! installed in 1993 i still love it. But i would then warm up the look by having the island be done in something else. Also St.Steel with dark wood cabs really look warm and approachable.

We purchased Vermont slate as we had read that Brazilian and Indian are not as dense and much more prone to flakes/chips. In 2 years, the only ding we had was due to my husband accidently knocking a heavy mug off a high shelf. The company had sent us some diamond pads and we rubbed it out.

We are in California and bought our slate countertops from a company in Maine that I heard about on this forum (Sheldon Slate) and had them installed by a local stoneworks co. The kitchen was completed in Spring 2008 - and I just love them! They are a soft greenish grey with some black flecks, honed. I hated busy shiny granite. I can't tell you how many people have complemented them. They do not need to be sealed - they absorb nothing. They will scratch, but rubbing with a wet sponge brings it back to normal. Love, love love the look with our shaker style cherry cabinets. Thought about soapstone but didn't want to go so dark and also heard they were more porous and needed oiling/sealing. Did not want something so fussy. Our counters are honed - so they are smooth and buttery with a sheen to them but not shiny.

black suede limestone versus granite or soapstone
We are doing a half remodel of the kitchen . One part is counters. I am not sure which way to go. But i just discovered black limestone. Does anyone have it? It looks really dark on the web sight maybe even has little white wave through(looks cool) Makes me wonder if it is dyed???. I am looking for something that will not show every water spot. We cook a lot! Also is leathered black granite better or worse for water spots? Appreciate any input.