Soapstone

Really, both looks are great. We are going with marble in our 1926 house because I prefer to work on a lighter surface. I also don't really like artificial light so I prefer to have a light room that doesn't rely as much on artificial light.

another Soapstone vote

Both slabs above are beautiful. I'd probably go with the marble unless you are going for more of a farm house look. If you are more for a transitional design, the marble will be gorgeous.

That's hard - both are gorgeous, both would work. I agree that soapstone would have more of a modern country look, while marble would be more formal. So look at the rest of your house - do you have reclaimed wood and mason jars everywhere? Or do you have a rack of antiques, and a formal dining table?

I would go with soapstone myself, but I am a feet on the coffee table type of gal. Marble would bounce more light. I like contrast.

I think marble would look great. I'd worry that with the dark floors, dark countertops and one window it might be too dark in your kitchen. But, I'm partial to marble!

Marble. I have a dark counter in a very light kitchen and I find it a hard background on which to work.

dmeah, do you have a sample of the Black Moon? I was very close to getting soapstone with the same name but then I noticed chipping/flaking(?) at the edges of the slab and got worried -- I actually was able to flake off a piece with my fingers. Maybe it was nothing; maybe that particular slab experienced some trauma in that area and was particularly brittle. But it scared me off to a different soapstone. Just a suggestion to closely inspect the slabs and get samples if possible.

I'd vote for that marble! Especially with a deep coloured wooden floor and one window. I think honed marble can be country too. I am having Carrara marble worktops. Light won't be a prob in our kitchen tho due to five windows, roof lights and a-frame glazing with bifold doors under. We are having a dark grey limestone flagstone floor tho so I reckon both for you and me, marble will be stunning!

the soapstone is so stunning tho but I think it will be too dark and absorb any light

Thank you all! It's such a tough choice because I think both are beautiful stones, and I've seen gorgeous inspiration photos with both options.

dcward89 and cookncarpenter - thanks for the SS votes :)

crl_ - I can't wait to see your finished kitchen! I'd always envisioned marble for our renovation, but then started reading all the attributes of soapstone on GW, and now I love both! It sounds like your kitchen will be gorgeous!

Wags4fun - I tried using both black and white garbage bags to mock it up, but because the current floor and cabs are both dark, it's hard to envision what it will look like when it's finished. Great idea about using a remnant of whichever option we don't pick. :) I wish our kitchen was larger so that we could simply use both!

Corie Hall- The darkness is my big concern as well. It's so dark right now (though every finish in the current "hole" is dark), and it's one of the top reasons I started this renovation to begin with!

Linelle- I think I prefer working on a lighter surface, too, but I love the soapstone in theory as well.

zwizzle1 and StefanJ - Our house is a bungalow, not formal but not farmhouse either, but probably somewhere in the middle. I think that either option will work. I like that both will patina, so I think of both as not being too fussy (but I'm the type that doesn't stress about "old-looking" marble/SS).

Oaktown- thanks for the thoughts about flaking. The stone yard didn't have a remnant/sample of the black moon, but I tried to scratch it on site (it didn't scratch), and while I didn't see any flaking on the slabs there, I definitely want to investigate this further if we go that route.

Somersetlass- Your kitchen sounds like it's going to be beautiful! I'm jealous of everything, including all that natural light you'll have!

The soapstone is cheaper, but DH likes the marble better. I'm so completely torn- every time I think I've made a decision, I think about the attributes of the other stone and then start second guessing myself. Hmm, I'm going to have to bite the bullet soon...

Some tactics:

My old boss always said - when you can't make a decision, pick one, and sleep on it. When you wake up in the morning you will either be excited by it, or regret it, and that will tell you a lot.

Don't pick something you are not in love with just for "practical" reasons. LOVE it!

Look at some houzz pics with either choice, and imagine you won a contest and they were going to give you a free kitchen makeover

imagine your best friend just got her kitchen done with marble - would you be jealous? LOL

"The darkness is my big concern as well. It's so dark right now (though every finish in the current "hole" is dark), and it's one of the top reasons I started this renovation to begin with!"

Hmmmm, marble? ;)

Just going with the light cabinetry will brighten up your space. I think either would be lovely, but since you asked.... soapstone (only because it is my personal fav).

According to friends dark counters show the dust etc. I have a light quartzite with almost white cabinets & love it . It is soft & serene!!

Great advice and reasoning! Thanks everyone.

I love the idea of pretending I won a kitchen makeover -that would be fabulous! I'm leaning towards marble right now, because it's light and bright, beautiful, and was what we thought we'd do when we first started envisioning our new kitchen...but I'll sleep on it tonight and see if it changes in the morning!

I just wanted to add an update and thank those who helped vote. We kept going back and forth, and no matter which we chose, it never felt right. We decided the soapstone was too dark, and DH wasn't sold on the Danby marble, so we kept looking. Finally decided on Taj Mahal quartzite, which we love. Thanks for the help. While we chose a different stone entirely, I think the advice about making a decision really helped us to know that we hadn't found "the one" yet. :)

That is beautiful!! Reminds me of my light counters called Fantasy Brown quartzite.Such a good feeling when we decide & commit!!!

Oh my goodness. WAY more beautiful (to me) than your other choices. Wow, I just got a bad case of counter envy. lol Congrats!

Plz plz come back when you are all done, and thanks for the update.

I'm just reading this thread today and (even though I love soapstone too) I'm glad to see you chose lighter since you were concerned the kitchen may get too dark dark. This quartzite is gorgeous!

That's a beautiful slab. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, all! I'm a bit intimidated by the huge, gorgeous kitchens on here (but inspired by them!), and our kitchen is so tiny and humble in comparison. Nonetheless, I'll try to work up the courage to post a reveal when we finally finish. :)

That quartzite slab is stunning.

"I'm a bit intimidated by the huge, gorgeous kitchens on here (but inspired by them!), and our kitchen is so tiny and humble in comparison."

Big things come in small packages. ;)

Beautiful slab! Great choice. Congrats!

I love the Danby Marble. For over a year now, I have had 2 square samples I use to put my coffee mugs on and I keep in the kitchen to get abuse and they look as good as new to me. I really love this marble so much. When I am ready to redo my kitchen again, this will be a top contender along with a few others.

dmeah, I love the slab of Taj Mahal quartzite you chose. That stone is one of my top contenders also. Please post pictures of it installed when you are done your kitchen. You will love it as it is so pretty and light with some color.