I would do quartz in the bathroom. Cambria, Silestone, Hanstone... etc.

Are you planning on a black sink? I would not do that anywhere. In fact, I have an almost black counter in my kitchen and wouldn't do that again either. Sorry, I'm not being very helpful. :-\

Linelle, why wouldn't you want a black sink? I have soapstone counters and sink in my kitchen but that is not dark black and has lots of marbling so not dark. I'm looking for ideas for bathroom sinks with the same soapstone and was considering a darker color for less contrast.

I am hesitating on the black sink, though I love the anthracite Silgranite sink in my kitchen (with soapstone) and would never want anything else. But yes, black or almost black for the countertops, but with enough texture or visual interest so that every little speck doesn't show up.

And quartz is simply not for me --

Toothpaste, saline solution (contact lenses), sink cleaners are just a few things I use every day that are going to muck up a black sink. Not that we all don't keep our sinks clean, but the slightest bit of anything will show.

Yeah - the 'everything shows' is my hesitation on the sink. And I freely admit, I'm NOT one to polish my sinks daily...

What about counter tops? Anyone do soapstone in a bath?

Yes, thanks Oaktown. My soapstone is doing fine in my bathroom. It is a softer stone. I have it sanded to a very coarse grit, something like 80 or so. I have a soapstone sink too. This bathroom is a show stopper when people visit. Go to the link and about 1/2 way down the thread is a link to a collection of photos on my Photobucket account

My soapstone bathroom reveal.

Corian Nocturne?

I was thinking Corian also. Several dark shades to choose from: http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/construction-materials/surface-design-materials/brands/corian-solid-surfaces/products/corian-all-colors.html

Thanks, but I'm only looking for natural stone -- Any of the man-made materials would be wrong for this house and for the look I'm going for.

Came across this thread: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3427763/for-those-who-have-honed-granite-problems

Doesn't really answer your question, but her granite sure is lovely!

Thanks for that! I'd heard 'plain' honed black granite could be a PITA, and I would not want lighter areas near the sink.

Actually, I'm hoping for a more 'marble-ish' veiny look (hence my "black" in quotes -- which I guess I could have explained) or a near-black color. I'm thinking that might be more forgiving than a plain black stone.

Get soapstone.

I have a tiny soapstone counter in our bathroom. It was a test piece to use for several years to see if we'd love it in our kitchen. I'm kind of undecided.

My choice was to get as little veining as possible. I'm fine with that. I like how it looks when I've put a little mineral oil on it. Most water rings disappear. I'm not sure how often I'm supposed to do that though.

On a day-to day basis when not oiled up for company :), I am not sure I love it. I can see sanding marks, like actual circular sander scratches that have been there from when I picked it up. Was that poor fabrication? If I get my powdered makeup or toothpaste residue on it, I have a hard time wiping it off with water, and it ends up leaving a kind of schmear. I wipe and wipe some more, and eventually when I oil it, it goes away. I have a hard time knowing if it is really and truly clean.

I was worried about edge chips, so far none, but I am still in the honeymoon phase with the bathroom where I treat it like a museum piece. Same thing with scratches - there's not a whole lot, except the sander marks. This is our primary bathroom, and I set out my hair and makeup equp/products on it, but I'm not taking a hammer to it or anything.

Bathroom · More Info

"Thanks, but I'm only looking for natural stone -- Any of the man-made materials would be wrong for this house and for the look I'm going for."

Fine, but be sure to wipe up any standing hard water right away or this will be the look you'll get with some natural stones:

sweeby, I understand the desire for a natural stone, and I think soapstone would suit your needs.

I've done numerous SS kitchens and bathrooms. Years ago I did a near 100% soapstone bathroom. It was a VERY masculine-looking bathroom for a couple of gentlemen. They were great to work with. I seldom photograph my work, but it's the one bathroom that I regret not taking photos of.

I think that you'd be able to find something within the SS family to suit your needs. I've never had issues with SS chipping, even with the softer varieties that I've installed as hard-use kitchen countertops.

For a bathroom countertop, I'd have no worries.

Thanks! This is exactly the type of information I was looking for! So toothpaste and powdered makeup are not so good...

The circular saw marks you mention sound like poor fabrication to me. I have soapstone in my kitchen, and it's silky as can be. Certainly no saw marks. As to what upkeep you 'should' do -- as much as you want, no "shoulds" allowed.

Mongo! You're still here ;-)

Alive and kicking...

...to the best of my knowledge. lol

I pop in here once in a while.

As far as the surface catching and holding debris, soapstone can be taken to a pretty smooth finish. Some slabs have slight inclusions or a micro-grit texture and they'd be difficult to take to a smooth finish. But most varieties can be finished to a glass-smooth finish but still have a satin versus a gloss sheen.

Someone in the general forum asked about Absolutely Black for their bathroom....some folks said no way, some said they love it and it just forces them to keep the countertop clean! You asked about leathered finish....I suggested that and someone said it would show marks and fingerprints more than polished stone would. I have leathered Absolute Black on my kitchen island and totally love the look, and yes, you do need to swipe at it to keep it looking clean but it does clean right up in two seconds. Don't seem to have any issues with the texture catching debris; again, it just needs to be wiped off. We also did a Silgranite sink in Mocha Brown in the kitchen (undermount; my perimeter countertops are polished African Ivory granite) and am very happy with the darker color; no issues so far! We did granite in the bathrooms.....Caledonia in the master bath, Sahhpire Blue in the hall bath, both polished, both looking great with a daily wipedown and a weekly spritz of granite cleaner.

Sweeby - I just left a comment on another thread you posted a reply for asking about your Sweeby Test. All the searches I do for it end up with 404 Not Found. I used the test 7 years ago for my kitchen remodel and am now updating another one in a new house and also (really why I am asking for the test questions) helping my mother-in-law think through her kitchen remodel. She totally needs to take the Sweeby Test to make sure she stays on the right track so she ends up with a beautiful results. So you still have your questions laying around or on an old computer? Thanks so much!!!

I've got it here somewhere!... Having a crunch day but will try to dig it out --

The situation is this — You’re trying to decide between several different options (backsplash, flooring, island size or configuration, countertop material — whatever), and all of the options being considered look good. Functional and financial considerations are certainly important, but among the thousands of highly functional good choices — There are so many options to choose from! Which to choose and how to decide?

My suggestion was to try to figure out what you needed the element in question to contribute to your kitchen. To start by focusing on your kitchen as a whole, from a far-off hazy distance — to wander off into your favorite kitchen fantasy and think about what it *feels* like, not what it *looks* like. Then using mood words, describe what your dream kitchen feels like:

• warm or cool, tranquil and soothing or energetic and vibrant? calm, happy, dramatic?
• cozy or spacious? light and bright or dark and rich?
• subtle tone-on-tone, boldly colorful, textured?, woody or painted?
• modern, traditional, vintage, rustic, artsy, retro, Old World, Arts & Crafts, Tuscan?
• elegant, casual? sleekly simple, elaborately detailed, or somewhere in between?
• pristine or weathered, professional or homey?
• whimsical, sophisticated, accessible, romantic? masculine or feminine?
• How much zing? and where?

The list goes on and on…

Once you’ve identified the way you want your space to *feel* (not *look*!) then write it down as best you can. Try to freeze that feeling in words so you can refer back to it if you find yourself losing your vision or going off track.

Then look at where you are so far with the elements you have, and ask yourself if you’re on the right course to create your dream? Odds are, at any given point in time, you’ll be part way there, but that you’ll need to go a little more this way, or a little more that way to move closer to your dream. Try to figure out what direction you need to go, what the missing element is that you need to add, (or just as important, if neutral background is what’s needed) and write a ‘Mission Statement’ for your ideal backsplash / flooring / countertop:

“The perfect backsplash for my kitchen will add an element of romance and whimsy, while not disrupting the calm and soothing tone-on-tone color scheme or diverting attention from my beautiful granite.” or “My ideal countertops will provide the ‘zing’ my kitchen is missing right now, adding an element that is modern, rich, sophisticated and dramatic.” Then evaluate your potential choices against this Mission Statement. Odds are, one of your options will further your dreams while most of the others, though beautiful, take your kitchen down another path.