I don't know Annette, when I think of your kitchen, I think soapstone.

I love soapstone but have never actually lived with it. We tend to spill oil, wine, vinegar etc and aren't always the quickest about cleanup. Generally clean at the end of the meal not as we go along, so I think we would ruin it so fast :(.

Cp, I will say your recent post has made me totally lust after quartzite and I'm seriously considering it for my 6ft wine bar. I do keep my little space spotless so can do whatever I want there, within budget that is.

Why do you think soapstone is used for chemistry lab tables? Nothing "ruins" it. It is non reactive to acids or bases.

My friend had it in her kitchen and I just recall her having to baby it. Oil was the worst offender and left dark spots I think was the issue. Maybe hers had been treated or something. I do know it was beautiful. She has since sold the house. I will say her beautiful kitchen and countertops got the buyers to fall in love with the house. The big wolf range was a big help I'm sure.

I will be seeing her this weekend so will get the whole story.

Have you seen pippiep's threads? She's using leathered Via Lactea granite. Maybe she'll comment because as I recall, she ruled out soapstone and started looking at similar feeling granites.

This thread shows her slabs.

Annette - you just listed the reasons I love our soapstone! I am admittedly not a good house keeper, drink red wine almost daily, make grated turmeric tea in the morning and cannot keep the area around the espresso machine clean. It doesn't etch or stain. It does scratch but they disappear or blend and I like the lived-in, worked-on look. And no chemical sealers needed. Oil is optional and I do it occasionally because I prefer the darkest look against our grey cabs.

Barncatz, thanks for the link. It gives me yet more inspiration and options I hadn't thought of.

Brdrl, so happy to hear. I'm thinking that my friend had an issue due to a sealant or something. I always felt a bit guilty as I was the one who suggested it to her to begin with. So happy to hear you love yours as soapstone has been my dream countertop for 20+ years,

I really need to hear about your grated turmeric tea, I recently turned my husband onto turmeric (he had no idea I'd been using it for years), and that tea sounds like a wonderful new addition to our uses.

I make my tea with approx 1 t tumeric and 1/2 t ginger (freshly grated best for both), 1/4 t coconut oil and a pinch of cayenne, almost boiling water and let steep at least 5 minutes. I used to add honey but like it without sweetness. My husband makes crazy faces while I'm assembling this every morning but I think it is delicious. I haven't decided if it is helping with my aches and pains yet.

I don't have the Via Lactea installed yet (demo hasn't even started), but I intend to report back here once it's in!

While I know you don't have to "baby" soapstone, it does seem to get blotchy. All my samples are blotchy at this point, and it would drive me nuts to see that daily in the kitchen. I'd feel like I'd need to oil it every time something spilled. Whether the spill itself was greasy and darkened a spot, or I wiped a non-greasy spill that then lightened a spot.

I still want soapstone somewhere in this house; I just don't know where yet! I'm probably keeping my samples forever and ever.

Pippiep, I agree the splotchy is what would bug me. I do love soapstone so I'm thinking maybe on the hearth around the fireplace.

Per your inspiration pic I'm leaning more and more toward qso.

We did a Richlite top for an architect a while ago.

I have soapstone - for 5 years. It looks beautiful when it is clean and polished.. but that only last a day or so. It's very blotchy... I hate it. Worst mistake I made and now we are building a new home, and I'm going for quartzite!

Joseph Corlett, LLC

We did a Richlite top for an architect a while ago.

Joseph, do you have an opinion either way on it? Or have you heard what they think of it now that it's been in use?

It is more dense than bamboo and bamboo is more dense than maple. It's easily renewable. I haven't heard as to how they like it.