Hope we didn’t make a mistake. Stone Source did not have any soaostone we liked. so we went with a honed black granite. I have seen somewhere that citrus might etch them which I was hoping to avoid with soapstone. They are honed on one side and leathered on the other. So, I might have to go with the leathered. I still chose Danby marble for my perimeter cabinets. I think I would like the honed granite better aesthetically to go with honed marble. Any thoughts while I have time?

Love all your choices. My only suggestion would be to do a different backsplash behind the range because the grooves design will trap the splatters from the cooktop. A stainless steel panel backsplash behind the cooktop which meets the hood will add sparkle and shine, is practical for that area, and is very reasonably-priced. There are also stainless steel backsplashes for behind the range that come in patterns - quilted (for that diner look), tile pattern, all sorts of looks - just google "stainless steel backsplash". Or just do the standard stainless steel panel for simplicity and a clean look. You could also use your soapstone as a panel behind the cooktop. That will look sharp, but add $$$.

Joseph Corlett - your photos are my biggest fear! The black quartz is gorgeous, but I sure don't want to be worrying about my coffee maker (or crockpot) sitting on it. Megan - I think you are right. I have gone back and forth, and part of me was saying - just go with the quartz!! And I also left sitting water, lemon juice, etc on the little sample I had. All did wipe up without damage. I should have tried sitting a hot coffee mug from the microwave on it as well. But at the end of the day, it is more expensive, and both my husband and I like the Black Pearl granite (and are able to get it at a fantastic special price that makes it $2k less than the granite - and we will be just as happy I think). Also the risk aversion side of me would be heartbroken if I ended up with spots as Joseph's pictures show. I had a dark granite before for 10 years, and I know how it wears, so comfort level of the known and price win out. But yes, I am seeing that no matter which color or material, some will love it, some will not, and eventually you have to go with what you love. Carolinaflowerlover - I am thinking we will love the Black Pearl as well! Our cabinets are a medium stained cherry, and I tried to talk myself in to a lighter granite, but the dark colors call my name! We decided against the honed finish, as I have read about the issues with fingerprints (and it would gray out that beautiful black finish). Beautiful remodel Rob! And love the color choices in the new house you are building! I was interested in black cabinets for our remodel, but hubby couldn't see it. I love the Black Galaxy granite as well; my husband seems to prefer the Black Pearl and I'm okay with that. There is just something about the black against that cherry color. I did find myself irritated with the smudges in our previous house (we had Tan Brown granite). But we were in the middle of raising our 3 kids, and neatness was not in their vocabulary!! Now it is just the 2 of us, and I'm pretty neat, so I am willing to deal with it as it is the darker colors that catch my eye. I would have liked some bit of pattern in it to combat the smudging, but dear hubby isn't a fan. I finally gave in since every time I look at granite, the dark colors are what I am drawn to. So going to go with design/preferred color, having decided that mattered more than the smearing/streaking that can occur unless you wipe it dry.

Happy Update: After Joseph didn't respond to my PM, I called GranQuartz in Seattle, again. I figured if I was willing to pay for a flight and expenses for two, I could certainly offer a generous trip charge. Turns out, they lost my number and did have someone! He came and used the Quartz Renew. It was an all day job with all the taping to protect cabinets, etc and the fact that I did have more than one dull area from using BarKeep's Friend (which the original installers said to use). I've attached a picture of the same area as the one above in a previous post 8 months ago which showed one of the spots. I cannot see the previous spot at all! Quartz Renew really did the trick. (Any variation you see, like browner areas, is an artifact of the light. The countertop now looks very uniform.)