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 sealing.

commenting b/c I just found this thread and I really want to know too! Would love to see pics of the hickory cabinets as well, if they're done. Hickory is one of my husband's choices for the kitchen.

Ok here's a thought. Do you need a breakfast room and the dining room? If not, I would probably move the kitchen to the dining room area and put the kitchen in the dining room area. I would open up the walls between what is current kitchen and current breakfast room and move the door from the new kitchen to the new dining room down towards the bottom near the stairs. This would allow for a nice U shaped kitchen.

I put your choices together I think soapstone would be a great choice, but something in the darker variety. leaving it natural looks completely different than oiling it. this was one I found at a stone place near me: I'd hold off on that backsplash though. wait until everything is installed. you may want to choose a tile that fits more into the Craftsman look. https://info.neals.com/elements-of-a-craftsman-style-kitchen This blue tile would be gorgeous w/your walnut-white cabs, and the soapstone. Check out Winchester tiles. Elements line. I think they have some beautiful blues. Like this Stream color: Heath tiles is another option https://www.houzz.com/photos/craftsman-kitchen-with-soapstone-countertops-ideas-phbr2-bp~t_709~s_2116~a_19-30 other options: Silestone makes their Eternal Charcoal that resembles soapstone. this is the suede finish: I'd also do a copper sink. Or, if the fabricator is good, see if there is enough to make a sink from the soapstone Negresco is another option that is similar to soapstone in looks. Jet Mist/Virginia Mist - honed/satin finish, is a granite with a similar look too. Two-tone cab pics white granite