is it soapstone and carrara marble

is it 2 cm or 3 cm slab thickness?

I love your counters. I was discouraged by many a granite company in using marble on my kitchen counters and island. Curious as to how hard these are to maintain their beauty?

Many people tried to discourage me as well. The counters were sealed at installation (3 yrs ago) and nothing has been done since. (Probably due for a re-sealing.) I clean them with dish soap and a sponge. There are now several areas of etching from acidic foods -- lemon juice, etc., but you only see these if you're looking closely and at an angle. (It doesn't bother me.) The only thing you have to worry about is leaving a stain-causing item (red wine ring, pasta sauce, wet cast iron pan) on the surface for an extended period of time. (i.e., overnight)

Beautiful Kitchen!! What is the backsplash?

Inexpensive white subway tiles! With a grayish grout for "age" and contrast.

Thanks for the comments about the marble, very nice of you to be so honest about it. You made up my mind. I"m Italian and we have pasta every Sunday and wine. Lol I don't think I could handle having to worry about that staining. It is very beautiful though, I love your kitchen!!

Do you mind telling me about the upkeep on the pietra cardosa? I've been told it is very hard and does not etch, and then I've been told the opposite. What's the wear and tear like on your perimeter counters? Thanks so much!

I haven't seen any etching, but most of my prep work is done on the marble island. It's not what I would call "hard", though. I have a few nicks around the sink edge from heavy pans. I'm still very happy with the material.

I'm in love with this Kitchen!! Can you please tell me who the designer is? Or how I can get a hold of them, I have the same Kitchen plan at my house and I would love to do the same thing you have done.
Great Job!!

Thanks - this kitchen was a collaborative effort among the architect, designer (Katja at Papyrus Home Design in NJ), cabinetmaker (Darren Edsall, NJ) and me (homeowner/cook/food blogger). For a comprehensive plan you could contact Katja; for hourly consulting you could contact me via my blog - www.subeeskitchen.com.

Thanks - this kitchen was a collaborative effort among the architect, designer (Katja at Papyrus Home Design in NJ), cabinetmaker (Darren Edsall, NJ) and me (homeowner/cook/food blogger). For a comprehensive plan you could contact Katja; for hourly consulting you could contact me via my blog - www.subeeskitchen.com.

Your taste is amazing. I am finishing up a kitchen with white inset cabinets and was going to do all calacatta but then decided my budget couldn't handle three slabs on calacatta gold extra so we are considering and island of Calacatta gold extra and either soapstone or pietra cardoza for the perimeter just like this. Are you still happy with the pietra and it's durability? I am wondering if you had considered soapstone and if so your reasons for going with the pietra? Thanks for the inspiration!

I am using in my new kitchen Pietra on my island, and carrera marble all around the perimeter and in the bar area. I went with a very white (not a gray) Carrera, so it looks really nice with the pietra and by golly is it a LOT cheaper than Calacatta!!! Plus the little flecks of gray in the carrera pick up the blue/gray slate color of the pietra so they go so great together. Thanks for showing off a kitchen with both marble and pietra together!!!

Subees,

I think your kitchen is gorgeous. I am married to an Italian with the pasta at least once or twice a week but I am not letting that change my mind after seeing your home. We were in Italy some years ago and marble is all over for hundreds of years. One question about the Pietra cards marble how is that with cleaning because that is close to the cooktop and sink where all of the prep work is really done? Thanks in advance.

Hi - Trying to catch up on comments. I went with pietra over soapstone because all of the soapstone I saw was too green -- I wanted gray. The pietra cleans easily, even right next to the stove. No staining, even with heavy use. The only complaint would be the softness -- there are quite a few chips around the sink cutout (from heavy pots, pans, etc). I still don't think I'd do it differently, however.

Very classy Kitchen, I had mine done with like colors. Only this time I chose silestone, white with a bit of gray grains. and dark chocolate on the perimeters. I get many complements, and its so easy to take care of. My last kitchen was Marble, The gossip among My family and friends was that I had O.C.D. and only when it came down to my kitchen.
I can only say that this change treated my disorder :)

I love your floor. What is it?

Subeeskitchen...how has the marble held up? You kitchen is gorgeous and timeless! Using it as my inspiration on our new build. We are finalizing our countertops and I just can't get passed the beauty of your marble! I have brought home countless samples of Quartz and saw a beautiful quartzite slab locally that would give me a similar look, but they just don't hit the spot! I have 3 boys and worry what my marble would look like after the wear and tear of the messes they leave behind. Update please!

Update: I just finished remodeling another kitchen, and this time I put in even more marble-- 2" honed Carrara for the island as well as the perimeter counters. There is nothing that feels or looks like real marble, so it was an easy choice for me. However, while it has been sealed and warrantied against stains, it already has several acid etch marks and I know many more will come. Eventually they will all blend together and become part of the "patina". I won't deny -- the first few etches are very upsetting and make me wonder why I went with marble. If you are not a "patina" person, marble is NOT for you. I'm going to post photos of my new kitchen on my blog next week. (subeeskitchen.com)

Thank you for your response! I just signed up to follow your blog. I'm sure your new kitchen is incredible! I'm excited to see the after! I was fun seeing the before of your previous house, what a transformation! There will be a ton of light in my kitchen and I'm not sure if the etching would bother me or not. Something to really think about!

Clearstone is a sealer that is warranted for 10 YEARS against stains AND ETCHING. I am getting Cararra as well and discovered Clearstone on houzz. I had the rep come out today and show me samples. its as clear as glass. The only downside I can say is that it is almost as expensive as the marble...he says that I will save money in the long run from not having to get it rehoned and sealed and oh by the way nothing else will stop etching. The other downside and the only deterrent for me is with the Clearstone on it, you no longer feel that cool marble feel. it sort of feels like acrylic nails...smooth as silk and beautiful, but not cool and not "natural stone feel" I suppose thats a fair trade off to having no etching. I WOULD like to know what subeeskithchen used to seal your??? Did you do it or did the fabricator do it? On a scale of 1-10 just how bad/obvious is the etching? I have LOTS of windows....

I received samples from Clearstone and also felt like they made the marble feel "fake". One of my favorite qualities of honed marble is its velvety feel, and it's not the same with Clearstone on it. The etching is not noticeable (IMO) unless you're looking for it at eye level. Once you get a few etched areas (a leaky pint of raspberries recently left a nice square etch . . .) they kind of blend together as part of the stone's patina. (That's what I tell myself, and I can live with that.) The fabricator sealed with Dry-Treat (15 yr warranty if done through fabricator) to protect against stains.

PS There's another new thing out for marble coating/sealing: Azerocare by Antolini. Their marketing is a head of their distribution, however. I was not able to locate.

subeeskitchen thank you so much for the information! I think i'll have it sealed like you did and live with it through the holidays (no better test that that time of year!) and if it drives me crazy then I can get the Clearstone in January. I have traveled all over Europe and my favorite hotel in Rome has carrara marble in the bathroom and I fell in love with it there. It is right next to the Roman Forum and I'm sure is very old, and it still looks beautiful! Thanks for the info and the encouragement to give it a try!

This kitchen is quite beautiful. If only I could afford the countertops. And I must say I am in love with the window seat.

What color is on the wall. I love the contrast with the white counters, crown molding. I am having the same floor installed in my remodel and think this is a wonderful contrast.

Love this!

I like the flow of this kitchen. The alcove banquet seating is a nice homey touch.

Love the cozy seating and beautiful kitchen works well together