I have honed Black Galaxy, which has an enhanced sealer. Pictures are on My Page. I love it, and think it would be quiet enough for you without the issues of AB.

I wouldn't do a honed finish with anything, given the stories I've heard. An antique finish is a nice compromise, but be warned that it's bumpier than honed and certainly not flat like soapstone. OTOH, I have a matte black iron coffee table and *everything*--dust, cat hair, everything--shows. I find it a bear to keep clean, also why I didn't want an even, matte black finish. I opted for Cambrian black antique granite, which has a mottled look up close, but stepping back it just looks black. The mottled effect also hides dust and crumbs very well. The other option I might have gone for is a Nordic Black antique, which has more of a veined look. Here's an extreme closeup of the seam on my counters:

Have you considered Pietra de Cardosa? It might be a good option for you. Here's a photo of mine.

Are you only interested in stone, or would you consider porcelain tile (with 1/8"-1/16" epoxy grout, of course)?
Crossville Colorblox "black black" might be the look you want.

When my DH comes back and tells me where my memory card is, I'll take a photo of my sample tile that I tested with lemon juice and something else - ketchup maybe? I wanted it to experience life in my house and see how it came out. All the marks showed and fingerprints show, too; too high maintenance for me. I'm a messy gal in a messy family.

I have a friend who put honed AB in her bar area and also in her master bath. She's an extreme neat freak and she's very happy with it.

Anita

I love, love, love my honed AB. You're in Maryland? There's apparently a soapstone supplier in Charlottesville - not too far away, relatively. Pietra di Cardosa is also GORGEOUS.

Here's a link to a honed counters thread. Lots of good pics and information.

Here is a link that might be useful: honed counter pics

{{!gwi}}

The blotch is from lemon juice left on approx 15 minutes.

Anita

Thanks everyone! I think the pietra might be too blue/green for what I want but will take a second look at that. Yours is beautiful! I am interested in the Cambrian Black Antiqued after seeing those pictures.

Okay, Anita, thank you for that picture - AB is officially off the list :).

This forum is great! Thanks again!

nomorebluekitchen, are those porcelain (or ceramic) tiles that showed the lemon juice damage for you or tiles made of some kind of stone?

I just noticed a (whitish) ring on the Galaxy soapstone sample we have from M.Tex on which I left the dishsoap (plastic) bottle overnight. I imagine the mark would disappear with oiling but I don't think I'd have to worry about a soap ring on ceramic or porcelain tile. But correct me if I'm wrong.

I had decided on honed AB for a bathroom and my upstairs kitchenette but my GC warned me of the maintenance issues. He recommended that I bring a sample home and mess with it a bit. What you see in that photo above is what convinced me that honed AB is not for me. I still think it is so beautiful, so soft and warm...but not for a messy family like mine.

Anita

got it, Anita, thanks - your lemon juice experiment was on a "tile" of honed AB, not ceramic tile. I'm relieved, we're really leaning toward tile for our counters because we too are very messy and need something that is impervious in every way.

Lagrant, I have AB brushed granite in my kitchen. I love it. Easy to take care of. Very slight texture.

If its not too late, have you called Avanti in Frederick? I was there on Monday and they had just gotten a shipment of what they were calling black soapstone. When I drove up to see it, it looked like honed AB to me, but they swore it was SS. Odd, but perhaps worth checking out since they had just unloaded it Monday. Good luck!

ehs - OMG, thank you SO much! That was my first stop of about eight, but many weeks ago. It's Sunday - *#(*%($ - I would head there now, but will have to wait! Thanks again!