I don't have an answer for you, but I went to look at soapstone a few weeks ago. I took home 3 samples barroca, julia, and anastasia and tortured them to see if I could live with the downfall of the dings and scratches.. I was shocked at how soft the barroca was compared to the Julia.

I really like the Julia--it was the hardest of the bunch and I liked the green and veining. but I was told that by the time I'm ready to make a decision it's doubtful I'll be able to get it (I'm a couple months away from a decision). The anastasia was okay.

It's hard to know if it will be too overpowering. My biggest concern is that with my white kitchen and small space I'm not sure I want something that dark and heavy, more so than the business of the veins. I figure if it does have very busy veins it will be my focal point. If it's bland I will put more emphasis somewhere else.

But cost aside, everything I'm currently reading and researching regarding countertops makes me think that my current tile isn't so bad. Doesn't stain, heatproof, no sealing, and with the dark grout it's really low maintenance. If it weren't so ugly...

We were torn between Santa Rita and Anastacia - but decided to go with the Anastacia because it was harder and less prone to scratching. We never considered Barroca as it did'nt speak to me the way the others did and the Kannada was new when we went back to pick our slabs. It was lovely but after looking at it felt a bit too busy. The Anastacia has beautiful veins but it does have green that is more apparent when the stone has been waxed or oiled. We loved that part of the stone - it looks like a stormy sea to me.

Look as much as you need to - all the slabs are different - even within the same type. When we found our Anastacia slabs we knew it - and we needed 3 because we had a sink made from it. You want to be happy with your choice. So figure out what is important to you and then look for the right slabs. Santa Rita is softer - but if you make sure you use a cutting board - and don't freak out if you get a scratch - you may find you absolutely love it. And remember waxing or oiling will probably make any scratches disappear - and you can always sand if you have to.

Here's our Anastacia - we adore it.

I have Barroca and it's pretty soft. I think if you choose the hardest variety you can find, you'll be happy. Mine is so beautiful, but quite soft. Choose a hard one.

I knew I wanted PA soapstone because my neighbor has had it for a few years and it has held up well. I fell in love with a slab that was already taken :-( I tried to get excited about my second choice, but I had doubts...at the same time the fabricator wasn't sure when new PA would be coming in. So I went for choice #2. I love them now that they're installed. But then, making a decision for time's sake and picking a soapstone guy that I could trust trumped looking high and low for the perfect slab. I definitely didn't want to pick out a slab from some random granite yard that didn't know anything about ss. It was a tough call, I worried...for me it worked out. Good luck with your decision!

nap101, I also have a small (10x10) white kitchen. I don't have soapstone counters (although I wish I did) but charcoal gray quartz. It doesn't make my kitchen dark or heavy, as it gives balance to all the white. Also, dark in the horizontal plane is quite different from walls of dark. I also have the benefit of plenty of natural light.

nanjeanne, your counter is EXACTLY what I wish I had. It's beautiful. Maybe next time. :)

I 2own a granite shop. heres what I tell my customers:

1. keep looking until you are certain you have made the right choice. A stone countertop will outlast anyone alive today so it really needs to look the way you want. the fabricator won't think you are crazy; he'll be glad you are making certain you like what you pick. Occasionally a customer doesn't like the look of stone once it's installed and they are often unhappy with the fabricator which is completely unfair. (would you blame the painter if you didn't like the color of a room painted with a color you picked out?)

2. I don't believe you should worry about the veining being too prominent; thats part of why you like the stone. A good fabricator will let you layout your parts on the slab so you get to decide what features of the slab go where in your kitchen.

3. re dings, I have never noticed a big difference in hardness from one soapstone to another. pick whats prettiest to you.

4. re making the sink from the slab; we do that in my shop and its beautiful and distinctive but pretty expensive. We charge roughly $2000 to make a sink from slab parts. if you have a sink made make sure they warrant it forever against leaks.

I am still in the researching phase. I just started to look more into ss. Can I ask what it is that made you get this material? I have always liked the look of honed black solid granite, but I have heard it is a nitemare because of prints and also hard water concentration build-up.

I have read alot in this site about being able to sand the ss for scratching. Also, that the material is "soft." What does that mean exactly and how does ss hold up w/heat, water etc? linelle, do you like your quartz and why would you prefer ss over it?

fudgie, I think you should go back as many times as possible until you are sure about your decision. Don't worry if they think you are schizo! It is a huge costly decision and one you will have to live with for a long time. I am sure you will find the one you love.

Looking forward to your reveal ! Best of luck!

go_figure01, I do like my quartz and realize it was the best decision at the time, considering what I knew then. I like the dark counter with my white cabs and red oak floors, although sometimes I wish i could see places to wipe better. Yep, I'd rather know there is a spill somewhere and clean it up than have it not show. I have to run my hands over the surface to know where to wipe. The smoothness of the surface, particularly the eased edges is very sensuous and I confess to caressing my counters incessantly.

The pattern of my quartz is very dark gray with lighter gray and some clear bits, sort of a uniform mottling. I think I would prefer a more homogenous pattern. My KD dismissed SS from the outset, but I wish I'd considered it. Quartz ain't cheap, so the SS might have been in the same ballpark.

go_figure01-We've had soapstone in our kitchen now for almost 2 years. It is a "softer" variety (called ''smoke'' ) in that it has scratched and has gotten some dings here and there. We don't oil it (yet), but the "blemishes" just sort of blend in. We chose it for several reasons and we love it. Nothing stains it and you can put hot pans directlly on it.
HTH

Thank you ALL for your thoughtful comments. I sent my DH off to Texiera last Sat. to ask for some more samples. He came home with a box of Barroca (we already had one), Mumbai Gray, Brazlian Nights, Anastascia, Belvedere, Kannada and Santa Rita Venata (we had one previously). I immediately was attracted to the Anastascia, Kannada (it had this wonderful seaglass green inclusion), Belvedere and the Santa Rita, which had loads of light green seaglass green inclusions. I was able to eliminate the Barroca, Mumbai Gray and Brazlian Nights right away - which left me struggling with the others. The Anastascia is beautiful (nanjenne - your kitchen is beautiful and the countertops are wonderful!). It has a blueish, emerald green color and smooth surface. The Kannada is very nice but I recall the larger slab we saw seem a bit busier than this sample - but still nice. I love the Belvedere - it turned very dark greenish black upon only one oiling and has some very pretty swirly green interest, It is very hard and has a smooth surface - almost granite-like. That's my biggest concern. I don't want a granite feel. The SR we have on hold has so much more activity - brown, light green, white, etc. - it is quite a contrast. So, that's where I am right now. Either stick with the SR and have a lot of different color and "stuff" going on or go with the Belvedere (or Anastascia) and have a somewhat more monochrome look. Our cabinets will be white with glass knobs and high polished chrome pulls. Faucet is highly polished chrome, too - so a sort of farmhouse "modern" feel which makes me lean toward the Belvedere. But then again ... (see what I mean?!) Our sink is going to be made from the same stone ($795.00) and will be apron/farmhouse and maybe with a slight outward pitch (haven't decided for sure on that...) If anyone is considering M Tex in Hackensack, I encourage you to do so - they are very helpful and generous with their time and expertise. I think their prices are very good - much cheaper than I had anticipated. I just wish I had more places in the house to use soapstone. I am 1,000% sold on it - nothing could convince me otherwise. I'll keep in touch as we near the final decision and will figure out how to post photos! Thank you again - I SO appreciate all your good advice, comments and good thoughts!

leela4 - so happy to hear you are enjoying your "smoke" soapstone - 2 yrs!!, that's what we picked and I've been nervous (it gets measured on Mon, fabricated next week) about it - hearing that it was a softer kind.
Sounds like it has worn well, and not been so soft that it's a nightmare.

nineteenoeight-I think choosing a countertop can be so hard, and going to soapstone then adds another layer of difficulty. With so many ss threads surfacing now and then, we sometimes revisit our decision and always come back to being very happy with what we chose. Please post a pic when you get yours.

I know you have already eliminated Brazilian Nights but wanted to add that we got our Brazilian Nights countertops from M. Texiera in New Jersey a few years back. When we went to pick out our slabs, we were actually going to go with the Cobra until we saw the Brazilian Nights. They have now been in use for ~3-1/2 years, and yesterday when I was waxing them (don't have to do that much:), I was thinking again how happy that I am with them and how well they have held up. Yes, there are a couple of dings but you have to really look hard to find them. Good luck with yours - I am sure you will be happy with whatever you go with.