island top advice

15 years ago

Hi everyone,

We are at the cabinet making stage of our build, and I'm still stuck on what to do on the island. (I asked about this a month or so ago, but am still stuck) For the perimeter, the cabinets will be a pale yellow with a white subway tile and soapstone counters. (oil rubbed bronze hardware, apron front sink) The island will probably be a barn red color. The floor will be antique oak in varied sizes.

So, I originally planned on doing a wood top for the island, but now I'm not sure. I can't figure out what wood would look good with the yellow cabinets....I think something like walnut is a little darker and more formal than I'd like. I love the maple butcher block, but I'm wondering if that's not enough contrast with the yellow cabinets. Would it be too boring to just use the soapstone on the island, too? I'm hoping someone will say that would look good, because I think that's what I'd like to do, but my kitchen designer thinks it would make the space look "cold".

There is also a coffee bar/bar area leading to the dining room, and a desk...so I need to consider those, too. I'm thinking about doing the bar areas the same as whatever I choose for the island, and I'm not sure about the desk.

Any help is appreciated- thanks!

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Comments (6)

cpartist
15 years ago
I think with the barn red island and yellow cabs on the perimeter, I personally would PREFER that the island also be the soapstone. I don't think it will be cold at all. Really! How could pale yellow and barn red cabs be cold? Sheeeeeesh. Sorry I disagree with your KD. I think it will look fabulous. However, I might consider softening the backsplash tiles to an off white/cream color to soften it a bit. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I love kitchens that aren't run of the mill and yours isn't.
plllog
15 years ago
Oh, for heavens sake! Silly designer!! Of course soapstone would look good!! It'll unify the kitchen and be very functional. Soapstone doesn't look "cold", at least to me. It looks rich and cozy. Let me guess--the soapstone was your idea in the first place and the designer is trying to put her stamp on the place?

Soapstone is perfect for a coffee bar. Functional! You can put your boiling hot pots on it with impunity (it'll cool off your coffee, but won't hurt the soapstone). I'd think about doing the desk out of the same wood as the cabinetry, perhaps with a glass sheet or a nice blotter on top. Kind of old fashioned, but functional if you didn't want stone there.

I think your design sounds very pretty. Go for it!!

And if you decide you want contrast between the island and perimeter you can always oil/wax one and not the other. And when you get tired of that you can do the the same, or switch them. We have one member who does oiled in Summer and unoiled in Winter, or vice versa (I forget), just because she likes having a change.
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eandhl
15 years ago
I have barn red cabs and soapstone and they sure look nice together. I do not think it would be boring at all to continue to soapstone. Oh and we have wide pine flooring.
breezygirl
15 years ago
I think all soapstone on both would NOT be boring at all! If it's what YOU want, do it! We support you. ;) I'm anxious to hear if Plllog's idea about the KD is right. I also like her suggestions for the other surfaces.
cpartist
15 years ago
Yep, love her plllog's suggestion for the desk. Frankly I think the wood on the island would have been too much.
spider96
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you, everyone! This is so helpful....I love the idea of letting one of the soapstone areas grey a little if I get bored with it. I feel confidant now that the soapstone will work... it's so nice to get some confirmation. (my husband just says...."just pick one and stop worrying about it!")

Oh, and Plllog...of course it was my idea...with total credit going to this board, of course. :) Actually, the whole color scheme of the kitchen has been my idea...I've pretty much told her what I wanted to do and she has been resistant on a few things (like drawers instead of pullouts, and now the island top) Sometimes I'm frustrated that I'm paying her hourly when I already know what I like, but I would have died without her b/c we are building 2 hours away and she is there to help the builder with things like tile placement, measurements, etc.

Eandhl- do you have any pictures? I would love to see them.

Thanks again, everyone. I will be sure to post some pictures when everything is done- the projected finish date is some time in March. You can rest assured this will be the first place I'll share photos- who else would care??