Depends on the color of the cabinets and other room elements as to whether it will work.

Recommendations? New cabinets and walls will be painted whatever we choose. Same for back splash, etc.

Awesome!

Yes, I saw that one, too Jennifer, and I see no problem with it. But my designer and design assistants are really concerned about the green. My cabinets now are gray-green and it never occurred to me that it's not a good combination. Getting very confused about what I originally thought would be beautiful.

You better look closely at the gray-green cabinets and the counters. Both are hugely expensive pieces of the puzzle. If you hired a designer you should at least listen. People here on Houzz can't see these combinations up close and personal like your designer+assistants can.

Those aren't currently popular shades to work with. Are you sure they fit into your dream kitchen?

Wouldn't keep the gray-green cabinets, for sure. I just never thought of the colors being an issue before. Yes, love my designers. The green toned soapstone was just a surprise...I just don't see the problem, but they do, and I do respect that. I'm not worried about popular colors as I intend to stay away from trends. I'm just curious to see if others think the green tone is a problem with Saltillo.

What are your designers recommending?

I don't know yet. Perhaps using a granite (Seprado or Typhoon Bordeaux) on the perimeter and soapstone (but not one with a green undertone, I'm assuming) on the island, I think. We've just discovered the problem, and the solution is yet to be discovered. I was hoping not to use granite nor quartz. I just love soapstone and have always hoped to have it one day. Perhaps I'll get a different soapstone, but I was able to get the Porto Alegre at a very good price and will be disappointed to give that up.

You don't have to have stone throughout. You may want to consider wood on your island.

I thought you said new cabinets and paint, so not sure where the gray/green issue is?

here is soapstone with white cabinets

Jennifer, I see why you are confused. What I meant was that I currently have grey painted cabinets with a warm green undertone, and I never considered the green under-tone to look bad with my Saltillo floors. But I'm being told that the green under-tone of the soapstone I'm considering would not look good with Saltillo....so I'm surprised by that. I see a lot of photos of soapstone with warm (orange) wood floors, so I'm trying to understand why it doesn't work well with Saltillo. Thanks for sending the photo!

ahhh!! sorry. I think the pictures with your tile and soapstone look outstanding. Ok, good luck. In the end you need to pick what YOU love

Ha! Thanks, Jennifer...I fear my only taste may be in my mouth!

I would ask them WHY they think it will be a problem. Maybe the green undertone is a different shade or tone of green then you have so it may clash. If possible ask for a visual.

Consider a consultation with Maria Killam. She just wrote about your conundrum.
http://www.mariakillam.com/flagstone/

(Not a designer, but your home sounds old world and rustic--lovely!)

Thank you! This is very helpful! I happen to love my authentic Saltillo...the footprints, the cracks, the "character" that most would hate living with. Fortunately, mine is very warm, no pink, and I've always thought of it as a neutral. I know it will hurt upon resale, but I'm not likely to leave this house, so that will be my son's problem...lol! I love the cream colors in Maria's photos, and I know this is exactly the direction my designer wants to take. I think perhaps a different soapstone that doesn't come off green will be the way to go. More $$$, but soapstone is what I want, and I'm confident we can make a beautiful kitchen even with my Saltillo floors. Both surfaces have a softness and warmth that appeal to me. The correct colors for walls and cabinets will be vital.

I agree that you will have a beautiful kitchen with Soapstone and Saltillo floors:) Maybe your designers were trying to pull your kitchen into a cool direction...for example crisp white cabinets, black soapstone with white veining, and a grey paint color on the walls. With a green soapstone...it would probably look the best with warm off white cabinets and a warm paint color on the wall. Both can be beautiful it just depends on the look you want:)

Thanks, Kjoy1, this 'conversation' is really helping me understand the issue, and I think it is that a soapstone with a green undertone introduces a major second color into the kitchen that isn't the direction the designer wants to take...and I'm understanding now why she's right. She's already agreeing with you...she wants warm, light creamy walls and cabinets. I think she just doesn't want to introduce the green. The Maria Killam photo mrstad posted the link to shows the right way to do it, and that's what my designer has been trying to explain. I'm so (painfully) visual, it has been hard for me to conceptualize the problem...especially since we don't have a sample of my soapstone to work with at home. But I see it the soapstone done in this photo, and it will be beautiful. I do think we need a different soapstone to avoid that much green. Fun!

IMO, using the complementary color approach in your
kitchen will pay off. Sautillo is a
tone of Red-orange with its complement blue-green or the soapstone. Combinations
of complementary colors are especially dynamic together and yet can be
perceived as soothing or balanced, since it simultaneously stimulates different
parts of the eye. Your situation would be less intense since your
materials are “organic” with subdued coloration and depth variation and I truly
believe you will have a comfortable environment. You can use sautillo as your primary color
with the soapstone as secondary and you may want to add accents of blue/purple!

Why can't you use a soapstone with a more traditional black/gray tone to it if you think the green will be a problem?? Soapstone comes in a wide range of tones.

I am with Beth. Do a nearly black soapstone. Still very warm, still very organic. Nice with any cabinet color and your flooring and totally , timelessly "forever".. A great kitchen result is not dependent on the cooler BLUEish green of that particular soapstone, which may be just fine and dandy with multi toned blue/green Brazilian slate flooring and bight white cabinetry! . I think that is what your designer is trying to tell you : ) If you trust the designer........trust the designer. It always messes you up when you don't.