I think soapstone could be an awesome look too. I would shy away from concrete though as I have heard it stains and doesn't hold up as well.

Another thought is glass counters. Not cheap but amazing!

elise, there are many diff colors of soapstone.

if you didn't oil it, it would look like this

but, if you did oil it, and got a soapstone sink,,, this is sexy looking on these black cabinets. and notice the zellige backsplash tiles!

I don't think it would be too dark at all...

Here's a couple of pictures of Ceasarstone concrete looking tops

Hope this helps

I think soapstone would look great... for the island, are you using the same color as the perimeter cabinets?

because you have so many diff elements, I'd be careful mixing 2 countertops. Soapstone and the quartzite or marble are two entirely diff pieces. (Unlike having two different quartz colors, or a white marble w/a black marble)

is this going to be open to another room? what style will be taking place there?

what color is the island base? green? do you happen to have a pic of the color?

this Calacatta Oro is gorge w/the green and gold

and I love this island because they used the marble for shelving.

if you could make up a board that shows all the elements you're using, together, and take another pic, it would help visualize.

and, just to make things extra confusing (welcome to my brain), here is the stone that I originally fell in love with but cannot figure out how to make it work in this setup without being too busy or overwhelming.

hard to find exactly what you are doing, but I found dark lowers, soapstone, open upper, and a similar tile you want for the splash

I love the walnut butcher block. maybe for the island?

BTW, a honed Virgina Mist granite can often look like soapstone

a quartzite called Negresco is other similar look.

If you are a messy cook, Dolce Vita may not be for you. research it here on Houzz. tons of complaints about staining and etching.

Camara slate:

Concrete countertops.

Shhh...

I love the walnut waterfall w/the island idea. I'm also liking the Calacatta Oro too. If you did that countertop, you could do the cindered olive Zellige tiles

walnut/black/forest green cabs/gold/weathered white Zellige tiles/ Industrial style sconces....way bad ass.

BTW, here's a pic of the Virgina Mist granite (also Jet Mist)

oh, and if you like Dolce Vita, you may like the TajMajal quartzite

I have not read all the comments, but personally, I would do Rainforest Green or Rainforest Brown "granite" (some sites call it granite, some marble, but from what I understand it is really a serpentine).

My dentist has rainforest green in the admin area of his office, and I just love it.

Drawers for your regular stainless cookware and glass baking dishes, drawers for cutlery and tools, drawers for spices, regular cabinet for baking sheets and trays, and probably cast iron, we keep our cast iron on open fixed shelves, my mom stores hers on a stainless rack/shelf over the stove.

elise, it is a marble, so,,,,,

but, they have a similar look in the quartz. Cambria, I believe, carries a nice looking one.

Danby Marble from Vermont is beautiful, and hardy. from what I've read from people who have it, it acts like granite.

Remember, sealer only buys you time to clean up spills, it doesn't make it stain-proof. just be diligent to wipe as you're cooking or get some larger cutting boards to use.

Your kitchen has many same choices as my soon-to-start kitchen...dark green cabinets, white oak floor, warm stone counter. I'm doing a solid color back splash due to the counter being a little bit on the wild side ;) Can't wait to see how yours turns out!! ...needless to say, I love your choices.

Elise, it's up there, but not outrageous. It's rarer than the carrara marble and will cost a bit more. (And true Calacatta marble has to be mined from Italy, in that Calacatta region. If it comes from somewhere else, it's not calacatta!)

As for the Cambria Calacatta slab, it's pricier than other quartz, but still affordable.

Elise, I'm doing Alpinus...the slabs that I found (and bought) have amazing green deposits and they make me squeal! I see mountain tops and owl feathers in them...not all the slabs made me feel this way. Yes, these were priced at the exotic level but worth it.

Here's a stab at a simple design board... I can do a bigger one with more of the connecting rooms tomorrow if helpful! The only thing left off of this one is the countertops - hence my original dilemma! And of course go ahead and picture all those lower cabinets as drawers - y'all definitely convinced me! The island is a 10ft waterfall and stands just in front of the view I posted on this board.

elise, I love how this is going to look. I'm a big fan of the Zellige tiles too. are you using Cle'tile? have you seen the 3" hex option? (i posted it in green further up)

this is Vetrazzo, recycled glass. this really would be beautiful on your island (see the green chips in there?) You could use a solid black, solid white or the soapstone on the perimeter.

I actually have this Vetrazzo in my spare bath in the green.

Sea Pearl

other organic type of quartz countertops

man oh man,,,i'm imagining this on the island w/a beautiful black walnut inlay

Neolith Estatuario $$$$

how about this marble? lol I'm in love w/this blanca lasa vecchia

Wow, I also bought a 48" Hallman range!! asked them to keep it in Texas until I need it. Twins??

aargh. I hate this site! posted an entire blog here and it disappeared after submitting.

Elise, Yes, that marble is gorgeous. I'd like to use it for my own place. I think it would work w/the soapstone, not the other one. The slabs vary greatly. What you should do is visit a few stone places, (where are you located?) and walk down the aisles. Pick a large place that also gets more exotic slabs. Take your kitchen items w/you. This way you know what's out there

Here are two morels vecchia

another marble is Panda white

There is a similar in a granite. Black Horse

The Cielo Blue is a quartzite. I saw this one at my local stone yard. It's polished, that other one was leathered

and I also took this picture of Black Horse

There is a quartzite called Negresco. It resembles soapstone when it's honed or what they call, 'suede' finish. You wouldn't know it's not soapstone. and quartzite is harder than granite.

this one is Python or White Python here it is honed.

but look at it polished. wow. (this stone varies immensely, so be warned)

If you want something as a focal point, and something no one else has (because these vary so much) then go w/a quartzite. one of the more exotic ones.

Ibere Sauipe

Kamarica Green. (Fusion Quartzite have a tone of colors)

and I'll leave w/this last one,,and yes it would go w/soapstone)

Verde Bamboo.

And it's supposed to be durable. This would look uh-mazing w/your wood tones, the green, and gold.

I don't care for the Rainforest marble. I've had it in the past so maybe that's why.

Madre Perola

Gorgeous!

elise, it's beautiful.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/madre-perla-quartzite-phbr0lbl-bl~l_53090

did you do the lemon juice test on it? (drop fresh lemon juice on a corner and wait 5 mins. see if it etches.

some quartzite have deposits of calcite (marble). Some have more deposits than others. to see how yours rates, try both of these tests.

and, take a corner or a spare chip of that stone and try this

marble(calcite) won't scratch the glass and will leave a powdery residue behind. quartzite/granite will scratch it and leave a gouge in the glass.

hmmm,,,polished gives you a tad more protection. either way, make sure you keep this sealed. (511 impregnating sealer is fine)

do you want more of a dull, matte look? I think the polished is fine.

it would resemble this. (you saw the picture of this Cielo polished. here it is leathered

@Beth H I think I prefer the polished! It's such a pretty Stone and it's very subtle. The shine is nice.

I would go for the polished one also, it lets light bounce around the kitchen.

Oh boy, we are doing a full reno and addition. Still with the architect...builder's own home is always the last...sigh. Trying to keep my head up and stay patient.