Not a pro.

1. keep the cabinet if you need the space. If you think you can keep open shelves clean and you have enough fancy & interesting dishware to stock them, you can do open shelves. Personally, I do not have anything I'd want on display 24/7. You could add some open shelves above your sink but I'd put them high. Otherwise just do a mirror or a nice piece of artwork.

2. With the gray lowers & the soapstone it may be too dark, but I don't think that's a soapstone problem. If you're concerned about the kitchen being dark, upgrade your light fixtures and add under cab lighting.

3. Ditch the soapstone backsplash and do tile. I would do a simple white subway tile because your soapstone is busy. I wouldn't do hex.

4. I think fancy decorative tile backsplashes are better for big kitchens where you can see the backsplash, but not so much in galley kitchens. I would just do a subway tile to the ceiling there and appreciate the simplicity.

With white appliances I think you probably would have been better off with white lowers (sorry).

Not a pro either. I would keep the cabinet but change to glass doors. Ditch the soapstone backsplash and use white glass simple tiles. Add pendant light over sink. The more reflective surfaces you put in, the lighter the space will feel.

You plan of charcoal lowers, dark soap stone, and white uppers will be pretty. Go with the subway tile (maybe with grey grout) all the way to the ceiling. The white tiles will reflect the light making the kitchen feel bigger and brighter. The less you break up the wall the better. No special tiles at the range but propping a pretty tray against the wall behind the range will give the same effect and you can easily change the tray out for new looks/colors. Lighting, especially undercabinet lighting, will make a huge difference. And I suggest going with a white (or very light color floor). Suggest also looking online at some kitchens showing black and white checkerboard floors. Or look for linoleum/vinyl floor that is mainly white with perhaps a simple black accent.

I definitely would keep the range area simple and clean, like the rest of the wall. I think a decorative tile backsplash will just make it look too busy.

Wow, thanks for all of the honest responses! I really appreciate your time. :)

I'm so glad I wrote all of this out and all of you took the time to read it all. So glad my instinct about the short backsplash and range-splash was correct. And I agree about the white subway. I guess I was avoiding it because everyone does it and I did it in my bathroom, but there's no denying it works, and it doesn't have to be boring. Zellige, anyone?

I agree the floor is too dark. Unfortunately we only put that in a few years ago (did the whole house the same) and my husband would not be happy if I tried to change it. Maybe I can find a rug or something.

White appliances: I've always liked them, could never get on board with stainless, unless it's like a Viking or something. I thought the matte white would REALLY pop with the charcoal cabinets.

Yes, under cabinet lighting is a MUST. I'm so happy with just the addition of the light in the hood! Can't wait.

Still on the fence about the open shelves vs cabinet. We will probably keep the cabinet, but a girl can dream.

Hi Julie,

1. “if I replaced the cabinet with open shelving, and extended it to over the sink as well. It would be about 63” of open shelving.”

It is very difficult to keep things clean in a kitchen on open shelving. It’s a great look, but really tough to live with. Also, you don’t have much storage in that space. The good news is that you can make the decision after the cabinet arrives. Put it up, take it down, then decide.

2. “Soapstone. I’m afraid it’s too loud for the space and with it I’m unsure about what to do for the backsplash.“

Not marble. Not with soapstone. I would steer you towards glazed ceramic tile in a white that matches your upper cabinets, in a pretty shape, like a star and cross or a paseo.

3. “But a part of me wants to nix the soapstone backsplash altogether and just do tile... part of me wants to get every square inch of it I can in my kitchen.”

This is where inspiration images can help you. Look for images of kitchens using charcoal cabinets and soapstone, and keep the ones you like. Study those images and they will help you decide in which direction to go.

4. “My husband would also love to have a fancy decorative tile backsplash over the range but REALLY don’t know what would work there.”

If you choose a 5” soapstone backsplash, install it behind the range as well. If you choose tile, keep it the same throughout. You have a small kitchen with lovely, busy soapstone counters. That’s it. No more eye candy.

“Zellige, anyone?”

Please decide on the overall appearance of the space first.

The point of designing a kitchen is to highlight a few crucial things that work together to give you a balanced, functional, beautiful space. That means you don’t want to choose the shiniest option for every finish, choose finishes that support the star in your space. You chose an eye catching counter so your backsplash is supposed to be subdued by comparison. Get yourself some inspiration images that are consistent with the size of your kitchen and the overall feel you are going for. Then, order lots of samples so you can see them in your space, in your light, once the counters are installed.

This is what Zellige tile can look like with soapstone counters in a modern space with lots of light and no uppers. It is terrible behind the range. In fact, it’s just terrible. It competes with the stone. But then the glory of designing your own kitchen is that you may choose this if this is what you find beautiful.

I think you’ll love the soapstone once it’s installed! Be sure to add more lighting like you mentioned, and I’d go with a shiny/glossy white subway tile and white grout so that the tile is subtle and the soapstone is the main attraction. You can find “subway” tiles that don’t look so plain. In my own kitchen I have huge walls of oversized white subway tile with kind of a wrinkled fabric sort of texture to it. My countertops are leathered steel grey granite (looks like a soft matte black in most lighting situations) and I LOVE how the backsplash seems to help bounce light around.

Soapstone counters with marble backsplash have been very popular on GW/Houzz. If you want more soapstone and your husband wants a feature behind the range, you could consider a busy part of the soapstone there, framed with a lighter soapstone or marble border.

@mama goose thank you!!! I haven’t been able to visualize anything. Seeing your rendering is really helpful. If I were to do the soapstone behind stove I’d do the full 30” width and range to hood without border. Alas we’ve used it all (I believe) but maybe not if we don’t do the short backsplash.... hmmmm.... that marble looks way too busy tho.

I also worried about my soapstone choice (Black Venata) being too dark. I wondered - what if it looks like a cave? My former counters were almond colored Formica. It turned out to be fine. Even though it is a dark stone there is enough variation that it doesn’t read as solid black, and also light strikes a horizontal surface differently that a vertically tilted slab viewed in a warehouse. I should note as well that my choice is a softer soapstone so I do oil it occasionally to hide nicks and scratches. That darkens it a lot. You can leave Anastasia, (which is much harder and resistant to dings) un-oiled if you like. It would leave it a bit lighter a color and there wouldn’t be as much contrast between the black and the veins. I agree with everyone else - keep the backsplash light and simple, make sure to install good lighting and it should look beautiful. I will try to attach a picture of my counter in a corner that has no natural light.

- Loved reading this discussion.

- The soapstone is beautiful, let it be the focal point and keep the rest simple

- The grey bottoms and white uppers will look lovely.

- I hope you show after photos. I want to especially see what happens above that sink - tile to the ceiling, a pendant that hints to the lovely art and furniture in the dining area?

https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2017/9/18/openkitchen

- I agree with everyone about the simple white backsplash, AND if you already have white subway in your bathroom, this will help with general cohesiveness in the condo.

- Be careful about lightening the color of the floor, your darker cabinets would look like their floating afterwards / dark will keep the space grounded.

I've noticed in many of these inspiration photos that there is a shelf or two over the kitchen sink with storage for glassware or simple dishes. These shelves add a lot!