I love your counter choices, but keep in mind that soapstone/marble was a very popular combo 10-15 years ago. What was marble guy's objection?

I thought soapstone and marble were pretty “classic” choices. What exactly was his issue? Durability or staining or something?

Echo the comments above. That said, I have marble kitchen counters in my city apartment and soapstone in my country house (kitchen and two bathrooms). I love both. However, please know that there are several different types of soapstone and some softer varieties scratch and chip more easily than others. My kitchen soapstone counters chip and scratch terribly. I am going to replace them next year and repurpose them to some less-used area of the house. The bathroom counters are fine. So make your choice carefully.

Regarding the marble, I used a matte finish on my city kitchen counters to make the etching less obvious. Marble counters will etch. It goes with the territory. I used polished marble in two of my city bathroom. I have some etching but it’s not too noticeable.

so I think your choices are great, but make the, carefully. Try to use one of the harder soapstone sand probably avoid a polished marble in the kitchen.

Maybe I read too quickly but I understood that you will have island cabinet AND countertop different colors than the rest of the kitchen. Often people say to vary one or the other - not both counters and cabinet colors. Yours sound like nice choices but maybe that's the issue?

I think the very white cabinets would throw the whole color pallet off. Do you have a sample board?? Can you show some pictures please.

Thank you everyone for your generous help!

I wanted to go with a classic, timeless look, and thought these choices achieved that goal.

I don’t know what the issue was with the very helpful salesman at the slab yard, it was just a feeling. Perhaps it was as simple as thinking that marble should be on *all* counters. :-) When he flinched at the mention of our flooring (carbonized strand bamboo), I got worried and thought I should check with all of you here.

Soapstone: The plan is to find a denser variety. I want the dark, oiled look with veining.

Marble: I could be talked into Quartzite for the island and Quartz for the bathrooms, but those marble slabs yesterday took my breath away! And, the one I liked best was at the top of our price range! So it is doable! The current plan is to do a matte finish.

Salonva: You read correctly. Something like this:

Builder Model | Copper Ridge| New Braunfels, Texas · More Info

HU-187528210: I’ve been planning this in my head for many years and always thought we would go with BM White Dove. But we can save a ton of money using the new IKEA Axstad which is super white. I’ve been spending time working that angle, and it is definitely growing on me. I find I like the “clean” tones of colors that will work with this shade of white.

I have never made a sample board, but I will work on one! For now, here is a link to a Houzz Moodboard (I hope this works): https://www.houzz.com/plans/kitchen-moodboard-pp~1462783?stepId=saved

Be aware that the matte finish on the axstad fronts is a bear to keep clean - they show fingerprints like mad - one of the drawbacks of matte. I had a couple of test drawer fronts in the white, gray, and blue colors and ended up doing Bodbyn again, which (while off white) is much easier to maintain. It's also not a blinding white either. You may want to get a test door/drawer front (check as-in in the store, they often have them available for cheap) to be certain it's what you want.

Moodboard is beautiful. Very pretty. I do like navy over Gray in general.

OK – I’m feeling better.

I thought I was being “safe” with these choices, at least as a timeless theme goes. Sounds like it will be high maintenance! The good news is, the kids are all grown and were off to college prior to Covid.

I was just a tad worried about the flooring, but was hoping it would lend some warmth to the otherwise “cool” choices.

I’ll be posting a layout and pictures of the current kitchen – it needs some serious help! :)