IMO you do a different counter for the island and all the same color cabinets or different color cabinets and all the same counters but not both. I also would not mix soapstone and quartzite one to me is casual and the other much more formal . IMO in your situation go all soapstone it is tough as nails and an oiling once in a while is all it needs.

yes i understand. and that is my same struggle with quartzite.

I do agree you shouldn't mix both, but i feel like i want to break up some of that darkness. To be honest my first want is marble. Maybe ill do marble on the island and soapstone on the perimeter. Despite the chance it could get ruined, the marble may be a nice neutral thing to add to the selections?

I am trying to figure out this same thing! I would like perimeter soapstone - but am thinking about something different for my island. I did read where someone suggested using a more common soapstone with less movement for perimeter and then using one with veining for the island. Hmmmm . . .

Iam torn between marble or taj mahal quartzite

I have a similar dilemma. I have fallen in love with a quartzite called Nuage. I have considered Taj Mahal because it's pretty timeless but I just don't love it and it is more formal. I'm thinking about going bold and having both island and perimeter painted green. Original plan was green island and white perimeter. If I keep both cabinets the same I feel like I can go different on the counters. I love the look of soapstone but thought maybe too much movement. I just saw and absolute black brushed granite that could compliment quartzite. I love the look of marble as well but don't want to be a slave to my countertops. Let me know what you decide!

I agree about the Taj. It feels formal to me too. I love soapstone, i would personally chose that over granite, but the absolute black is nice, just make sure its honed and not polished. :)

Ya i have no idea what to do. alternatilively, i could do marble perimeter and soapstone island since the island takes more abuse.... but i really want that soapstone sink... so i feel like i should do the perimeter the same.

These are my SELECTIONS... but not sure if I want to add that marble on the wooden island ( for maintenance reason not design) or just do soapstone for all counters

I selected Taj Mahal quartzite for our new build because I thought it was pretty and that it is one of the hardest, most durable quartzite available. It is considered to be almost bulletproof.

i never thought of it as formal. I think it depends what your other selections are. I chose warm white shaker cabinets, warn white subway tile, and white oak wide plank floors. I consider it to be transitional and not formal.

Yes i think its very beautiful.. my concern is that i dont know if it blends well with the soapstone since that is decided.

my selections are similar as you see above in the photo.*(warm white shaker with soapstone and oak island) i also have white oak wide plank floors.

I feel like taj is one of those stones that is best as a stand alone show stopped then mixed with outher stones? And yes the fact that its hardy and durable is why i was considering it and second guessing the marble.

I agree with you. We have the same Taj Mahal counters on our perimeter, island, and pantry room. I don’t think it would mix well with soapstone.

Elle I LOVE your selections! Now you have got me thinking I should look at a white oak island instead of green! I did see some other lighter color quartzites that might work with soapstone. I wish I could make ONE decision that is final. How did you decide on the soapstone?

We have a soapstone sink in my kids bathroom and its pretty awesome. My husband always wanted soapstone counters.. and because they are so durable and pretty so i agreed. Its very matte and milky and non porous. it looks beautiful w marble... and thats what i want for the island ... but I just know that soapstone is the safe bet.

I just was at a fabricator and they had a beautiful slab of Tahiti quartzite similar coloring to Taj but a little more black veining which might be nice with soapstone?

@HU-891276262 What dud you go with?

What did you decide? I am basically designing the same exact kitchen.

I went with soapstone perimeter and a pretty quartzite on the island ( not installed yet)
Debatable if it’s marble - but either way I love it

What type of quartzite did you decide? Do you have pictures?

@Elle N - have you finished your kitchen? If so, would you mind posting photos? i really want soapstone for a perimeter (would love a built in soapstone sink!) + marble on my island. All of my selections are similar to yours - would love to see how it turned out!!

it all just finally got completed. turned out beautiful. we did a soapstone sink as well. i'll have to grab some photos and update

Elle N- do you have finished photos? I have similar options picked out but haven’t pulled the plug yet.

@courtneydyson

Yes ! It looks awesome!

I am doing soapstone and marble, if you need another pic. Agree the combo looks awesome (Ellie I know yours is quartzite but the argument stands, I think). Still under construction but the counters are in:

Gardengrl66 Z5
Looks amazing!

@Elle N what is the name of the quartzite you used? im designing a very similar kitchen yours looks beautiful!

@Elle N & @gardengrl66 z5 - STUNNING kitchens!! Really beautiful! Would each of you mind sharing the details of the type of soapstone you installed?

Now I really want a soapstone sink!! When this kitchen renovation finally happens (long story - issues w contractors re: two bathroom renovations caused delay), it’s going to be more expensive because I keep adding things to my ”must have” list list!

I am also doing stained wood island - and planning stained wood lowers on perimeter. However, the soapstone looks so good on both of your white lower cabinets - makes me confused. Do you think it will look as good on stained wood? Do you think it will look “busy” by using stained lowers?

Guess I need to go find some photos of it on stained wood!

@dani_m08 our is called Marina. I feel you on the "when this kitchen renovation finally happens" - I've got a whole, long, very sad thread about this process. I am absolutely sure I'm being taken advantage of because I'm out of town from the project and only there once or twice a month...but what can you do? Hard to crack the whip from afar.

For stained wood and soapstone check out @darbuka - they are a huge fan of the look. Aside from that a quick Google search of "soapstone counters with wood cabinets" will get you a bonanza of photos. Good luck and have fun deciding!

Thanks, @gardengrl66 z5!

Here’s my stained wood and soapstone kitchen:

Now seven years old. Wouldn’t change a thing.

@dani_m08 I know the struggle ! Our kitchen took forever… couple years- and there still minor things to do.
I personally don’t love soapstone on wood unless it was stained a dark wood. I like soapstone on darker cabinets. Mine are actually grey. I LOVE marble on stained cabinets . That looks is soo classic to me!
I would pick your counters first- and work around that. I knew From the start i was doing soapstone perimeter- my island I want sure about initially- although in my gut- I knew it would be marble .
Here a photo that shows a darker counter ( could be soapstone or granite who knows) that is on a darker stained island and it looks great. And the mix of the marble perimeter is so good!

Leathered tajmahal is less formal looking. i have found one that has green in it and brown veining which i am using on my island. Both island and perimeter cabinets are mid mossy green color. no upoer cabinets just natural cherry wood shelving with black metal brackets. Wondering if soapstone with brown veining on the perimeter which has the cherry shelving will go well with leathered taj on island. thoughts thoughts?

I knew at age 12 back in 1964 that the soapstone laundry sinks in my grandmother's basement could not be left behind when her estate was sold. My father thought I was crazy to even care or know about such things, but he pulled them and many years later were installed in my laundry room. What a treasured memory of my Nana and of my dad.

I'll never have a classy kitchen like rhe rest of you ladies, but I make do with a vintage kitchen with my Nana's Hoosier cabinet and my much loved Jadeite dish collection. Old oak counters, Simply White (BM) cabinets and a sturdy old oak kitchen table seem to balance the room out.

An island of any surface at all would be such a luxury and your ideas are exciting to this old lady!

I should have seen this thread when I remodeled. I moved into my fully remodeled home. Anyways my kitchen has soapstone like quartzite(honed) on the perimeter and tajmahal leathered on the island. I decided not to go for marble due to maintenance nightmare. I love it! The whites and warm colors in my perimeter quartzite goes well with taj mahal, here are the pics~

Against a few opinions here, we are going to mix soapstone with Le Blanc quartzite. We’ll have a 5x10’ soapstone island and Le Blanc on the 3 sided perimeter. All cabinets will be natural walnut from our acreage. We tend to break rules so we are ok with others thinking differently. :)

@teresa goodney Can you please share a picture? those are the colors I'm thinking of going with too!

@teresa goodney I'd also love to see the finished photo if you have one! How did you decide which was island and which was perimiter?

Would also love to see the selections you made and how it turned out.