IMO you can do whatever you like but you need good lighting and that means pot lights , pendants under cabinet lighting all LEDs 4000K

That maple is sooooo pretty. Why not go with a countertop like that one? It's neither black nor white.

I disagree with @chispa.

With sufficient lighting, soapstone will be just fine for your situation. You will have light wood cabinets (and, kudos for not doing white), and, as you said, the contrast will be lovely. Your floors will also be light. I don’t see a problem. Again, lighting is key.

I believe you’ve seen my kitchen. It’s a wide galley, with medium stained birch cabs, stained wood floors, and soapstone counters. While during the day we get plenty of outside light, at night the room resembles your daytime situation. But, because we have three different kinds of lighting, (recessed, semi flush, and undercabinet), the room is never dark.

Perhaps a better comparison is the small kitchen in my son’s coop, in Queens, NY. His kitchen has IKEA cabs, with Scherr’s medium dark stained wood doors, stained wood floors, and soapstone counters. He has one tiny window in there, with opaque glass…so, essentially, no daylight passes through. But, because he went heavy on the lighting, the room isn’t dark.

”Light and bright” is what you make it.

And, it doesnt have to mean ”white.”

I tend to like contrast, so I would pick soapstone. Listen to Patricia - make sure your lighting is adequate. It doesn’t have to be “natural” light. Your kitchen sounds like it will have an airy, light feel because of your cabinet choice.

We have maple cabinets with a dark countertop that’s quartz.

Yes, I really didn't want to go white and feel good about my wood selection.

Most of you seem to feel that I would be fine with the soapstone as long as I have plenty of lighting. I think we're going to be fine in that category--10 cans, undercabinet lights, and a fan in the middle of the ceiling that now maybe I should think about getting a light for. I am also thinking that the two large pass throughs may help the kitchen not feel so claustrophobic and closed in.

Other than Danby marble and soapstone, the only other stone I saw that called to me at all (and I am still really vacillating on this one) was a leathered quartzite. It had some flaws in it and was thus priced close to the same point as the Danby and the soapstone. (I really don't want to spring for the higher prices quartzites.) I am wondering if that would be lovely or if the color tones are too similar to the natural maple. Yes, I really didn't want to go white and feel good about my wood selection.

@Jacqui Naud--Is that the low apron Kohler Whitehaven? Do you like it? I really hadn't been thinking about farmhouse style at all but saw their 60/40 with the low divide and the lower apron and am intrigued by it.

Thanks all.

@julieste, yes that is a low apron Koehler Whitehaven sink. I love it! It is not the 60/40 divide; it’s one big basin. I chose it because it fit in the existing cabinet. There used to be a long, narrow pullout below the old sink for sponges, etc. my contractor used the wood from the pullout to make the cabinet surround match the rest of the cabinets. The countertop is Metropoli quartz. It’s matte and resembles finished concrete.

Julieste, I’m doing maple with a natural stain for cabs, red oak hatdwood with Early American stain and I’m seriously considering soapstone. My other thought is Taj Mahal quartzite but I adore the look and feel of soapstone.

My kitchen also has limited light. My sink window is small and my slider opens onto a three season room. I looked into solar tubes or possibly a skylight to give me more light but if I go that route it will be after we move in.

I have Typhoon Bordeaux in my current kitchen and is zero maintainance but I’d like something a bit more subtle this time around and soapstone seems to fit the bill.

they have a quartz that's very similar to soapstone. the cost for this slab was 2300.

It's Silestone Eternal Charcoal soapstone, in the matte (suede) finish

here it is in the polished finish

I have the same material (but in the light gray color) in my kitchen and love it

i think due to the layout I would stay with medium to light counters. Soapstone is fabulous but your layout would tell me to stay lighter. I would not care for the "penned in" thing that will happen w the darker choice. I see the opportunity on the one wall w straight run of maple cabinets ...nice way to do your wall cabs......but I disagree about keeping backsplash extra plain . Use that backsplash area for a special tile ...something very focus and enhancing ..its a great spot for it. There are plenty of gorgeous counters ..stay lighter...it shouldn't feel like you've missed out..

I appreciate all of you taking the time to comment and your varying opinions. You have given me a lot to think about. I am still vacillating. As you all know this isn't a reversible decision like changing a coat of paint to a lighter or darker hue. I'll be stuck with whatever I choose.

You are now required to keep us updated!

If you’re able to demo the bar height section and replace with counter height that will also help your space feel more open. (You mentioned not wanting it to feel claustrophobic).

For an interior kitchen I would want to keep everything light and bright, for both the counters and the backsplash. I would not do the soapstone.

Agree, though I do like soapstone.

And, it doesnt have to mean ”white.”

True -- sage green or pale blue come to mind right away.

My kitchen, with no windows, went from cream cabinets and cream counter to charcoal cabinets and white countertop and it’s still noticeably brighter. But for me, light colors in a darker room look dingy and dark next to light makes the light look lighter. If I had a vote, I’d vote for the soapstone with no hesitation.

“Floors will be a somewhat light oak vinyl plank that's darker than the natural maple cabinetry.”

@Katerine Staly…if you read Julieste’s post thoroughly, you’ll see this^^^^is what she said about her floors.

Quite frankly, while I like Taj Mahal very much, it’s a total washout with your natural maple cabs. The closeness of the tones cancel each other out. The combination is just blah. In Julieste’s kitchen, soapstone will be a striking contrast, and yet, a cohesive statement with her cabs.

I am very concerned about having a monotone blah kitchen. I have seen too many places where people wanted to be cautious and ended up with a totally unexceptionable boring space.

I have also given some thought to using plain white Corian countertops. This is a completely different choice than the natural stone I have been thinking about.

Thanks again for your help.

@julieste I love soapstone and used it in my last kitchen with quartersawn oak cabinets. The kitchen was beautiful but it was definitely dark. Despite windows, there was little natural light and the soapstone sucked it right up. I planned on using it at my beach house but when I saw how dark the back porch roof made the kitchen, I switched to lighter counters. One caveat, if you find you have your lights on most of the day anyway, then darker counters probably won't matter. Just be sure to have bright lights.

@cheri127 I’ve had a kitchen with quartersawn oak. It is considerably darker than the wood tone Julieste is showing. Soapstone will look better with her wood IMO.

Just noting I have Danby and love it! i also love the look of soapstone in your space

I have just gone back and reviewed all of your very helpful comments because I think often it is best to sit on things for a day or two and then revisit them. As I was doing this, herbflavor's comment jumped out at me: "Soapstone is fabulous but your layout would tell me to stay lighter. I would not care for the "penned in" thing that will happen w the darker choice."

My layout is the same as the one in the firsts photo. Maybe that darker color will add to a "penned in" feel. What do you think?

Keshet Starr--You've been very happy with your Danby? Had any problems?

Once again, I appreciate all the input.

@julieste I've only had by Danby installed for 2 months, but I have 4 little kids and cook all the time so it's been a busy 2 months:) So far it's held up really well!

I have a small interior kitchen in my condo.

I have a medium stain wood cabinet and Black Galaxy couners with lots of copper accents - sink, ceiling, hood.

I don't find my kitchen to be dark or depressing. I have lots of light - overheight, under cabinet and up lights illuminating the ceiling for drama. I am gnerally in the kitchen when it is dark outside anyway so it is not as if I would be relying on natural light anyway.

There is plenty of natural light streaming into my condo in other parts of my living area so my kitchen doesn't feel like a dungeon at all. It just doesn't illuminate the rear of the kitchen sufficiently. Even with white cabinets and white counters I would still turn on the lights as my neighbors with white kitchens use their lights in the daylight as well.

This is a kitchen where we turn on the lights first thing in the morning and they stay on all day. So, in essence, it is what most people are dealing with in their kitchens in the evenings when the daylight is gone.

Donald--good to hear that, as someone else with a windowless kitchen, you feel the dark counters would work.

Helen--thank you for telling me about your kitchen and how it functions well with dark counters.

cheryi127--interesting observation you made about how soapstone worked in one of your places but not for your beach place.

I really like the soapstone both for its functionality and for its appearance. But, I now have another query for you. Beth H posted a photo of a soapstone appearing quartz, and I assume this might have some gloss to it. However, for me, I much prefer the true material.

Some of you have mentioned having dark counters, but I assume these are glossy. Soapstone is matte. I suspect that matte surfaces suck up or absorb more light than a dark glossy granite would. Would you agree?

I don't think soapstone will appear darker than other black counters. If you have the lights on in the daytime anyway, go for the soapstone. It is such a beautiful stone and nothing feels quite like it. I'd use it again in a heart beat (we just moved) but our new kitchen will be modern and I don't think it will work.

Your photos of kitchens you like have alot of natural light. i love soapstone but not dark kitchens that need alot of artifical light light to look light

I am not understanding your concern.

You have a kitchen (like mine) which doesn't get natural light so you would use lighting whatever the counters were during the day.

If your kitchen is dark the problem is that you don't have enough and appropriate lighting. My kitchen would be dark with white cabinets just like my neighbors with the same kitchen in white need to use the lights.

It's a different look - since my kitchen is always going to be dark without using light, I went with a kitchen that looked great with artificial lights :-)

Julieste…I’ve seen that Silestone imitation. It looks nothing like soapstone. It’s as bad an imitation as the wanna-be marble imitation quartz. Even honed, the quartz has none of the smooth, sensual feel of soapstone, nor the earthy look. It just looks dull, it has no life.

The best alternative to soapstone, is Viginia Mist granite…honed. Many people on this forum, and its predecessor, the GardenWeb, have it, and have spoken of its bullet proof qualities, and appearance close to soapstone. It has life to it, because it’s natural stone, unlike quartz.

Actually, I am not looking for an alternative to soapstone in a darker color. Someone upthread had mentioned the quartz, so that is why I brought it up. We also looked at the darker honed granites people have mentioned; they aren't any less expensive than the soapstone, and they don't have the inherent properties of soapstone. I like soapstone because of its feel and its ability to withstand just about anything. So, if it's dark it will be soapstone. If it's light it will be Danby. Either would have a honed (matte) finish rather than a shiny polished finish.

I was a bit concerned because I thought matte (dark soapstone) would absorb more light rays than a shiny surface. But I just read an article in Elle Decor "19 Designer Tips for Lightening Up a Dark Room." Surprisingly to me, this is what it said: "It may seem counterintuitive, but glossy walls can create glare rather than reflect light equally. Matte surfaces, on the other hand, reflect light in every direction." Maybe this only pertains to walls though and not countertops.

Thanks for your continuing input. I know I am not the only person who has to live with a completely interior kitchen that has no natural light.

I love soapstone so much so as long as you have good lighting I say go for it.

@julieste Hello, I'm in a similar situation with an interior kitchen and love soapstone. I just ordered a light cherry cabinet and I'm curious which counter you decided on the soapstone or the marble? I'd love a photo too if possible, thank you!

An old post, but I am wondering what you did and how you like (or love) it! I am in identical position with a dim (and small) kitchen. I will have natural maple slab cabinets. I love soapstone! I would love to see photos if you happen to recieve this post.