I had soapstone counters in my last kitchen for 10 years. I love soapstone but the notion that it's bullet proof is a myth. We got awful white water marks from glasses and around the sink whenever the counters were freshly oiled. Had them refinished by Florida Joshua which helped but not completely. When the stone finally darkened on it's own (we stopped oiling after the first year or so), we didn't have water marks but we did have lots of patina including multiple areas that appeared "etched". In fact, right before we put the house on market, our cleaning people left a huge "etch" on the counter that no amount of oiling would fix. We had some dings and lots of scratches but they didn't bother me at all. The "etches" did though. However, we were in an old house with lots of patina so the counters fit right in.

Nothing feels like soapstone and I would use it again. In fact, I'm trying to find a way to make it work with a more modern kitchen. But, you need to now what you're getting. If you want pristine looking counters, don't get soapstone.

"If you want pristine looking counters, don't get soapstone."

^^ This. Google or board search for pics of soapstone patina, and you'll see what this means.

I love the look and feel of soapstone but ultimately decided against it for the kitchen because after all these years I know myself all too well -- I couldn't live with a patina, which is a nice way of saying looks old and beat up in my book. Yet others full embrace that look. Know thyself.

I am considering using it for the laundry room and bathrooms, though, when it comes time for those projects -- they won't get heavy use and abuse in there the way they would in our kitchen.

I have heard that “soapstone” from India is often slate. We are using fantasy or Fantasia soapstone that is very light grey with lots of veining and blue and green inclusions. I thought I wanted a traditional soapstone with very little veining but when I saw this I loved it. Surprised me!

This is beautiful!

@louislinus…gorgeous slabs! Like you, I fell in love with a soapstone slab that had lots of green inclusions. Pictures can be seen in my posts above. Enjoy your new kitchen, and your beautiful soapstone!

@darbuka - Thanks! Yours is gorgeous as well. Our slabs seem really similar. I can't wait to see mine on some actual cabinets in an actual kitchen. Your pics give me hope! :)

The soapstone countertops in our ADU have only been in a few weeks, but I love them! I haven’t oiled them yet..but probably will oil or wax at some point, to see what that’s like. They do not require it, nor do they require sealers.

@chinacatpeekin - beautiful!!! Love your uppers. I need more pics!

Funny you mentioned oiling as I came back here to ask that question. Not sure if I'll oil mine or not. I kind of like the light grey color and I also like a little less contrast with all the veining. Mine is pretty busy.

louislinus- thanks, I’m thrilled! Here are a few more. In the second photo, the countertop on the left is damp, to simulate how it would look when oiled; the countertop to the right of the range is untouched. Cabinets are IKEA. Stove (FP induction) mosaic backsplash is Pratt and Larson, the subway tile is Adex. Smeg refrigerator, Riobel faucet.

So good! I love it. It’s totally my style.

Louislinus I love your kitchen. It reminds me of one of my first kitchen loves!! Very much the color scheme And style I am going for! But I’d say I’m a little more rustic. My trim is poplar, natural hickory floors and natural white oak qs shaker cabinets. (I can’t bare to paint wood! I love the variation in wood grains.) My backsplash will be white or very light. Stainless appliances, unless I throw in a creamy smeg like yours. I am still debating between my two soapstone slabs… Brazilian or Ocean Black. I love the Brazilian with all the variation… so appealing! Is it too busy with all my wood grain going on? 🤷🏼‍♀️your opinion counts since I absolutely love your kitchen!

we like the soapstone look, so we went with Absolute Black Granite in a leathered finish. It is gorgeous, looks charcoal gray, not black. I would not think about the stone yard being annoyed. You should have what you want. Countertops are a huge decision and I would absolutely get what you want.

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@Linda McCoy I think you meant to tag @chinacatpeekin. My kitchen isn't done yet and hers is ah-mazing!

@louislinus, I would LOVE to see you post pictures of your counters when complete. I am looking at fantasia as well. When will yours be in?

All great info from everyone!! Very helpful!

Templating is tomorrow and install 10/7. I won’t have the total kitchen done until late October but I’ll put up pics of the cabs and counters as soon as the counters are in.

Loving my soapstone and my kitchen remodel is almost complete! Need hardware!! Thinking of going with stainless steel knobs on doors, handles on large drawers. I really like the top knobs stainless collection especially the spool knob SS44. A little pricey, though!
No negative comments please!

Gorgeous @Linda McCoy!!! Stainless hardware will be beautiful

Beautiful! Your soapstone is spectacular.

Flat black hardware would be gorgeous!

Actually, that was what I was originally going for. But, I love the style of Top Knobs SS44 knob and there are many SS handles to choose from that would work well.
I can’t seem to find a style I like in black and I definitely want something that won’t scratch or chip. I looked at wrought iron knobs and found one on Etsy from the UK. husband likes the top knob black iron mushroom knob and yet there are no handles that match that finish. I could be swayed but I can’t find the one!

Linda, Top Knobs is a great choice. They are well made and durable. The Mushroom style can be paired with SO MANY Top Knob pulls. The flat black would be gorgeous with your countertops!

The other thing is that you see the SS everywhere. The flat black makes a statement! I love the Top Knobs M378. It looks very much like your SS44.

In my ADU kitchen in the post above, I have Emtek black egg knobs and pulls, and love them, they are excellent quality and have worn very well. You might look at Emtek; they also have mushroom knobs, I believe, in black, although I’m not sure about SS. FWIW, I think black hardware would really look great in your kitchen.

Thank you both soo much!! I’ll look at these options! I love the egg knobs also!

Chinacatpeekin…. Can you share the name of your pulls and knobs from emtek?

Linda McCoy, beautiful soapstone, nice layout, and I love the little dresser/island. Thank you for returning to show the (almost) finished kitchen!

I am not sure if all egg knobs are the same but we rented a house while our house was being built and the cabinets had egg knobs. They were constantly turning. No matter how tight they were they would eventually loosen and start turning again. Drove me nuts.

FWIW my Emtek egg knobs are not having any problem with turning. I’m not sure if that would be caused by the quality knobs themselves or by the installation…? At any rate, they are staying put as they were intended.
Linda, I just remembered that I decided on the Emtek ORB finish which is so dark it reads black. I have light natural wood upper cabinets and black lowers, all IKEA. I recall comparing the black and oil rubbed bronze, and choosing the latter. The black was a bit flatter in tone, the ORB a bit richer.

@LindaMcCoy, I got the Trail pulls and the oval egg (1.25) inch knobs. I just looked at their website, and see they’re still very well priced.

We recently had a soapstone countertop installed on our outdoor kitchen. When we picked out the slab it was very dark and when wet with a rag was just what we were looking for (Dark Grey/Black). When it was installed it was very beautiful until they applied an enhancer/sealer and it immediately brought out a lot of GREEN. We are very dissapointed to say the least. Is there any way to soften the green color and bring back the darkness? We are sure that this is the same slab that we looked at originally as the stock number was still on it.

@Shar Mann…I’m guessing you did not buy your stone from a dedicated soapstone dealer, like M. Teixeira. If you had, an “enhancer/sealer” would never have been applied. Soapstone is impervious to anything and everything. It does not need sealing. In fact, a sealer will ruin the look, feel, and performance of soapstone. Call the fabricator back, and have them strip off the ”enhancer/sealer” to restore it to its original appearance.

BTW, finished properly, soapstone should have a matte finish…never shiny. And, it should have a sensuous, silky smooth feel.

Yes, @darbuka hit the nail on the head. Soapstone should never be sealed.

It shouldn't look like that.

Our fabricators guys screwed up when installing the pass thru soapstone in our kitchen and accidentally sealed it. (Counters were correctly left unsealed.) They came back and removed and re-did the pass thru portion.

Thank you all for your comments, they are very helpful. I was writing a comment earlier and it was cut off and I'm not sure if it was sent so I'll continue...

The dealer has offered to replace the whole countertop with a Black Pearl Leathered Granite that is solid black and has no veining in it. The veining is what we like so were hesitant to make the trade. If they are not willing or don't know how to remove the sealer can you tell me the product that I would use to remove it my self if there is no special equipment needed to do it.

Thank you for all your help!

That is not a fair trade of that beautiful soapstone for leathered Black Pearl. Sealant should be removed using acetone - a little acetone goes a long way. Have the windows open. I cannot imagine why these guys would rather fabricate an entirely new counter instead of wiping the soapstone with acetone to remove the sealant.

@M Miller…no need to open up window, as this is for an outdoor kitchen. In fact, the house windows should be shut, if they were to use acetone outdoors!

My soapstone countertop was sealed by the fabricators during installation earlier this year, even though I explicitly requested that not apply sealer, and it was on their instructions. They removed the sealer using acetone a few days later, and happily it looks beautiful. Had I been able to use M. Teixeira for installation, I’m sure it would have been done correctly the first time.

Thank you, M Miller for your response! I will use the Acetone and post my results. The fact that the countertop is outdoors and is in direct sunlight for most of the day, will removing the sealer and leaving it unfinished damage the soapstone?

Thank you all for your help! Thank you darbuka for clarifying that it is outdoors.

No, the soapstone will not be damaged by leaving it oudoors, naked. That’s the way nature intended it!

Thank you, you’ve been a great help!

@Shar Mann If you don't like the way the soapstone looks after you remove the sealer, it can be easily refinished. Are you sure it isn't the bright sunlight that's making it look so green?

@Shar Mann - leaving it unfinished outdoors won’t damage the soapstone. However, since your earlier comment asked if there is any way to ”bring back the darkness”, I suggest you oil your soapstone to do that once the sealer is removed. I prefer a beeswax mix to mineral oil. Clapham’s wax is very good (can buy on Amazon). If you don’t wax or oil your soapstone that is totally fine, but the soapstone will be lighter.

Thank you M Miller for your suggestion, I will keep it in mind.

Cheri127, it is definitely the sun that brought BGS out the green, unfortunately it is in the sun most of the day. When it was first installed before the sealer/enhancer was put on it looked great, very dark and little green, as soon as the sealer/enhancer was applied it brought out the green.☹️

What is wrong with the dark green of soapstone? It’s gorgeous, and unlike the zillions of stone counters out there. Try embracing the dark green for the beauty that it is. Don’t knee-jerk against it just because it’s different from the ubiquitous black counters you see everywhere.

The thing is, with any soapstone that has green sections or inclusions, applying anything…be it wax or oil to darken the stone, also darkens and enhances the green. Once the application is applied, yes the stone will be dark, but the green will be more vibrant. I have soapstone with green inclusions, so I know what I’m talking about.

Like @M Miller said, embrace the green. It’s beautiful, and more interesting than all the black w/white veining soapstones out there.

We agree that the green is beautiful, unfortunately the color wasn’t what we expected and it does stand out vs the more black/grey. We’re going to follow your suggestions to strip the sealer and enjoy it’s beauty. All of your comments have been very helpful and much appreciated, THANK YOU!

Let us know how well stripping the sealer works for you! I hope it does!!!

@Linda McCoy that is so beautiful! Which soapstone did you end up going with?

J Bank it’s Brazilian. I found the slab at a yard in Indianapolis. At the time, they only had a few slabs like this one. We had it fabricated by quality surfaces also in Indiana. I know a lot of people have ordered from M. Teixeira. I would check into using them. I just felt more comfortable going with local people.