Easy to try out the dark gray or black countertop with some removable Contact paper. Avoid putting flammable paper next to the stove and in area above it.

The room will not feel dark if you light it well. The space isn't vast so I'm inclined to do the same top on the island and perimeter.

What are the other floors on this level? I'd go with wood floors in here.

Are you adding a hood to the range?

Can you extend the cabinets to the ceiling? I think that woild do alot to simplify the space. A hood would be nice as well

I wouldn’t spend the extra $ for soapstone. Go with granite - less maintenance and harder, so less prone to chipping. Another option for negresco granite is Virginia Mist/Jet Mist granite - very similar. I have polished Virginia Mist, and every smear shows…. so would suggest going with a honed finish. Floors need an update, but what is in the rest of the house? Wood that can be matched? I would also take the sink island to one level.

@Kendrah We’re getting all new appliances, including an induction stovetop, which will have a hood. I’m also exploring the possibility of converting our lower cabinets into drawers for easier access and organization. My son has a disability from a car accident, so we’re trying to make the kitchen more accessible for him and more convenient for us as we get older. I originally wanted wood, but his walker scratches the wood we have in other rooms.

@mollykeeton I already can't reach the top of these cabinets without standing on the counter so I won't add to them. The things on top shelf are rarely used. I don't like the look of the cabinets with the little window doors on top. I will most likely continue with my pottery collection on top even though I realize that is out of fashion.

Your pottery collection can be grouped(colors, sizes, shapes), rather than spread out. This will be more visually appealing.

Buggy ahead of the horses.

You begin with a hard measure this entire space.

Every solid wall, the openings to dining and family, all have dimensions.

Layout is first ALWAYS, and no counter top should be chosen until flooring is firmly decided. Tile? Wood is out? Rubber feet on the walker? How far does this flooring exist in your home?

First all one counter material and for sure when the island is a different color than the other cabinetsI need to understand which island color is what it is now it seems one is brown the other blue.. Yes we need a to scale plan to get real help. The walker needs rubber caps on the end to keep from scratching. The drawers and IMO the most important item for everyone .This will take a lot of planning before you get to the counter choice . IMO new cabinets will cost about the same as refinishing and changing to drawers . So think long and hard about how much you love everything about this space except for counters and rework of the cabinets. The floors being changed will IMO need to have those cabinets removed too so no cart begfore the horse

There looks to be plenty of light in there. I would do all the tops dark.

I had a customer with a tiny kitchen do soapstone and it looks great!

Here's another

Good luck!

I LOVE how soapstone looks - however, I've never had soapstone countertops (but my chemical engineering undergrad degree required MANY hours inside chemistry labs that had soapstone countertops). I have seen some honed black granite used instead of soapstone - you need to be careful to make sure that you don't received a dyed slab of black granite.

Also, my understanding is that some hones black granite countertops have issues with oil stains - but that is just based upon reading some posts here on Houzz.

Is there enough clearance space around the island for your son to be able to easily access all parts of the kitchen?

Jan's comment re: making a scaled drawing showing all of the exact dimensions of the kitchen is important in order to determine exactly what to do - especially regarding the island.

I wasn't clear from your original post the scope of the kitchen remodel. Assuming it includes flooring, cabinets, and countertops, it seems like you need to put together a comprehensive materials selection that takes into account your desire for the kitchen not to feel dark. Certainly if you select dark flooring, cabinet, and countertops, it will probably feel dark. However, if you choose some lighter materials for flooring and cabinets, I don't imagine soapstone would make the space feel overwhelmingly dark.

In your post you mention that you love the look of soapstone. What other materials are included in your inspiration images? That would be a great jumping off point.

@JAN MOYER I’m hiring an architect/designer for the remodel that includes the kitchen, living room, two baths, and a few bedrooms. We built the house in ’95 and couldn’t find the original plans, so a drafting company came to remeasure everything. The tile runs through the kitchen, sitting area, hallway, and entry. It’s a lot, and I’m ready to replace it! My son’s walker glides well but can leave light scratches. It has wheels and hard plastic glides in back. I’m interviewing two companies now and gathering ideas. Spending way too much time on the Kitchen Remodel and Flooring subreddits! So many gorgeous options, and everyone has a different opinion on granite, quartzite, soapstone, and Danby marble. That makes sense that flooring should be chosen before countertops. Thanks for your input.

@pricklypearcactus The remodel will include floors, new island, new appliances and also other rooms and bathrooms in the house. I have started gathering inspo photos and am also hiring a design firm. Thanks!

I suggest taking a close look at the walker to see if adding (say) foam sleeves or soft felt pads could keep it from scratching the cabinets.

There are metal kitchen cabinets offered by some European brands that perhaps might be more resistant to scratches than wood cabinets, but they may not be touched up as readily as wood. Professional kitchen designers would know about them, probably more than an architect/designer would know.

The plastic glides never work to prevent scratching - rubber works: ) or felt on the plastic.

You have a MAJOR project ahead of you........get the hard measure, and a very detailed measure of the kitchen separately : ) and same thing with the baths, where mere fractions of inches matter greatly.

Just chiming in that there are other walkers where the back has wheels, and not just rubber stops. My husband has one - it has a seat too - and it is the same size as the standard ones. It isn't expensive either. Depending on where you live, you might even be able to rent one.

To your original question though...I'm surprised no one else has turned up yet from Team Soapstone. But I love, love soapstone counters. I've put them in two kitchens now. It's beautiful and bullet proof. And I know everything "they" say about having to pick either one color for cabinets or one color for counters. But we did two of each. Soapstone on perimeter, marble on the island. I wanted the island to have the feel of a piece of furniture (like an old farmhouse work table, sort of) and I really like it. But I am just a homeowner not a designer :)

Our is a smallish kitchen too - 10 x 15 feet

I am just a home owner, no desiger. we have had a black granite with a white and gold veining running through some of the pieces for 15 years now. i love it. The color makes the kitchen very crisp looking. we did a white subway tile back splash also at the time, and i still love it! With the white back splash and great lighting, it wont read too dark, especially if just have the dark island. I by the way, love your pottery collection. Do what you love, you have great taste.

Here is what needs to be done to make the kitchen look great. Removed the ceramic tile - it is not easy to do, but needs to be done - looks cheap, is hard on your legs and hard on glass if dropped. If drop glass on wood, has at least 50% chance, but zero on hard tile.

Buy a white frig to match the other appliances and update as silver/grey is out now.

Make the seating area of the island at table level so the chairs will be more comfortable for anyone sitting and not have to be so uncomfortable with just one place to put feet on those high stools.

Not crazy about the blue on the island - make it the same as cabinets. Make cabinets to ceiling as not to have area to catch dust and cooking oil.

Stick with very light counter-tops whatever you go with.

If you are redoing the entire room, best not to have sink or stove either one in island - make it table height (or just use a table), as the table height is better for food prep unless you are very tall.

Avoid blacks & greys anywhere in the room. Also note that wine above the frig where the heat of the frig motor is, is not where to store wine (cool spot best), better yet do not drink alcohol at all, just use in cooking if recipe calls for it.

The highest priority of all is to get rid of the tile and use real wood on floors. If you do no nothing else, that would be the thing to do.

Have fun.

We have a friend with ALS so has a walker full time. When he and his wife designed their forever home, specifically addressing this mobility issue and the need to handle a wheelchair in the future, he chose large scale porcelain tile for the entire flooring. He also chose a virtually invisible grout line so there would not be issues there down the line. No thresholds either anywhere in his house. This photos shows a similar look/size of his floor tile. They also chose a thick rubber mats with a sloped/beveled edge for his wife when cooking or cleaning dishes. His walker rolls right over it. BUT it could still be a trip hazard for your son, depending on flow. They have been in their home for 8 years and are thrilled they made the choices they did. Good luck to you in this remodel.

I was scrolling to see if anyone mentioned tennis balls on the walker. There was, so I second that!

As far as the countertop, i would do them all the same for uniformity.

Am I the only one who is against the soapstone?? It’s very soft and scratches easily! We just did a major kitchen remodel and in my research and talking to contractors, they all had negative stuff to say about it scratching. You could achieve the same look with a leather finish on a dark quartz! Best of luck to you. Very exciting but overwhelming at times with all the options!

@terrib962 The entire island will be replaced to one level . it was painted gray about 8 years ago due to water damage but the image does look blue. We will also be getting all new appliances. Last few years we bought that fridge off fb marketplace knowing we are remodeling . Im not a fan of stainless so nice to hear white is in.

Thanks for your suggestions

@hannah_tedeschi I am probably going to go with a granite or quartzite. I have a quartz countertop in a beach condo and prefer natural stone . Thanks for your input!

@Amy Borrow He is 32 and suffered a severe tbi in a car accident but is doing really well except for walking. Still improving year 3.In his case tennis balls would slow him down. Just this week he changed the back glides to wheels . So now 4 wheels. He goes outside often to walk so I’m thinking outside walker, inside walker . Thanks!

@ Joan S If he is improving and is using 4 wheels now then maybe it won't scratch your floor. The slides definitely can scratch floors especially since they get scratched up themselves outside. So you may not have to worry about it. The other option is with four wheels now convert to a newer walker that has wheels that are softer, more rubber less plastic. Then it is not an issue at all.

I am so glad to hear he is doing better. TBI's are very scary. Hard to predict, but sounds like he is doing better than expected!

HI, not a design pro, but retired LPTA, so I do know a thing or two about recovery from TBI and other injuries. It's great that your son is improving, and able to use the 4 wheeled walker. Falls are a likely issue for him. So that being said, hard wood- solid or engineered flooring would be more forgiving with a fall than tile, with less risk of injury. (Also the wood is easier on aging joints when standing to cook for any length of time.) Agree, definitely no thresholds if at all possible between rooms. Rugs tend to be a trip hazard as well. So no to little throw rugs here and there in the kitchen, and use large area rugs sparingly, in other areas, and make sure they have non slip pad.

I am sure the pros will recommend drawers on the lower cabinets, and I agree that will be easier for him to reach into. Also making the items used most frequently in upper drawers or lower cabinet shelves. (Things that are chest to hip height are going to be easiest to reach. And while that seems obvious, you would be surprised how many people put every day dishes and glasses on the higher shelves.) Also, since I do not know the extent of his injuries and how his shoulders, arms, hands function, try out several different pulls for him to see what he can most easily grasp and pull. They have to work for you as well.

As for soapstone, I never had it, but it looks lovely. I did have a black granite with minimal white/glold veins running through it. It was beautiful and easy to maintain and I would recommend it. I have the dreaded quartz now-:)and yet I would recommend it too! Sorry to the quartz haters out there, but there was no real 'White granite" (at least not in the stone yards that we went to) that would have looked as good as the quartz with my other kitchen/style choices. (Yes even the Taj that we saw was too busy for me and a bit yellow-though we have friends who have it in their kitchen. Theirs is beautiful, and not too busy.) My husband wanted white/light countertops so he could see what was on them easier. The counters I have don't draw attention to themselves, but handle the work load that we put on them. Yes we use trivets, and we used them with the granite too, because while it may not scorch, but it can crack. My point is, there are many choices, and how nice to have choices.

You get to go to the stone yard-which is fun. You get to see all the beautiful stones that are like works of art. But just like art, you have to find the piece(s) that you want to look at day in and day out and look good with your flooring and cabinet choices, and that isn't always easy to find.

Good luck to you and your son. It sounds like he is making great strides!