As mentioned last week in another thread, my 1904 Southern Colonial's soapstone finally, finally, FINALLY got installed -- and wow am I *so* happy I went with this over granite. I can't even tell you how many times over the past year i grappled back and forth between soapstone vs. a black-ish honed granite (ie, Nordic Antique Black). In the end, those magic words really are true: go with your gut, with what you really want. Seeing and feeling the installed soapstone, it's hard to believe I ever doubted the initial instinct. Hindsight is, as always, 20/20...

So this is two parts. First, the pics! Bear in mind I still have not acquired any mineral oil, and so what you're seeing is the pure, raw, unoiled soapstone. It's actually darker in its raw state than I would've initially figured, but it's definitely begging for an oiling :-) The pics seem to give it a bit of a blue-ish hue, but that's inaccurate as it's just a medium grey in reality.

The sink in that last pic... is the Ticor S105-8. It's the one where the left bowl is 17-3/4" and the right bowl is 13". I hotly debated that vs. the Ticor 405D (21" left, 10" right).... and in the end opted for the "more useable right sink". So far I like what I see, but I'll have a better feel when I start using it. The installers did a great job with the sink cutout, and the very slight negative reveal I requested --- the distance from the front of the sink to the edge of the counter overhang is exactly 4".

Also, I ordered the faucet today -- after a brief dalliance with the "antique nickel" finish of a specific Jado faucet (ultra-$$, btw), followed by a detour towards a Moen, I went with my original choice of the Delta Victorian. Opted for the stainless steel finish instead of chrome, because my kitchen has a mostly "soft/matte" theme going on with the white cabs, matte soapstone, SS appliances, saturated yellow wallpaint, and 100-yr old heart of pine wood floors.

Here's a pic of the Delta Victorian, in the SS finish:

So now, onto the final question, with regard's to deee's marble tile backsplash: I think your backsplash is exquisite, and goes perfectly with your black counters and white cabinets, maintaining that neutral theme. For those that haven't seen it, here's the pic:

My question to everyone here: those beautiful grey-ish marble tiles have that fantastic veining/movement to them. Would that be a good fit above my soapstone countertops, or is there reason to be concerned about the grey tiles' veining competing/clashing with the soapstone's veining?

Also, I have read that marble tiles require lots of regular maintenance, sealing, and are prone to cracks. Is this mostly a concern for floors and counters, or are these concerns valid for counter backsplashes as well?

Cheers!
Supra92

BTW - more pics to follow, once the faucet set arrives and is installed, and after I get the soapstone oiled

I want just pulls, not bin pulls, something in a brushed nickel or stainless color with a more contemporary flair.

I have white shaker recessed cabs with white granite counters...my DH says the samples I've already purchased stick out too much. I think they project 1-3/16".

Any suggestions?

When selecting the actual hardwood brand to go with, does it matter? What DOES matter when selecting a manufacturer??

The place we're likely getting our floors has three brands; Mercier, Mullican and Barefoot Flooring, inc.
I've heard of the first two, but not heard of the last. All three offer the wood species, board width, and pre-finished options we're looking for.

What do I consider when evaluating these three flooring manufacturers?

I'd been thinking of IKEA but they aren't wide enough from what I can gather on internet. Anyone have ideas for me? Ideally ~$500.

We have oak floors and oak perimeter cabinets. Not planning on painting them [unless after counters, etc. in we decide to go for it].

Painting island black.

Thanks.

Trish

Thanks for all of your help, us lurkers get great advice from all the wise folks on this board!!

As some of you know, I fell desperately in love with Redroze's kitchen a few months ago. I am attempting to do a mini version of her kitchen, with some tweaks:

-we went with w/golden oak floors, to match the rest of our main floor, too lazy to refinish existing floors :)

-our cabinets were built from a 'soft maple'- great for painting, not staining. So our island is a painted dark brown, not stained.

-our cabinet maker could not replicate all of the lovely detail on her cabinet's faceframe, he didn't have the right tools.

I am sure there are other things, but I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Redroze, your taste is exquisite!

Here's the before:

And here's the "in progress":

And the cabinets are delivered- hurray!

My wall pantry...love love love...

pardon the lighting...the cabinets are white (Benjamin moore Chantilly Lace of course!)

And an idea from my gardenweb friends- a pullout cabinet, with the top drawer separate- so you can easily access items...

Also went with a 90 degree right turn on the corner- my old cabinets had a 45 degree turn and it always felt like it was 'in my face' ;)

More to come, i'll keep y'all posted!

Kristin

I live in Peabody, north shore of Boston. Anyone have any recommendations on where to purchase kitchen cabinets?
I have already been screwed out of thousands of dollars from my first carpenter on the doors and moulding
and I dont think I could take more things going wrong.
Thank you,
Karen

Thanks for any responses!

My husband does not like the imperfection in the handcut glass of the 1 x 1s or 1 x 2s. I don't mind it and think it adds to the hand made look, but he doesn't like it and think it looks messy.

I am trying to work out whether the larger subways also have that random cut look, or if they are more carefully finished.

Does anyone know???

Thanks so much!

Here is another walk-in pantry thread with helpful shelf spacing guidelines/recommendations:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0518351723171.html

There is also a previous thread with photos of closet style pantries, which I'm still trying to track down. Of course, photos of pantry cabs will be helpful to people, too.

Anyway, here's hoping people will start showing off their pantries here, so we form a pantry album for others to consult.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread as .pdf: Anyone Willing to Share the Inside of their Pantry?

I'm considering using the bottom shelf of the pull out pantry for cleaning stuff, but is it weird to have it close to food?

I just hate how crowded and untidy the under the sink area gets with plastic bags and cleaning stuff.
I either need an organization system, or to move them elsewhere.

Where do you keep yours?

If you have them...can you post a picture?

They have oak, beech and birch...any preference?

I am planning on waterloxing whatever BB counters I end up getting, I do not plan on cutting directly on the countertops.

Thank you!

There was someone on here that had a small section of her kitchen backsplashed similar to the tumbled slate. I think she had soapstone counters and creamy yellow cabinets. I have searched and searched but no luck.
The large sample to the left is the one I'm concidering.
Thank you again


OK this one is hard to see but just to give you a visual(I am a visual person and having a hard time visualizing this)

The printer is now concealed by doors and my hardware is ORB

Here is a link that might be useful: STE Mineral Oil