We're ready to select our countertops and are leaning strongly toward Soapstone. The only place we can find is M Teixeira Soapstone which has a location in SF (according to their website, their largest selection on the West Coast). Any other places we can look?

We're on the Peninsula so are open to any place from San Francisco to San Jose. Any recommendations?

Thanks to all! Oh, and feel free to share your thoughts (good or bad) on soapstone.

I couldn't have done this without so many inspiring pictures to admire on GW. So, thank you!

We had some soapstone issues, but Josh is on his way up to help with those. We are getting the house painted in the spring. The walls in the kitchen will be a warm yellow. We needed a break from contractors for a while. ;)

I need a nice red rug for in front of the sink. I am accenting with red.

All details below.

Before:

After:

Sink: Franke FHX710-33C (now discontinued, but available at homeandstone.com)
Faucet: Franke FHF 300
Cabinet Hardware: Restoration Hardware
Backsplash: Ann Sacks Capriccio in Antique White
Cabinet color: Benjamin Moore Linen White
Soapstone: Black Venata (we think)
Stove: Wolf 48" DF
Pot Filler: Giagni (overstock)
Hood: Wolf

And now that I have hopefully figured out how to post photos, I shall start another thread and hit you up for backsplash ideas for this new pet rock of mine;)

A huge thank you to everybody on this forum who helped graciously with advice, photos, experience & info. What an incredible resource this is. Shout outs to Erikanh & marthavila for hood help, willowdecor for tile, all the stoners, and many more.

We moved in last week-bottom trim on fridge & dw are still missing, excuse the messy bottoms.

I'll be happy to provide details if anyone wants them.

Thanks for looking!

Marble Close Up

Soapstone Close Up

Before pics: we moved the kitchen into the family room, the dining room into the kitchen, and the breakfast area into the dining room. (The living room turned into the family room, and the office will soon turn into the living room ... more to do around here.)So these photos are not exactly classic before/afters. (And it's a snowy day, so bright outside, not the best for pics. Oh well.)

Old kitchen

Corresponding view

Old family room:

Corresponding view

Old dining room (both visible walls are now gone)

Corresponding view

I was previously opposed to knocking out both walls, but I am glad we did. For the way we live, it works much better. Entertaining is a cinch now. Because the kitchen is vaulted but the other ceilings are low, it doesn't feel like a huge empty space (that's what I was worried about). And I liked my "other" house, just not the kitchen. It was awful.

I'll post details here, and more specific photos in a subsequent post.

-Cabinets-
Aspen Leaf Kitchens in Denver/Berthoud, CO; proprietary Primer White, BM Taos Taupe on island and butler's pantry, and custom-stained antique pine on breakfast hutch

-Appliances-
SubZero BI-36U fridge, pro handle
Wolf 48 DF range with 4 burners and double griddle
Viking 54 in. hood liner with heat lamps
Thermador DWHD64EP dishwashers
KitchenAid KBCO24RSBX three-zone beverage center
SubZero 700BCI refrigerator/freezer drawers
Sharp 0.8 cu ft microwave

-Counters-
Minas soapstone on perimeter cabinets and hutch
Calacatta gold marble on island and butler's pantry

-Hardware-
Restoration Hardware Gilmore cup pulls, Aubrey knobs and handle pulls, Clear Glass knobs in antique brass, and Season knobs and Hanson pulls in ORB

-Sinks-
Main: soapstone farm sink crafted by Terra Bella/Denver CO
Prep: Ticor S3650

-Faucets-
Main sink: Kohler HiRise bridge with sidespray
Prep sink: Kohler HiRise bar faucet

-Lighting-
Wilmette Clark pendants in ORB (breakfast nook)
Wilmette LaSalle wall sconces in antique brass (later photos)
Visual Comfort Classic Ring chandelier in AB (dining room)
Visual Comfort Four-Light Siena pendant in AB (butler's)

-Island stools-
Ballard Designs Dorchester counter stools in rubbed black (all other furniture and rugs previously owned)