For as long as I’ve loved charming architecture and preferred classic materials in a home, I’ve LOVED soapstone. In fact, we put soapstone around our stove in our English Tudor! I would’ve used more soapstone but that kitchen had existing tile floors, so we wanted to go with wood counters to be a warm complement to the tile. The wood counters were absolutely beautiful, too! Our bathroom had marble and it also stole my heart.
So when we were deciding what type of counters to put into our current home during our kitchen remodel, I knew without a doubt I would choose organic elements again. This is our forever home, so it was important to me to choose something that would bring us joy for many years to come. Natural stone may not bring joy to every home or personality, but we knew it was the right choice for us.
We selected marble for our perimeter countertops many months ago (see our kitchen design mood board here), but remained undecided what we wanted for our island. Our first thought was to use soapstone, but we set that idea aside for a time because we thought we’d go with wood or a butcher block.
Once our wood floors were installed we loved them so much that after much discussion, we eventually realized we wanted to let them shine on their own as the “wood statement.” So at that point, we revisited the idea of soapstone and once we did, it felt absolutely right to us. We got extra excited about our kitchen once decided to go with soapstone! It felt like home to us. I’ve learned to take my time when there’s any indecision and not rush into anything that isn’t clear.
Who didn’t fall in love with this iconic beach house and classic kitchen? (As I understand it, these were faux counters made to mimic the look of soapstone.)
Soapstone stands the test of time, as does marble. Soapstone is often found in New England homes around fireplaces and kitchens, dating back to the 13 colonies as a tried and true classic here in the states. Of course, soapstone and marble are classics in Europe! I will never forget the beauty of real marble on the counters and tables in European cafes, there’s truly nothing like the patina of real stone.
That is the sense of history and patina we decided felt right for our home. You know how much I love a home that feels like cozy sanctuary, one that tells stories and reflects family history. My goal is not to keep a pristine showplace look for my home. Rather I want to feel, see and sense the beauty of life lived there. While we will lovingly care for our stone and it will bring us joy to do so, we won’t live with fear of them showing signs that we live here.
Stone yards, contractors and designers will try to talk you out of choosing soapstone and marble for the very reason I wanted to use them! I love that these materials will show a patina with age. Professionals who sell it are trying to make sure you know that, so it makes sense they add caution.
It seems here in America most people want their materials to stay pristine and perfect, so no wonder they get frustrated when marble and soapstone don’t stay “showroom new”. You definitely need to know yourself and your goal and ask questions before you make a decision that you could regret. While there are granites that mimic the look of soapstone, I am excited for the natural aging process and beauty of natural stone.
We put Quartz in our last two homes (our Seattle kitchen, and our craftsman house kitchen) and while it is beautiful in a different way, to me there’s just nothing like the organic and historic look of marble and soapstone in the right home. One observation I’ve had with other manmade materials we’ve had is that they are not necessarily fool proof or without downsides of their own. Our quartz still got some stains and etching, but it wasn’t repairable like soapstone. Plus it didn’t ever get that beautiful patina like the stone will. Soapstone is also heat resistant, and quartz is not.
We are so excited about our counters going into our kitchen! The delight these beautiful organic elements already bring to us has made us fall even more in love with our home. We are thrilled to make them a part of our family’s history here. I can share a lot more about them as well as the care and keeping of the stone once we they are in our home.
More Posts about Our Kitchen Remodel:
My New Kitchen Floor Plan + Parents’ Addition and Exterior Elevation
Our New Kitchen Design Mood Board (and five questions that helped me make decisions)
Adding Character in a Kitchen Remodel: The Tale of Our New Range and Faucet
Kitchen and Dining Room Renovation Update! Projects Have Begun!
Kitchen Renovation Update: Floors, Cabinets, Sink, Hardware and More
Sure enough, my contractor talked me out of soapstone, but he honed black granite to look like it. I didn’t want shiny countertops. He tried to talk me out of wood on my island, and he wouldn’t do it, so we had it custom made off site on our own. I wanted my island to feel like a kitchen table, warm and inviting.
It’s true, they try to talk us out of the things our heart wants! Our soapstone is honed too, I love that soft look! I’ve seen some beautiful honed granite that looks just like soapstone so I’m sure it’s lovely. Sounds like you got the feel you wanted so good for you on finding a way! Your island sounds perfect, too ! I want to our dining room table to have that warm and inviting feel with a wood top, it’s right next to the island so hoping I can make that happen!
Lovely kitchen. We just finished a kitchen remodel and I too took my time in making the right choices for our home. Yes, I was discouraged from choosing marble and soapstone but I did not want a shiny granite counter top. I chose soapstone and I LOVE it so much, I’m not fussy with it like I might have been with marble ( I have grandchildren who visit often} One thing I will tell you is, I sealed ours with a soapstone sealer/wax that is food safe! Its not shiny just a nice smooth finish…Love the feel of soapstone. I found this product at The Real Milk Paint Co. Nothing feels like real stone!
Yay! It makes me so happy to hear you love your soapstone. That wax sounds wonderful, thank you for sharing your experience!
I’ve had my soapstone countertops for almost three years and I absolutely love them !!! I chose a light gray honed stone, and even though they can darken naturally over time, I’ve been able to maintain its lighter appearance by occasionally applying acetone to draw out any dark areas. I like that I have the option to go either way! Looking forward to seeing your completed kitchen!
That is so neat! We like ours in its natural gray state, too. I need to learn about that trick! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for bringing soapstone out in the open. Our kitchen is 5 years old. We love that it started out light grey and now its black. We sand it when it gets a scratch or knick and oil it. Love that it’s soft and uneven. Was very hard to find in Florida.
It sure has a lovely patina and feel, I’m so excited that we are adding it to this kitchen! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Hi Melissa
I of course could do a google search but I’d rather hear from you. What kind of wear and tear will you see with soapstone? And how do you maintain it, do you oil it like I think you are supposed to?
Thank you!
Hi Jen, unlike porous stones such as marble and some granites, soapstone doesn’t need to be sealed. It doesn’t harbor bacteria and is an easy to care for stone that requires very little maintenance.
Soapstone is impervious to liquids, chemicals, acids and heat and it is food-safe. Even acidic liquids such as vinegar and coffee won’t stain it.
When soapstone is exposed to water, grease or oils the stone will oxidize, which darkens its color. That can happen unevenly in areas that are used more often, so they will get darker or can have undesirable marks. By oiling the surface, you are hastening that oxidation process while giving the stone a more “even” appearance.
But it’s personal preference, some people prefer the organic patina that occurs naturally and choose to not oil their soapstone.
It is a softer stone so it can have a tendency to scratch or dent. However, many “imperfections” can be buffed out fairly easily (or treated with mineral oil or acetone). Some marks or dents will fade or soften into the patina over time, which can be appealing to some people and not to others :).