I think I found the perfect solution for warm yet durable countertops! Vermont Slate. It doesn’t stain, doesn’t delaminate and scratches can be buffed out with fine sandpaper. Since the stone is honed it will not show where scratches were buffed out. It is also cheaper than most granites at $55/square foot installed. The one thing I am told is that the slate must come from Vermont – it is the least porous. Thanks to everyone for all of your advice and input – you led me in the right direction! I’ll let you know in a few months how it looks.
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How will you incorporate your sink? undermount or slate farm sink? also, does slate chip easily?
That would have been my first question too. It is not as "hard" as other stones methinks. Roofing slate is pretty fragile and I have broken a slab or two of my flooring slate (1-1.5 inches thick).
Cheers,
PeterI am at the age where food has taken the place of sex in my life. In fact, I've just had a mirror put over my kitchen table - Rodney Dangerfield
Undermount. Apparently the fabricator I found specializes in incorporating undermount sinks. Does anyone think there is a problem with this? We are going to get a piece to stain, chip, etc. I'll let you all know how it stands up...then we'll be able to really make a decision.
Keep in mind that slate is not strong. Try dropping the edge of a pot full of water on it. Good luck.
Cheers,
PeterI am at the age where food has taken the place of sex in my life. In fact, I've just had a mirror put over my kitchen table - Rodney Dangerfield
Thanks for your suggestion - I will do just that. Any other suggestions if slate doesn't work out? I tried soapstone and was not happy with how plain water left white spots around the sink.
what about the stuff they use in labratories?
I think it is fireslate. Does anyone have experience with it?
Every lab I've worked in has had soapstone counters. Pretty much indestructible, and we never took care of it with oil and such. It gets a patina with age and chemical spills that hides just about anything. I'd say that if somebody was getting spots from water, it could possibly be caused by hard water, rather than the soapstone itself. But then again, when I worked in the lab so long ago I was more concerned with what was in my 96 well plate than with what was under it. Plus, these labs had old counters, so it could be that they were a different kind of soapstone.
You are right about the old soapstone lab bench tops. It was Alberine soap stone. Alberine is a town on the James river in Virginia south of Charlotsville. I think that those quarries are closed now but TuliKivi of Finnland bought the quarries at Schyler and they sell high end soapstone stoves. I haven't checked their web site for counter tops.
This soapstone carves nicely too. I've got a big black cala lilly that I carved. You could really do nice decorative stuff in the soapstone.
BJ Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland
Actually Albereen soapstone is still available from New World Stone in Virginia. Although they aren't currently mining, they have a huge supply of stone from their quarries and they will fabricate countertops, sinks and whatever else you want them to. It's a great place to visit if you're ever in the area.
The stuff they use in laboratories is traditionally soapstone.
While the material is very durable, the edges are known for chipping. Take a look at a slate patio or walkway. They usually have chips on the edge which are fine for outdoors, but would be really annoying when leaning on the counter. I can imagine that many women's clothes would catch on the rough surface.
A friend has slate countertops and they are gorgeous. Is it possible for you to see a similar countertop that has been installed for a few years? They definitely darken over time.
I'll try to check one out. Thanks for the tip. Is hers light grey, green or black?
She has the light grey. To clarify my color comment, the darkening is not similar to the darkening of soapstone, definitely more subtle.
Hey TxGal, what kind of sink has she used? undermount? slate sink?
TIA.
Undermount stainless (Blanco)
How is the ice machine working?
oh, its great! I had it temporarily installed but it is really for my Mom. I found someone who was selling it at a crazy-low price so I am bringing it to her for Thanksgiving. :)
If you want inspiration, you should see TXGals's kitchen. Have a paper towel handy to catch the drool."Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"Willy Nelson and Toby Keith
Are there pictures of TXgal's kitchen somewhere? I would love to see it. :)
You would have to do alot of digging, but she wasn't happy with her shots, but if you find them...hey, not my fault.
:-) "Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"Willy Nelson and Toby Keith
What a nice daughter!
I have some not so great pictures that were posted at one time. When I can get my hands on a digital camera, I'll take some more and post them. Fledge is very generous with her praise and I am flattered by her compliments.
Because of the heat here, I decided to go with a cool colored kitchen. I've had a warm colored kitchen before and, it's probably partly psychological, but it just made me feel too hot to be in the kitchen. White cabinets, stainless appliances, stainless backsplash, blue/grey granite, pale grey paint and a huge pantry. It was fun to design.
I'm getting a stainless backsplash/ shelf with my stove. How did you do the stainless backsplash? Was it difficult or did you just have a sheet of stainless up there with mastic?
TIA!
You really gotta talk to her....it's great! I had to touch the backsplash to make sure what I was looking at."Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"Willy Nelson and Toby Keith
It is just a sheet of brushed stainless held up with mastic with a thin stainless trim on the edges where needed. The reason I like it so much is that the sheet is textured with 2" squares standing on end to look lightly quilted. Rather than looking like blocks, the lines are just lightly pressed to give the sheet a tiny bit of relief.
Your kitchen sounds so gorgeous. I wish I could pop on over to have a look. I love looking at people's kitchen construction choices. There is an infinite variety of options and really each person can only make a few choices! I wish I could have it all! :)
Anyway, another countertop material that I am curious about is Richlite. Does anyone know anything about it?
http://www.richlite.com/richlite/products.asp
There is a 1/2 page review of Richlite in the new Kitchens & Baths issue of Fine Homebuilding (in the Fixtures & Materials section). Not an exhaustive look at it but enough to give you an idea of what it's like.
I just did a remodel of my tiny galley kitchen. I only took one "before" photo, but I have a bunch of "after" photos. Here's what we did: changed out the hardware (replaced brass with brushed steel); painted the cabinets & walls; installed new countertops (stock laminate counters), new sink & faucet, new dishwasher & range; installed a tile backsplash. I think the backsplash is my favorite part. It really made it look finished. The tile is called "subway" tile, it's 3"x6" and set in a running bond pattern.
Here's a link to before & after photos: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/annebcorey/slideshow?.dir=/our+house&.view=t
Oh Anne, what a difference huh? I had those exact pulls in an older home...hate'd em! They would not clean either.
Nice...
"Whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses"Willy Nelson and Toby Keith
Anne, I love that green. I chose a soft green when I repainted my kitchen, but I erred on the side of too soft. I haven't learned to be bold with color. When I got my green paint on and looked at it, I thought, "Eww... labor and delivery!" But it's grown on me and I now enjoy it as a serene influence on my otherwise very uptight personality.
But if I'd picked the green you picked, WOW!
And the tile is good. Very very good.
Anne this is beautiful! What a lovely make-over! Thanks for sharing your photos. It is nice to be reminded that there is an end in sight! Clearly all your hard work has paid off.
I just adore subway tile and am thinking of using it in our kitchen or someday down the line in our bathroom. It is a beautiful modern and old style with clean interesting lines. I love the choices that you made. I know that you just love being in your new room!
Thanks for the note about Richlite. I now have the magazine and am meeting with a dealer tomorrow. I am hoping that it will be the right solution for me.