image: Premier Surfaces

Maximize Your Kitchen’s Potential with Natural Stone Countertops

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 Recently we began discussing the final stages of our kitchen remodel. The first stage took place a few years ago and I honestly played out. At the time we had a 5 ½ month old baby who was suffering from his first ear infection while I tried to paint the kitchen. Did I also mention that it was the week of Thanksgiving? I remember literally sitting in the kitchen floor in tears thinking I had obviously bitten off more than I could chew because I was losing my mind.

 Phase 1 of the remodel included obviously the frantic painting but also replacing appliances, some that had been in the kitchen since the late 1970’s. Our stove was absolutely dated and was actually oversized and one of the heaviest most bulky things I have ever moved in my life. Did I mention anywhere in this so far that I am not big on having help when doing household remodeling stuff? Often I do not work well with others and I had such a vision when it came to this kitchen. It is my hub.

 I have taken several years to think about countertops and cabinets. I painted the existing cabinets to give them some new life, but here lately I have been thinking more and more about glass front cabinets to give the kitchen just what I have always dreamed; a country charm. Another dream idea is having natural stone countertops.

 I am so partial to natural stone countertops because I learned as a young child that my Great Grandfather worked in a soapstone mill. We were really blessed to have a few pieces stay in the family that he had and they are beautiful. They obviously hold up under a lot of harsh conditions and I love the look of them in any form, but especially in kitchens.

 Many people do not know what soapstone is so I thought I would share the description from Richmond Virginia Premier Surfaces.

   Soapstone is a metamorphic rock and a unique and beautiful choice for kitchen countertop surfaces. This countertop material allows for a smooth and attractive surface that you’ll enjoy. Soapstone is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich in magnesium. This countertop material is desired by many homeowners for its beautifully rich color and texture. Soapstone colors range from pale green to light gray. Soapstone is environmentally friendly, unharmed by acidic materials and heat resistant.

 I love the smooth look that is given from having soapstone countertops and obviously have done research to find out how hard it is to keep clean as some surfaces seem to be more difficult than others. I quickly found out that household cleaners can be used, but if you are like me and do not like using a lot of chemicals on your surfaces, then you can just use soap and water. Sounds great right? Some people apply mineral oil to make the counters look darker too, but that is just an added thing you can do and nowhere I have seen say this is a necessary thing.

 I always loved the smooth feel of soapstone and other natural stone products, so obviously this is a huge part of our remodeling process.

 Phase 2 is set to begin next year and we can’t wait to make our home more like our own but keep some traditional aspects around since this was my husband’s grandparents house and we love to keep their legacy alive here. I feel that they would be proud of what we are doing here and know that some of the projects are things that they never got to do before their passing.

 As we make our own family memories, these walls are filled with the memories of my husband’s childhood. What better environment to raise our boys! I also love looking at photos of this house before I moved here and of course our own before and after projects which I often cover on our social media accounts with the blog.

 Do you have any household projects that you think natural stone countertops would be great? Many people are having them installed on vanity tops for great makeup tables, of course in kitchens as I mentioned, outdoor kitchens and bathrooms. I can think of a few more projects I would like to begin, but for now we are focused on wrapping up things we have started.