Countertops
Subway tile. This classic choice is especially appropriate in homes built in the first few decades of the 1900s, as that was subway tile’s first heyday. In particular, subway is a great match for soapstone in Victorian-era, Arts and Crafts and Craftsman homes, but it’s certainly not limited to those.
Reclaimed wood. The rustic look of reclaimed wood has never been more popular. Its rough-hewn, aged appearance is a wonderful match for soapstone. Another thing that makes this kitchen so pleasing is the limited palette and all of the white. This allows the textures of both the soapstone and the reclaimed wood to get the attention they deserve.
Paneling. The paneling appears throughout this small Laguna Beach cottage, for a vintage look that creates continuity in the home. As in the previous photo, the kitchen has a low coordinating soapstone backsplash but the paneling dominates most of the area. One exception is the range backsplash, which extends a large piece of soapstone up the wall.
So you’ve decided you want soapstone counters, but you have no idea what kind of backsplash to pair with them. Well, you’ve made a great choice — people have been using soapstone for thousands of years, but its most ringing endorsement came from Julia Child. Because of its heat resistance, you can stick a hot pot right on it. And you don’t have to worry about those red wine rings that stain other materials. Soapstone often has a greenish-gray cast, or goes into darker grays to practically black, with beautiful whitish veins.
This mix includes stone tile with metal tile accents. The kitchen has a more transitional look with industrial elements thrown in.
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