Soapstone Sealing in the Kitchen

Wednesday, March 11, 2015


Having a farmhouse style kitchen was just a dream for a long time
and these past few months since it's been finished we have sure been enjoying our new space!

Early on I knew my choice for countertops would be marble and soapstone, but I can't tell you how many times I was told not to do it.  While visiting showrooms for fixtures and other items for the kitchen, suppliers and salespeople would time and time again discourage me from using these materials for countertops.  It happened so often that it really started getting on my nerves.

Through all the persuasion I am so glad that I stuck to my guns!
  
marble and soapstone kitchen





I think soapstone is beautiful.

Having finished the kitchen just before Thanksgiving and with all the parties and Christmas close behind, things got so busy around here that I never got around to sealing it.

I liked it so much as it was that I even began wondering if I should seal it at all?

sealing soapstone before and after



That all changed at Christmas when we got a couple of wood cutting boards as presents.
They needed to be sealed and once I started on those, shared hereI decided to go ahead and seal the soapstone countertops too.  I did a lot of online searching about which product to use and decided on this one by the Real Milkpaint Company.


real milkpaint company




I worked in sections starting with the center of the countertop just behind the sink area.
I began applying the sealer with a dry cloth and then continued moving to the left.

real milkpaint company




Here is an area at the front window before any sealer was applied.

soapstone



Here is the same area after one coat was applied,
left for about 30 minutes,
and then buffed off with a clean dry cloth.
Notice the difference?

soapstone sealed with real milkpaint company sealer




This area is between the rangetop and the fridge,
the left is natural and I added the first coat of sealer on the right side.
This is pretty much the way it will look after a couple of coats of sealer are applied and buffed off.

soapstone before and after sealing



Unsealed soapstone has a smokey, matte finish, and the veining blends in.

After two coats of the sealer the countertops have a dark appearance, a silky luster, and the veining is more defined.  It's a bright day so a little hard to tell in these next pictures.


soapstone farmhouse style



soapstone farmhouse style




farmhouse soapstone



soapstone



Sealed or not, I'm loving the soapstone and I am so glad I stuck with my decision!

soapstone before and after sealing



Ta-da...all done!
Everything was taken out to do the sealing, now I have to move everything back in.

elegant marble kitchen

I've been asked a lot of questions about renovating the kitchen
and the one thing I find myself saying over and over is:

When making big decisions, if you have your heart set on something, a certain look in mind, don't let anyone persuade you otherwise whether the design or materials.  The last thing you want to say when all is said and done is, "I wish I _____."


Can you relate?


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20 comments:

  1. Stunning!!!!!
    Ramon
    Rowhouseblog.com

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  2. I love soapstone counters! although I don't have any in my kitchen I sure admire yours!! So glad you found an easy product to use to seal them up. :)

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  3. Very, very pretty and how wise of you to stick to your guns! My daughter and her husband just purchased a cottage home and put in soapstone counter tops-I will pass this great information on to her.
    Thanks for the great tip.
    Jemma

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  4. So pretty and good for you for holding your course and getting what you wanted! It's lovely. Jane

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  5. You are so right about picking what you want, not what others think you should have. Your kitchen is wonderful. I'm sorry to admit I say "I wish I..." almost every day. We bought a spec house with lots and lots of lovely granite, but I wanted soapstone and marble, 'nuf said.

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  6. YouR kitchen and counters are just beautiful! Sheila

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  7. Absolutely gorgeous. Such a stunning kitchen. I would love for you to link this up to my Winter Blues Wednesday link party going on right now. Hope to see you there. http://diybydesign.blogspot.com

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  8. Yes, this is the good choice. Look great after finishing.

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  9. So why do you think you were getting so many naysayers? I think it is lovely!

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    Replies
    1. About your naysayer question...
      There are pros and cons to most every countertop option; sealing, etching, cost, there are so many factors to consider. Some folks will persuade to an option based on their true concerns of one or due to their increased profit margin on another. After much research, I knew what I wanted and the look I was going for. There was much interjection and opinion given about changing to other options but am so glad I held fast to my choices.

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  10. Your kitchen is stunning, Cindy!!!
    I am sitting here reading this and smiling ---- I wish I had used SOAPSTONE!
    My friend renovated her kitchen about 8 years ago and had used it on her island.
    (I FELL IN LOVE with it. She did not seal it -- but I like it both ways!)

    It was in my plan and OVER and OVER people told me DON'T do it.
    I caved in and listened. I am so sorry I did. Drooling here as I am looking at
    YOUR stunning room. Those glass door details and simply perfect!

    You must be so thrilled to sit in that lovely room.Good for you for sticking to your guns!
    Great advice -- I agree. No regrets.
    :)

    xoxox
    Alison

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  11. Beautiful kitchen. Love that you got exactly what you wanted.

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  12. I can definitely relate to wishing I had stuck to my guns. I let my hubby persuade me to change our plans for the flooring we originally wanted. We have both regretted it ever since!

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  13. Totally gorgeous! Everything is perfect....and I am sure a joy each day! good advice. I was talked out of a farmhouse sink....often wish I had gotten one....
    Would the sealer work on limestone?? I chose that for our bathroom....no one talked me out of that choice....I love it, but it is time to seal it ....again...wondering if your sealer would be better than the "stinky" one from Home Depot....
    Nancy
    wildoakdesigns@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. The label says for use on soapstone and raw wood such as cutting boards. Hope you can find something!

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  14. I just stumbled upon your blog and LOVE it! Your kitchen is gorgeous!!! We just finished ours and installed a farmhouse sink but chose quartzite for the countertop instead. Soapstone is so beautiful but too high maintenance for us.

    xo,
    Janise
    www.MamaInHeels.com

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  15. OH, I so agree about doing what you really want to and I really am in our new home. Some things I've wanted the direction of my decorator but she is so very thoughtful of my desires and we are working so well together and I do believe I'm going to be more than a little happy when we "finally" get through. I'm using granite and marble in my kitchen. Always enjoy stopping by.

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  16. So beautiful, Cindy. When we were redoing our kitchen I also wanted marble for the counters but was talked out of it and went with quartz that has the appearance of marble. I have to say that I really am not sorry about that decision as it is so easy to take care of and with not any extra precautions and after 2 years it still looks brand new, so for me it was a wise decision but, with that being said, your marble is so beautiful and I still do admire it..Happy Thursday..Judy

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