[BarbaraK]

I just did a search at the THS kitchen forum and came up with a thread that mentions Susan's breakfast room counter. Help, Susan!!! Where'd ya get it?? How did it compare cost-wise to other options you considered? How large a tile is it? I've been googling and pouring through threads and can't seem to get anywhere (my kids are on a sleepover so I have some time...)

Thanks for any help, Susan, or anyone! I've seen your pix of your lovey breakfast room, but somehow didn't remember it being ss tile.

Also, if anyone knows about where to find slate tiles appropriate for countertop use.

Thanks again
bk

[GardenOfDarwin]

Barbara --

I need to set up an official link to the soapstone tile page I made. Here are the pictures of the process, and from that page, you can get to the page with my essay on how we did it.

We bought our tiles from Vermont Soapstone -- they are 16"x16"x1/2". I think the price was something like $21.10 a piece, plus crating and shipping. All told, it was about $300. I think when I priced out getting slabs and having them install it (if they even would, which they wouldn't have given our distance from them) it would have been over $2000. We spent just over $550, if my memory serves.

Feel free to ask any questions, if you have them.

Susan

[BarbaraK]

Thanks, Susan! Did I miss the pictures? Or are you going to attach?

Also, at their website, they only list 12 x 12 tiles. Were the 16" ones a special order, or do you think perhaps they discontinued the 16's? Thanks for the info - they're not answering phones on the weekend. (Hmmmmph. Someone out actually enjoying this beautiful day and not working????)

[GardenOfDarwin]

Duh, I forgot the link. Sorry about that! Here's the one with the pictures -- scroll down halfway to get the link to the essay: http://www.ikeafans.com/DIYSoapstone...stallation.htm You can also see more pictures of the finished (well, almost finished) room at: http://www.ikeafans.com/our_breakfast_room.htm

It's been nearly a year and a half since we got our tiles, so I suppose it's possible that they discontinued the larger tiles. Too bad since we were planning on doing it again when we get to our main kitchen remodel. I think it's on the permanent "one of these days" list. **Sigh**



Susan

[BarbaraK]

Awesome. Possibly the 12" tiles can work for us... Can't wait to look into this further.

FYI, the first link did not work, but the one on your photos page brought me to your DIY page. Thanks again!

[GardenOfDarwin]

Thanks Barbara -- I fixed the link...for some strange reason, it had an extra (invisible?) character on the end.

Anyhoo...if you want to talk more about it, feel free to send me a PM. James and I talked another person through the process - a single mom working by herself, no less! She did a fabulous job!

Susan

[BarbaraK]

Hi - Susan, I'll definitely PEM you with questions if/when we move forward on this. thanks!

Meanwhile, I thought I'd post for anyone else interested that I heard back from M. Teixeira Soapstone (http://www.soapstones.com/app_tile.html) about their tile currently on sale for $8.63 each. Those are 12 x 12" as well. Still haven't found any larger ones around. But, for our revised project ( a 4x4' Island top) the 12" squares would be perfect fit.

ciao for now,
bk

[BarbaraK]

Just to follow through and tie-up this thread, we didn't go with soapstone, or soapstone tile but chose instead LG hi-macs solid surface counters in black pearl. We were just blown away by what Susan did with her breakfast room with the soapstone tiles and really considered whether to try it ourselves. (It's truly amazing how it looks like a total slab, not tiles! They're really beautiful Susan - can't believe what a fantastic job you guys did.) When DH agreed to turn at least *one* potential DIY project over to a fabricator, I was delirious (and there was a good price on Craigslist, as well as free installation...)

So, my dream of soapstone must be put on the back burner for some future Dream Kitchen.

Now, what to do for an island countertop....