The modern kitchen has gone back to the Stone Age! I’ve been blogging about new varieties of natural stones that are becoming popular for kitchen countertops. One of these materials I’m happiest about is soap stone. That’s not only because it makes such a wonderful and natural material for the kitchen, but it offers an alternative to widely used granite or marble. ost soap stone is a light solid gray or gray-green color, but some has dramatic and interesting white veining like marble, or wavy patterns similar to granite. Read more…

These days a geologist could do field work in the contemporary American kitchen. Natural stone countertops are one of the top trends in kitchen design today. Of course, granite is still popular , but now we’re seeing lesser known natural stone like soapstone and slate in the kitchen. One of my favorites is limestone. It’s a sedimentary rock composed mostly of the mineral calcite. Unlike marble, which arises from the transformation of this stone under enormous heat and pressure, limestone has little veining or swirls. Limestone kitchen counter tops present a sophisticated and understated look. Read more…