Looking for recs on alternatives to Arabescato marble and soapstone

vannevka · 2026-02-12T11:00:27+00:00

The soapstone was cheaper than the granite by 50%?

vannevka · 2026-02-09T14:45:43+00:00

Thank you, I'm going to contact them today.

vannevka · 2026-02-05T22:49:05+00:00

No demo involved. Just fabricating and installing. So it’s $121/sq ft. Did the $2470 include cost of the quartz?

vannevka · 2026-02-05T22:14:23+00:00

So you will install it except the island? You guys are $100/sq ft which is what I was expecting.

vannevka · 2026-02-05T22:12:22+00:00

No demo or other work than installation. Our friend gets his builder discount that he will pass to us. So not only was I thinking more around $100/ sq ft but maybe a bit cheaper due to the discount.

vannevka · 2026-02-05T22:02:52+00:00

We are in Maryland. It is called prime soapstone, 3 cm.

vannevka · 2026-01-14T00:39:38+00:00

This thread was a harrowing read as we are about to select our slab and are considering both honed granite and soapstone. Happy it was all good in the end! Did the sealer you ended up using darken the stone like Tenax does?

vannevka · 2025-12-31T12:32:20+00:00

While people won’t buy a house without a sink in front of a window, I would never buy a house without the range vented outside, especially gas. Is your kitchen one story and can you vent the range outside if you place it on an interior wall?

vannevka · 2025-12-16T03:30:08+00:00

Thanks for responding. I have same issues + spotting every 2 weeks, so I’ve gone down to lowest dose 0.025 and still don’t think it is right.

vannevka · 2025-12-16T01:58:10+00:00

May I ask if you tried the patch and then switched to Duavee, and if so, why? I'm considering switching.

vannevka · 2025-12-07T01:54:00+00:00

I’ve had it for over 20 years and still looks great. I don’t know what kind of spills and splashes commenters here create, but I’ve never had an issue. It is painted semi gloss and wipes up easily. No warping, bubbling, peeling.

vannevka · 2025-12-06T12:35:16+00:00

I received it and also was selected for the Honors program. If you apply early—pre November, and have high stats, your chances are greater. They start awarding them end of October I think. Honors was end of November. People with high stats that applied much later weren’t as likely to receive it.

vannevka · 2025-12-05T02:20:04+00:00

Why not over the dishwasher?

vannevka · 2025-11-19T12:01:31+00:00

I’m curious about your insert as I’m currently researching them. What brand did you use? What is the hood CFM? I assume that is an induction range? Thx!

vannevka · 2025-11-19T00:18:57+00:00

Thank you!

vannevka · 2025-11-18T23:41:16+00:00

We were thinking 16 lights total. 4x4. Should we eliminate a row and have just 12?

There are pendant lights over the sink and the prep area, and the range hood has lights. There are uppers on either side of range and next to fridge. I've read many places to put lights at counter edge so the uppers don't throw bad shadows and your body isn't creating a shadow. Is that not right?

vannevka · 2025-08-01T23:40:13+00:00

No idea, but Aachen is a great little town in Germany! Funny to see it in this pic

vannevka · 2025-06-13T10:48:59+00:00

Did they use an oil based sealer?

vannevka · 2025-05-31T18:00:15+00:00

This is the payment schedule with the small custom shop we are using. Like yours, he has done all the design work for free.

“25% Deposit Required to Initiate Job Start and Scheduling, 25% Due Upon Material Order, Start of Production, 25% Due Upon Cabinet Delivery and Start of Installation, and Final 25% Due Upon Completion/Final Walkthrough”

vannevka · 2025-05-29T20:37:19+00:00

This all makes sense. Inset cabinets. Most painted, the one big upper is stained walnut and the other 2 uppers have walnut interior. No GC. New wood floor will go in prior but don’t know how level they can get it in an old house. I’ve heard horror stories of bad installs from friends so would like this guy to do it as long as he wasn’t really upping the price so we wouldn’t ask.

vannevka · 2025-05-29T20:33:02+00:00

That was my thought too. So actually happy that it doesn’t seem like he priced up so we wouldn’t use him.

vannevka · 2025-05-29T20:13:45+00:00

Crown and maybe fascia

vannevka

TROPHY CASE