Countertops

For our kitchen counters we decided to use soapstone, from Canyon Soapstone.  We chose soapstone for a number of reasons, the foremost being the health factor.  Because soapstone is non-porous, it is very sanitary (germs cannot sink into the stone).  It is also finished with a beeswax concoction that is non-toxic and all natural.  Beyond that I really like the fact that it is inert (does not react to alkaline or acid) and that I can maintain it myself.

Soapstone can be left un-waxed.  The photo above shows the counter after a month of no wax application.  The colour variations and veining in the stone is much more visible, and it is very matte... almost "powdery" looking.  The wax is for aesthetics only, the stone does not need protection.  As the wax slowly wears off the stone lightens, and over time the stone will naturally develop a dark patina and regardless of waxing.

applying the wax is just a simple rub on then buff with a rag

this is a good shot of how much the stone darkens when waxed

And there is the counter after waxing!  Dark, with a soft sheen.  An upside for me to periodically wax my counters is that it forces me to move everything off and reorganize (and I do so love a chance to reorganize!)

The final reason we chose the soapstone is that we were able to use leftover slab pieces from other jobs.  It made me feel a little better that a slab wasn't brought from South America just for us.  Almost all stone slabs are imported from distant parts of the globe, and so the carbon footprint is high.  There are a few stone options that are available closer to home (I posted about them here), but they did not have the health advantages of soapstone.  Because we wanted to use leftover pieces of stones, we chose two different varieties of stone.. one called "Beleza" for the kitchen, and "Julia" for the bathroom.

The "Julia" stone is much lighter in look and has an overall spotty appearance.  It does not retain the wax very long (I believe that is because it is a very hard soapstone), so I have been leaving it unwaxed.  It is absolutely gorgeous, but does show water rings and drips that sit on the surface.  All it takes is a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth to clean it right up.  

I believe there are two schools of thought on home finishes... those who want materials that "hide" the dirt, and those that don't mind it showing.  I suppose I fall into the second category, although let's be clear that it doesn't mean that the dirt doesn't bother me.  I look at it this way.. if I can't see the dirt, then I don't know that it needs cleaned.. which means we are using it dirty (ick).  So I would rather see the dirt, and clean it more often!

Our third and final countertop material is maple butcher block for the islands.  Once again, it requires frequent oiling (this time with mineral oil).  It's a darn good thing I don't mind oiling things.  I actually find it satisfying to renew a surface with oil.  A fresh start of sorts.

The butcher block is made with a non-toxic glue so it is food safe, but I don't actually use the surface for much prep.  It is nice to have the option of wood for rolling pastry dough, and soapstone for prepping a chicken.  The wood will stain, and that's OK with me.  I like patina... when did we get so worried about our home showing evidence of how we live?  I enjoy leaving my mark, and giving over the stress of "damaging" surfaces which are supposed to look perfect.  That said, I still can't bring myself to chop directly on the counters.  Maybe I'll get there one day, and maybe I won't.. at least I have the choice!

bathroom cabinets

In taking the photos of the bathroom cabinets, I was reminded how small our bathroom is!  We'll have to make do here with shots of bits and pieces.

The cabinets are the same as the kitchen, with a fun upper cabinet between the sinks.  I love the little cubbies, and as this is our only bathroom it allows us to keep things close at hand while still looking tidy.

At the last minute we decided to add the plywood panels behind the mirrors.  The idea initially came about because one of the lights had to be moved slightly, and we were going to need to have the drywall patched.  I think this is a much more interesting solution, and I love how it ties the mirrors and lights into what looks like one big unit.

Although the bathroom is small, we have lots of storage thanks to the addition of a shelf and a pull-out drawer under each sink.  We had 4 drawers put down the center so we would have one each should the need arise.

cabinets by SuCasa Cabinets

The toe kick is recessed quite far back so that the cabinet appears to be floating.  It's always amazing to me how a little detail like that can make a small space feel larger.  

The counters and back splash are "Julia" soapstone through Canyon Soapstone.  This was a part slab left over from another installation.  We chose the toilet and two rectangular under mount sinks by TOTO, and the faucets are my Moen.  I spent a lot of time searching for plumbing fixtures made in North America, and didn't have any luck.  I decided on TOTO because as a company they have some good green initiatives, and their toilet quality is reputedly very high.  I chose the Moen taps for their water efficiency.