Backsplash & cabinet colors to pair with soapstone

Fireplace Surrounds with Soapstone

Craftsman Living Room by Kenmore Tile, Stone & Countertops Michael Homchick Stoneworks

Traditional Family Room by Dallas Home Builders Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC

Contemporary Living Room by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers jones | haydu

Contemporary Living Room by Edina Design-Build Firms Great Neighborhood Homes

Traditional Living Room

Contemporary Family Room by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators KSID Studio, LLC

Contemporary Family Room by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers jones | haydu

Traditional Living Room

Contemporary Living Room by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers jones | haydu

Farmhouse Living Room by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers Nick Noyes Architecture

Craftsman Living Room by Portland Tile, Stone & Countertops Conrad Stonecutter

Traditional Living Room by Sausalito Architects & Building Designers Heydt Designs

Eclectic Living Room by Portland Interior Designers & Decorators Julie Nolta Design

Beach Style Living Room by Boston Architects & Building Designers Patrick Ahearn Architect

Contemporary Family Room by Ardmore General Contractors Pinemar, Inc

Traditional Living Room by Perkinsville Kitchen & Bath Remodelers Vermont Soapstone Co

Living Room by Denver Fireplaces Green Stone Heat

Traditional Living Room by Grand Rapids Interior Designers & Decorators Francesca Owings Interior Design

Eclectic Living Room by Prescott Interior Designers & Decorators Bella Home Furnishings

Traditional Family Room by Dallas Home Builders Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC

Farmhouse Dining Room by Annapolis Architects & Building Designers Hansen Architects

Transitional Living Room by Los Angeles Interior Designers & Decorators maison21

Transitional Living Room by Los Angeles Artists & Artisans Blue Tangerine Art

Spelling makes ALL the difference!

Correct spelling of the famous Calacutta

Short Answer: Calacatta

Longer Answer:  It’s most properly called Calacatta Marble, with two “t’s”

It’s easy for homeowners to get confused about the naming of some types of marble that are commonly used in kitchen countertops/vanities. And part of the reason homeowners get confused is that many kitchen designers, decorators, and even granite fabricators are confused by the spelling and pronunciation.

And to make things even more confusing, Calacatta Marble also comes from the region of Italy known as Carrara – the same place that Carrara Marble comes from!

So since it seems to have so many names and spellings, which is correct?

Strictly speaking names like “Calacata” are just common misspellings for Calacatta, but are so pervasive that they persist within the building products industry. And sometimes they’re perpetuated even by those who know better, just for the sake of being understood. And we’re guilty of that ourselves sometimes.

The name “Calcutta” marble stems from both misspelling, and confusion with famous marble structures in India; Like the Taj Mahal or the MarblePalace at Kolkata. And it doesn’t help that Kolkata sounds a lot like Calacatta! And while there is plenty of stone, marble, and granite quarried in India. Calacatta Marble by definition comes exclusively from Italy. “Calacutta” is just a misspelling of “Calcutta” but neither is correct when referring to Calacatta Marble. 

Spelling can mean two different things! When you’re referencing ‪#‎marble‬, make sure you spell it correct; which is = ‪#‎Calacatta‬. If you spell it like this = ‪#‎Calcutta‬, your referring to a city in India!

Is it Carrara or Carrera?

You’d be surprised to see how often people misspelled this gorgeous stone! We hate to admit it, but its a bit of a pet peeve of ours. So we’re here to straighten out the confusion. The spelling and pronunciation is often confused. The photo pretty much tells it all

CARRARA = MARBLE (Named after the town/quarry the marble comes from in Italy)

CARRERA = Porsche Model

Soapstone Maintenance

The only maintenance required for soapstone (steatite) is the application of mineral oil to enhance the natural darkening process the stone goes through. Once mineral oil is applied, the stone will turn into a very dark charcoal gray, sometimes black. Often times, varieties of soapstone will keep a hint of green. Steatite (soapstone or soaprock) is virtually heat proof and used in the construction of masonry heaters because of its excellent thermal qualities. It is also used in creating pizza stones, cooking pots, oven interiors and numerous related applications. You can take a pot right from your stove and place it on your soapstone countertops without harm.

Oiling a Soapstone Countertop

We recommend oiling your countertops to ensure that the stone will evenly darken. The oil is not sealing or protecting the stone, it is only "speeding up" the natural darkening process that steatite (soapstone) goes through. Soapstone is non-porous and, unlike marble and granite, does not need to be sealed.

There isn't a set rule of how often you should oil the countertops. Oiling too little or too much will not damage the stone in any way. We recommend oiling the countertops as soon as the previous coat of mineral oil has started fading away (evaporating). Once you oil the countertops for the first time you will see the stone will become much darker. A few days from the first oiling, most soapstone will lighten back up. You can re-treat your countertops every time this happens. The soapstone will take approximately 3 coats of mineral oil to reach its final color, getting darker after every oiling. Every time you oil your countertops, the stone will hold the oil longer than the last time, until about the 6th or 8th month the stone will stay permanently dark.

You can oil the countertops any way you like. You can spread some oil on the counters, then rub it with a rag, or you can put the oil on the rag and oil the counters. To make the next oiling easier, keep the same rag in a zip lock bag, you will see that the rag will soak in the oil and spread easier on the countertops.

Immediately after you've oiled the soapstone, you can remove all the excess, until the countertops no longer feel slick. There is no such thing as "let the oil soak in". Remember, soapstone is impermeable, nothing penetrates the surface.

Cleaning a Soapstone Countertop

Any common household cleaner can be used to clean soapstone counter surfaces. Chemicals and acids do not harm it. However, we do recommend that you use regular soap and water because harsher solvents may remove the mineral oil treatment, therefore generating more maintenance. Soapstone, being softer than granite and marble, is also more prone to scratches. The great advantage is that any scratches can be easily removed with a light sanding and/or mineral oil.

Removing Scratches

Eventually the countertops will get scratched. Most scratches can be hidden by lightly applying some mineral oil. If you get a deep scratch in there, you will need to do some sanding. With a small piece of 120-grit sandpaper, sand the scratch area in a circular motion until the scratch is almost gone, then using a 220-grit sandpaper do the same thing but this time using water. Clean up the countertop and oil in that section again. Sanding will remove the mineral oil, and remember that the stone will take 3 coats to reach the final color. You may notice a slight color difference on that spot. Do not worry, you can oil in the morning, then again in the afternoon and so on until the color evens out.

© Crocodile Rocks Inc.

Ornate Travertine fireplace

This Fireplace mantle was fabricated from a few 3cm Noce Travertine slabs. It has an ornate scroll on the face of the mantle and the legs & base are somewhat simple, so it won’t take an attention away from the beautiful pattern on the top.

Just received a NEW shipment of Very black soapstone!

NEW CONTAINER OF BRAND NEW SLABS, ARE IN!

Not oiled (raw)

Watered down