The first order of business is to stow away those appliance that you don’t use on a daily basis. The ones that come to mind include the bread maker, crock-pot, rice maker, espresso machine, and yes the George Forman grill. You know the culprits.

Now that your space is cleared here are a few decorating ideas to get you started:

• Candles always add warmth and coziness to any space. Purchase a pair of inexpensive glass hurricane lamps, add a candle, and surround it with materials that reflect the season. Cranberries, lentils, beans, sand, and coffee beans all look natural and beautiful.
• Keep your dish soap in a soap dispenser or pretty glass bottle.
• If you use bar soap next to your sink, take a small shallow dish, fill it with small pebbles or glass stones (from the craft store) to create a unique soap dish.
• A small bouquet of fresh flowers will bring the outside inside. Also consider a few pots of herbs near the window.
• A mini table-scape on the serving tray can be practical as well as decorative. Try two coffee cups, a sugar bowl, decorative napkins, and spoons. For wine lovers, a few wine glasses and a bottle of wine can do the trick. Don’t forget our Soapstone Wine Cooler. The tray can be easily moved as needed.
• A bowl or basket of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables such as apple, squash, oranges, peppers, lemons and limes can add a splash of color especially to corner spaces.

When you are all done, sit back and enjoy your new soapstone kitchen countertop.

1. Vacuum the countertop to remove any dust or dirt.
2. Clean the countertop with a clean cloth and denatured alcohol.
3. Once the alcohol dries apply mineral oil to the countertop with a soft cloth. Avoid making puddles of oil.
4. Wipe off any access with paper towel.
5. Continue to apply the oil twice a week until the desired patina and color is acquired.
6. Follow-up with an application every one to three months to maintain the desired effect.

M. Teixeira Soapstone has available for online purchase a lighter grade of mineral oil perfect for maintaining a soapstone countertop. You’ll find this oil much easier to apply than the standard drugstore mineral oil. Visit our online store where you can purchase Soapstone mineral oil.

Soapstone is a metamorphic rock. There are two different materials popularly called soapstone. The first being Talc, the softest mineral on earth, mostly used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, refractory materials, sculptures, and everyday items such as toothpaste, baby powder and even chewing gum. What we manufacture at M. Teixeira Soapstone is an alternate material known as steatite.

The rock steatite (also called soapstone) is the material we use for our countertops, sinks, masonry heaters, flooring, and many other architectural applications. Steatite was also used to “coat” the famous “Christ the Redeemer” statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Steatite is composed of several minerals, but the most abundant is talc. Steatite, because of its additives, is harder than talc, and hence suitable for the applications cited above. Soapstone (steatite) in its initial state only comes in shades of gray, unlike talc, which is available in a variety of colors.

This naturally quarried stone is softer than most other naturally occurring minerals. Although soft, soapstone is a very dense (non-porous) stone; more so than marble, slate, limestone and even granite. Since soapstone is impenetrable, it will not stain, no liquid will permeate its surface. Other stones, including granite, have a propensity to soil; this is why soapstone (steatite) is widely used in chemistry lab countertops and acid rooms.

Soapstone is used for sculpture, tile, and kitchen countertops, sinks, wall tile and even for woodstoves and fireplaces.