The $1,800 Way to Get $3,000 Soapstone Counters
Of all the dreamy, natural countertop materials, soapstone holds a special place in our heart. Something about it just oozes character and good taste. The only problem? It’s pricey—and it takes a lot of work to keep it looking fabulous. Which is why we’re very excited about this hack our designer friend Jana Bek clued us in on. Say hello to honed granite, a look-for-less solution that has the added benefit of easier upkeep.
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WHAT’S ‘HONED GRANITE’?
As the name suggests, it’s literally just good ol’ granite. Except instead of having the shiny, glossy finish we associate with the stone, it’s treated to an aggressive wet sanding with abrasive pads. The end result? A matte, velvety finish that enhances the natural stone grain. In other words, a soapstone look at a fraction of the cost.
WHAT’LL IT RUN ME?
By our calculations, it’ll save you roughly $20/square foot if you choose honed granite versus soapstone. (Granite runs $50 to $100/square foot versus soapstone at $70 to $120). But the real home run is if you already have granite counters—and you want to budget-flip 'em. In that case, you can have your existing counters honed on-site by a professional, no demo necessary, and at about half the cost of installing new soapstone. ($1,800 versus $3,00 for our girl Jana.) Pretty neat, huh?
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