You really can't go wrong...Either are so pretty. If you think the walnut might be too dark with the soapstone, go with cherry. Otherwise, I'd choose walnut for the beauty and hardness.

The Boos walnut is very dark while the cherry is redder.

Were you planning on their end grain butcherblock or the 'blended' (edgegrain)? The end grain walnut is nearly black.

Here are pictures showing Boos blended walnut on our countertop and one of their edge grain butcherblocks sitting on top of it:

By the way, call Norbert in the Boos Outlet Center to get your best price. He can get you any size that you need and he is wonderful to work with.

Sandy