The one on the left is an aeschynanthus and the one on the right is a nematanthus. Really the term "lipstick plant" should only refer to the types of aeschynanthus (lobbianus, pulcher, 'Pullobia', radicans etc.) that have those longish tubular waxy calyxes, from which the corollas emerge, like a lipstick. The one you have has a very small calyx so I just call them aeschynanthus. Nematanthus are getting stuck with "lipstick" now that EA is marketing plants galore, with bad names ad naseum. Oh well, whatch gonna do? They both are fairly high light plants that like to be kept evenly moist. Both are epiphytes and both like intermediate conditions. Nematanthus grow outdoors here, as they take temperatures down to about 32 or less in winter (for short periods of time over night). Most aeschynanthus are much more tender. Jon

Avon Twig - pinkish brown looks totally natural on any skin tone. "Looks natural except better." My favorite for everyday running around. Clinique lipsticks are are rather sheer so there is a broader range of colors that can work for a natural look. For long lasting lipcolor in a natural tone, that you do not have to keep reapplying: Revlon Colorstay - Fawn is natural looking but has undertones of orange in the brown, and Flesh has undertones of pink. I change then seaonally depending whether or not I am tan. Burt's Bees has a line of lipstick that all look pretty much natural, depending on how heavy you apply them. They only have a choice of like eight colors and are designed to go with any skin tone. For some reason I cannot find them anywhere anymore in the stores.

I would go with a classic white subway tile. It will never go out of style and always look classy. As for the cabinets, although I do like white kitchens I'm starting to see lots of beautiful kitchens with medium stain cabinets like yours. Have you seen the kitchen by Minnesota designer Todd Hansen in the Jan/Feb 210 Better Homes and Gardens magazine "Kitchen and Bath Ideas"? It is my current dream kitchen. It has white/cream cabinets for uppers and a light/medium wood (similar to your oak) on the bottoms. A few ideas: 1.) leave the bottom cabinets as is but paint the upper cabinets a white/cream color 2.) don't paint any cabinets but put a few glass panel/glass doors on your uppers. Either solution will solve the problem that you don't like all the graining on the oak cabinets. Most people in your kitchen looking at the cabinets are going to notice the uppers more than the lower cabinets. If you change out the uppers you will create the look you want. No matter what, I agree with the other posters that you should wait and see how you feel when your island is painted and your new counters are installed. Be sure to show us the pictures. It is going to look great. You have a very nice space to work with.

als6w, How exciting. I think both looks are beautiful. But if I were doing my own kitchen I might go with a lighter counter. I like light creams in the kitchen. Although dark does evoke a feeling of elegance for me. Here are some inspiration pics that I have hung on to despite not going with cherry. Maybe they can help. Cherry is lovely. ~boxerpups