Thanks for the reply. We decided to go with satin finish. (Stain color will be rosewood). We will use Duraseal for both stain and finish. My question is, should we apply 3 coating of finish or 2 coatings? My contractor suggests 2 coatings. He said 3 coatings will be too thick, and easy to be scratched. Please help, we are starting on Monday. Thanks.

Gah. So I emailed this question to our cabinetmaker earlier today to see how he thought the satin finish would weather. Turns out the sample doors he gave us *are* in Aura satin! So...yah. Satin it is, since I don't want to go down to eggshell, and I *definitely* don't want anything glossier than that! We'll see! Thanks for the feedback. :)

Definitely NOT semigloss! Satin would be fine but it is still rather glossy...I don't use satin on the walls anywhere in my home, I hate shiny walls. If it were me, I'd use Eggshell on the walls...just a hint of shine. I use Benjamin Moore Aura in Eggshell finish on all of my walls and it wipes up nicely behind the range.

Ok, you do say you're a "newbie"! Yes, you are! The finish is "eggshell", not "eggplant". Oh well, as least you're willing to learn! Will you be painting all these things yourself, or just want to understand what your painter will be doing? Different brands will use the same name - i.e., satin, but it will still vary as to the amount of shine. Flat has zero shine, hides imperfections the best (usually recommended for ceilings). Hard to clean and can be hard to touch up without it showing. Matte finish is next. Again, varies from brand to brand, and between the lines of the same brand. Example: Benjamin Moore Aura flat has less "shine" vs. Benjamin Moore Scuff X (from their Ultra Spec line). The TDS sheet will give you a closer idea - it will be listed as "3 degrees at a 60 degree angle/ 5 degrees at an 80 degree angle). Scuff X matte is somewhat higher, but not noticeable to most people. Satin is next. It can range from 20 degrees to 35 degrees (+/-). Then Semi-gloss, then gloss, and some paints have a HIGH gloss. The higher the gloss, the more imperfections in the surface or the paint itself will show. Personally, I prefer eggshell for my walls, and satin for my trim. I lean towards all Benjamin Moore products for walls. Recently used the Scuff X in matte on my walls and the Scuff X Satin for doors and trim. It's leaves a very nice finish. Not familiar with any paint lines from the big box stores, and have never used Sherwin Williams.