The architect has been paid already as well, although he we still have a small amount of unused credit with him. It didn't even occur to us to go to the architect with the ferro because it seems more like a matter for engineering.

As advised, you can stain it first and paint it later if you do not like it, but a stained door will give a much richer appearance and be easier to maintain. Painted doors look cheaper because they ARE cheaper, as nhb22 said. Since you are doing three panel craftsmen style doors, a stained finish is more traditional and will be visually more interesting. In the 1950s, many plain flat interior doors were constructed with beautiful veneers and then stained, but a cheap flat door would look better painted. Paint is used to hide ugly wood - stain is used to enhance beautiful wood.

I tried blowing up that picture to look at the detail on the lighter cabinets. Are they the same door style? If so, I'd strip them and then work to match the stain. You can take them down and test on the backs and sides that won't be seen. Nop new cabinets -- just refinishing a few of them. Then do what you like on the island -- a cream or white would be good. If you do it later, get butcherblock, marble, or a different granite (the hardest one -- trying to find two complimentary granites). Make the island cabinet and the countertop completely different, treating them like a furniture piece or in fact buying a furniture piece island. If they aren't the same door style, I think the separate thread dedicated to matching the door is a good idea. That doesn't look like it should be too hard to match. You might find them ready made or have a cabinet maker custom make them for you. You might find the doors are a style you can order and have stained to match. it may take some legwork, but it would be worth it. Keep in mind that the new cabinets would be in a separate section, not butting up to the old oness. Seeing the photo, I take back much of what I said. I stared at the photos and tried to come up with some idea for salvaging or rebirthing those cabinets -- even in a different color and with crown added, I couldn't some up with an image I was happy with. If you need to try to work with them, I would start by removing the cabinet to the right of the stove and the corner to have the cream cabinets on the window wall only. Add a crown or other trim to make them look more different -- like it was intentional, not a mistake. Use some open shelving to the right of the stove if you need it. Another option -- see if any of your neighbors want to swap cabinets so you can both get matching uppers. LOL Good luck.

The rental is being remodeled and it's going to have oak colored cabinets and beigeish porcelain tile for flooring, and a new laminate countertop. I need something that works with the kitchen elements and the tenants furnishings. Since you don't know what the tenant's furnishings will look like, all you can do is create a cohesive envelope of a space for their stuff. Hopefully, the floor, counter top and cabinet colors harmonize. Next step is to use the floor to inform the wall color. In other words, you're going to find the wall color in the colorway of the floor. Beige or gray or whatever - you have to pull the wall color from the floor.