It does sound dark. How much light do you have? Even if you can add plenty of extra light it might be a good idea.

it will be a very light filled room.
the more i think about it the more i'm leaning towards a marble slab backsplash behind the range and light cloured walls--assuming i can afford a marble slab!.

Is your gustavian blue this color?
It might not be tooooo dark. And clear like mud is my mo.
~boxer

Your elements sound fantastic!
Marble, Soapstone, Gustavian Blue, Dark green base cabs,
Vulcan range, .... now what about your backsplash?

What color dark green for the base cabs? Something to
go with your soapstone?

Are you doing something urban for the backsplash or more
organic?

~boxer

Carrera Marble

Vulcan

not sure which soapstone..

I think you're okay assuming the room is truly light filled. Ensure you have good lighting as well.

Mostly wanted to say that it sounds fabulous - can't wait to see the finished product.

oh boxerpups, thanks so much! your photos make it so real to me!!
the gustavian blue is coming from a giant aloe plant in my kd's showroom.
the dark green with hints of blue and brown comes from a sample door.
it's a custom place, naturally, and the door is eucalyptis--so very fine grained. the colour is so nice, i see different coloured highlights when i tilt it to the sun.

that dark green base cab door sample
next to the grey/blue/green dusky aloe frond is so perfect, but as soon as i pick the frond, the duskiness disappears--
i'm going to have to get an artist to come to the showroom with me to get it right!

have no idea about backsplash, only that it needs to be solid behind the range, so no grout lines.
floors will be dark wood or cork planks.

the fireplace hearth will be painted light brick, with a couple of upholstered chairs in front of it. (blue toile and checks)? large rough textured wood beam for a mantel.

(i'm dying to show you all the plans, but i cannot get to it atm).

It all sounds delicious!
When you have time, no worries. I am trying to get kids to
take their showers, watch the steelers vs. jets and play
a bit on GW before I tackle cleaning the kitchen.
We all know know busy, the good news is tonight you can
sleep a bit while you think of your space.
~boxer

I think it all depends on the floor. If you have an extremely light colored floor, it will balance out all manners of dark cabinetry.

In your op you mention a stainless steel backsplash. That might be a good choice b/c is will reflect some of the light in your light filled room. Will you have undercab lighting? That would be useful when the natural light is less or in the evenings. Would that fit your vision?

a stainless backsplash behind the range is likely, though if i can find a slab of marble or soapstone i'd prefer that. the range itself has a high backsplash and shelf of stainless, but it doesn't come up as high as it needs to to provide thorough coverage.
there may not be any uppers on that wall, only a few shelves for drying pots and pans. the pot sink is to the left of the range, so over that will be the shelves we think.
to the right of the range is a 39" counter run, with a window above it, so no uppers there either.

It does sound kind of dark but the marble should balance it out a lot especially if you do the marble backsplash. What a unique, show stopper sounding kitchen!!

I don't think it will be too dark. But I have charcoal base cabinets with soapstone counters on an ebonized oak floor. But my backsplash and uppers are pale blue grey. I have a windowless kitchen area, and with the undercounter lighting on, we keep the overheads dimmed to keep it from being too bright. So, in my experience you should be ok.