Hi jmcgowan, Can't wait to see your F&B Pointing painted cabinets. Pointing was one of our top choices -- such a beautiful color! Our kitchen isn't that big by kitchen standards these days (it is 274 square feet). So the calm continuity of the same color on cabinets and trim works well in our ''smaller'' space. In general, however, I do like the play of different shades of white layered together in a room. So I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with picking a different white for the trim. In some cases it might add the depth or slight contrast that the room needs. My sense from your drawing is that your kitchen is quite a bit larger; perhaps that is why your architect thinks that in your space having different trim and cabinet colors will work well. I'd encourage him to tell you a bit more about his thinking on this. Again, he may well be right. In any case, once your cabinets are installed, if you decide you want to match (or not match) you can make that decision at that time. As for the counters, we had some rough ideas about what our counter top colors/material might be before we ordered the paint color for our cabinets; but we didn't know for sure. That was a bit of a gamble.

How did this get so long and I never saw it! One comment from way up at the top.... ALL the houses you pictured in your neighborhood had the faux shutters removed. Doesn't that tell you something? For one thing, yours are too short, and do not contribute a thing to the appearance of the house, except upkeep. One house has a panel of some sort beneath a window. Would it be something to consider adding a high backed bench under the one north facing window? Another home had the tall pencil slim Italian cypress, Those had to be there many years to get that tall. Consider something vertical like those plants. Very little upkeep, you sure don't have to prune them. I hate making more work for myself or my DH, so avoid anything requiring seasonal maintenance. Don't know what gardening zone you are in, but cruise the neighborhood and see what you like that looks good, and buy some. Paint colors can be so iffy. But to avoid mistakes, continue to PhotoShop until it looks right. Don't cut it up with a lot of colors though. If you want to detail something do it on that huge garage door of yours.

If you have an 80's home, that stained trim may not be anything special. You might just be better off painting it too and giving the house a lighter look. As far as color everyone always suggests beige because it is safe. There are other 'not in your face' colors that will work. A light yellow might work with your house, particularly a vanilla or something that would compliment the gold in the room. You can paint darker colors, but that tends to make a room look darker and smaller. If you truly want something a bit darker, I might go as far as a medium color, but wouldn't go any darker than that.

Yeah, stained wood. If you're painting it then it doesn't matter. My '50s house has a clamshell-ish mahogany trim which we couldn't replicate for our addition so we snuck in cherry. Simple square might be too simple. But you can probably find something more interesting than square and less dated than clamshell. I'd just want to avoid tall moldings, or anything that would work in a mcmansion or a colonial...embrace the classic ranch. Be sleek! You might want to run it by the decorating forum. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/decor