You know, I would be afraid that black would look like a big black hole when it was pulled down. I'd be more inclined to look for a medium, caramely color that would blend with your cabinets, and be a bit more interesting than black when pulled down.

I think browns would look better, it would blend more with your window trim and cabinets. I have seen them where there is a mixture of brown tones from light to dark in the bamboo shade, I think that would look very nice.

A color that blends with the cabinets would be best IMO. Black would be too dark, i think. Your floors are very pretty...what kind of wood do you have on your floors? Is that a large plank in oak?

Tortoise shell blinds (warm brown w/ black markings) would work really to tie in all those luscious black, charcoals & caramel-ly wood tones. Love your kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: some samples at Smith & Noble

I would go with a shade in a bright color. There is already a lot of wood in the room with the cabinets and flooring. There is a lot of jet black too. Bamboo shades to come in colors and one of the most popular colors they make them in is green. You already have a green accent with the cookie jar and I would go with that.

excellent observation dilly dally, I second that thought! I must ask however, whatever is in the black shadow box to the (camera) right of the sink? I'm sure it's not what I think it looks like ;)

Depending on what we cannot see, a large-ish jolt of green may be too much. Perhaps you could use an edge band of that green to bring some color in.

The photograph makes the kitchen look a bit dark. I am sure it isn't. I think I would choose the very lightest tone in the floor for the bamboo.

I think black would go best. Would tie in with counter tops and oven. Black would contrast your cabinets added a sharper look. How much more is the black. If the cost doesn't justified it then look for a dark brown. Sometimes they look almost black. I also think you would be opening up a can of worms if you tried to paint.

Since there's so much wood in the kitchen already, I think a bamboo shade would make the room look darker, since the slats are much closer together than mini-blinds, and aren't adjustable. Have you considered a roman shade? The large folds would help soften the hard surfaces in the room, and if you got one in a linen-like fabric, it would allow in more light than a bamboo shade.

If you want to add some color and varied textures, display patterned kitchen linens and accessories (cookbook or plate on a stand, cake plate or bowl with some fruit or decorative balls, etc.). That might give you options for shade colors too.

It won't come off as a "jolt" of Green. There seems to be some Green tone in the countertops too. Green is a good kitchen color since it relates to food.

http://www.repar.com.tw/products.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Green Bamboo Blind

Wow - thanks for all the responses and suggestions!
Dilly Dally - thanks for the green suggestion. I didn't realize bamboo shades came in green! There is actually no green in the counters - they are black w/specks of gray. The apple is the only green thing in the space and I tire of it every once in a while and put it away...LOL. I'm not much of a green person.

Andreadeg - I'm not sure what material the floors are made of. They are wide planked and the pegs are real (I know this cause every once in a while, one pops out! The floors also run throughout our attached family room. We had them refinished and polyurethaned years ago and they've really held up well.

Rjinga - There are 3 shadow boxes, smallest on top descending to largest on bottom. The top one doesn't show. The top one in this pic is a stamped metal candle holder and the bottom one is a white vase with a pink leaf design outlined in black. I'm dying to what do you think it looks like?...LOL

Jimoba - Thanks for the recommendation on possible display items. This is only half the kitchen. I seem to have my "displays" mostly on the other side...LOL

I hesitate to do brown because there is so much wood everywhere already. My style is contemporary so I've been trying to convert the house into that despite all the dark wood throughout! I've found a mixed brown and black shade I love that's between $200-300 depending on what upgrades I choose (stingless, edged, etc.). I have about decided to splurge and just go for it. Of course, I had hoped to be able to go with store bought for under $50.00 but that's not to be anyway because of the custom size of the window.

Sure, they come in all sorts of colors and you can buy matchstick blinds painted brighter colors or ones that are made from plastic with crisper coloring. You can even get blinds that have printed pictures on them. Most of them look too 'Zen-like' but 'ya never know...........you might just find that one *Ah-ha!* design that suits your room perfectly.

Instead of going custom, you may be able to get cheapies and saw them down a couple inches to fit. Maybe. It depends. You have to look at where the strings are.

I will choose the natural color for bamboo. Cause looks fresh all the time.

Here is a link that might be useful: modern platform bed