Do you mean a barn red island? A red-tone wood...like cherry?

I think the black countertops will look great, with the knotty alder. Do you plan on black countertops for the island, too? Sounds like a rustic theme is what you have in mind, but with the wood and red...I think buttery yellow could work. Maybe bring it in with accents and/or fabrics? I'm thinking a rustic french country...maybe some herbs or plants, in the kitchen window. Some cushions on the banquette. Maybe some fun canisters :)

Looking forward to seeing your new plan!

Thanks for the reply lavender lass ! We are doing a barn red island, perhaps a bit darker than barn red, but close to it. I am unsure of what kind of countertop to do with the red. I would like to do something different that the dark though. Maybe if we do buttery yellow walls we should do a counter top on the island that has some yellow in it? I really like your ideas, thanks so much! I am far from a designer and my husband is not much help. I have been poring over pictures that I find on google. My husband asked me last night "what will I do with my time when we are done with the kitchen?". He just doesn't get it!:) So anyway, this forum has been a big help so far.

So far I think it sounds nice. What about a butcher block top for the island, although I think you might be putting a sink in the island. Is that still the plan? MY only thought is with perimeter cabinets being different from the island I might be tempted to use the same countertop to tie the two together. Unless the island is going to be a completely different style from the perimeter as well. Depending on how the knotty alders colours as it ages just be careful with the colour of red that you pick. (eg - does it yellow or turn orange or red as it naturally ages with the light)

I'm not very good on the style stuff but would love to see your plan. (And this time I promise to be kinder).

Yep, the sink in the island is still the plan. I would love butcher block, but am nervous about it with the sink. With the dark counters and lighter cupboards what kind of floor would look best? Lighter or darker? Thanks for the replies!......good point about the red color with the alder blfenton.

I think the same counter top color would tie it together too. I'd like to see your alder cabinets before weighing in on a floor color. They sound beautiful. I would also like to hold up a butter yellow paint chip to the alder. My kitchen is similar colors- light colored knotty pine with butcher block counters, barn red walls and a black stove. I have butter yellow accents. I really love the colors and have not grown tired of them in 14 years. Can you post a photo?
Renee

With respect to the floors I think it really depends on what kind of a pattern you like when contrasting colours. By that I mean - in our bathrooms we have dark counter (wenge granite), then natural maple cabinets then dark tile floor. So the pattern - is (from the floor) dark, light, dark. In our kitchen we have midtone(maple floors),light (cream cabinets) and then mid-tone (giallo ornamental granite) and then light for the backsplash and light again for the cabinets.

What kind of natural light do you get? What type of floor will it be. If it's hardwood you can get some reflective light off of it and so can maybe go a little darker, if it's tile or lino there won't be as much. If it's tile or lino will there be a pattern? Are you hoping to tie the floors into something? For me, just my personal opinion, darker floors always seem to evoke a slightly more formal feeling to them while lighter floors less so. (Probably why I went with mid-tone maple hardwood) Anyway, just some thoughts.

I'm a contrast kinda' guy so for the floors I'd go medium to dark, depending on the flooring material.
As for the island, if you're looking for something different from the Basalt, which incidentally is real nice, you may want to look at Santa Cecilia Light or American Rose Granite.
Either will go well with your Barn Red island and will help with your buttery yellow paint if that's the way you're going.

Thanks everyone! Hopefully I can get some pictures of the cabinets and post them at some point. I guess I didn't realize how consumed I would be with this kitchen! I am looking forward to having all the decisions made. I still have the backsplash to figure out as well and for some reason that decision seems the hardest. Uggg, I am trying to enjoy the ride but am just a bit overwhelmed. Thanks again for all your help and great suggestions.
And blfenton, to answer some of your questions. We will have a lot of natural light. And I think we are leaning towards Lino for flooring. We have tile now and we hate it (hate cleaning grout, it's cold, it's hard..ect.). I really don't want a pattern though, would like something that looks like wood. We were thinking sort of a barn type wood look. I would love to be able to use real barn wood. My fil has some left over barn wood from when thet tore down his barn, but I don't think he has enough sadly:(.