My cabinets are lightly stained cherry, and my island is painted white. We have a somewhat small kitchen, so I put the island on wheels. The island top is made of the same granite (Verde Peacock) as the rest of the counters. As you will see in my kitchen pics, we also have a banquette that is painted white.

Rich

Here is a link that might be useful: kitchen pics

I am hoping to have stained cherry on the perimeter and a painted island too (probably black). I have seen this look in many magazines so I am sure it will be fine. Have you looked through the FKB section? I am sure I've seen this look there.

I'm considering this as well. I flip-flip between mixing the finishes, doing the standard cream cabs on perimeter-stained island, but I'm seriously considering the opposite now because the stained cabs in hickory will hold up to the abuse much better than painted.

I'm sorry to admit that we didn't replace our camera when it broke last fall. But I do have a photo - before our stainless appliances were installed, that shows the cherry stained perimeter and painted island cabinets on the day my Carrara marble counters were installed. There's also another black cabinet - a hutch - that's outside the photo on the left side. I hope this helps you. I also hope you'll take to heart that what your KD likes and doesn't like aren't nearly as important as what YOU like and don't like.

HI,

Rich, THANKS so much for the pictures that does help a lot. Your kitchen is beautiful. I love your cabinets.

Rosalita and sdionnemoore, I am off to keep up my search of the blogs. When entering my kitchen the thing you see most next to the floor is the bottom of the island. The floors are cherry so I was hoping this would be a nice contrast; I have been back and forth for months. Schrock is having a special on full extension, door boxes and soft stop until March 31, so I really need to make up my mind soon. :)

This place has been a BIG help, thanks to all the great advice and pictures on here.
Crystal

oofasis,

Thanks! Your marble is to die for. I would love to contrast my dark perimeter with a top like that. Is it hard to maintain?

Your cabinets look similar to the stain we are looking at. We are going with Cherry with a Brierwood stain, by Schrock and most likely the white glazed island to contrast the floor. I have a hutch I am going to have repainted in black; I love the look of the black island.
Do you have stools there?

Thanks again, Crystal

I have maple with a mocha stain and a coffee glaze on the perimeter and maple painted black on the island. Even though I wanted *some black cabinets, black on the perimeter would have been too much. There's really no right or wrong though, it's want you want and love!

Good Luck!

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

I am doing this, cabinets are currently being built. I have seen it done this way in lots of model homes and magazines too. I have also seen it done in a green glaze as well. I'll have to see if I can find some of my old inspiration pictures that show it this way.

I struggled with this exact same dilema. Most of the two tone kitchens have light perimeter and dark island. The style of my house and surrounding furniture does not really support the look of so much light cabinetry. But I also didn't want an all dark cabinet kitchen. I began searching desperately for pictures in magazines and as I looked I began to find a few and they were beautiful! Then Sharon1 posted pictures of her kitchen and she had the exact same color scheme I had just ordered and I thought it was gorgeous! It was a huge load off my back. My perimeter is a dark stain rustic beech and my island is a creamy glaze. I haven't picked countertops yet - I don't know what I want to do yet.

I think the reason you see my light perimeters is that it keeps the kitchen light and airy and a dark island looks more like a piece of furniture. Flipping it is less common, but it is still beautiful. I wish I had pictures, but I'm a DIY project under construction! :-) I also searched for Sharon1 and all her pictures fell of the forum, which is a bummer. I couldn't find her in the FKB either - she must not have posted there. I'm sorry to not be more help visually. But hopefully I've reassured you that many of us have done the very color scheme you are considering!

here are a couple pictures!

{{!gwi}}

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OHHHHHH!!!! Those pictures just sold me completely. How lovely and different and WOW! Thanks for sharing, Tinker.

Crystal -
No, my marble is NOT hard to maintain, no more than granite. I sealed it (Miracle 511 Porus Plus, which I'd already bought prior to install, although BillV sez that Miracle 511 Impregnator is just as good and cheaper) twice immediately upon installation, once again a few days later. I have absolutely no stains whatsoever. We cook a lot, and we eat 95% of our meals at the island. Lots of spills, no stains. I just use a microfiber cloth (wring it out well) and no soap to clean up after use.

Since the photo was taken last October, the kitchen is mostly complete (still need a backsplash, and I've just begun my search for tiles). We've got charcoal gray slate on the floor and all stainless appliances. Yes, we have four swivel stools at the counter. Your ideas with the cherry, cream glazing and black hutch sound wonderful.

Laura, your kitchen is beautiful! And Tinker, those are some great inspiration kitchens!

We have the light maple cabs and dark cherry stained island.

Flowerchild: What's the countertop surface on your island?

try_hard

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!. I love all your kitchens and thanks for showing me inspirations. I am so excited, I feel sure this is what I want. I have gone back and forth so long, I should have asked months ago :)
Thanks again, Crystal

Have you looked in the Finished Kitchens Blog?

http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/

I have a painted island, stained hutch and stained on either side of range. Fridge cabinet is painted. Another painted hutch between kitchen and laundry room is black/distressed. The black hutch and more photos can be seen at Attic Mag in the Kitchens We Love - Gray kitchens - French Gray Island Kitchen.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen We Love

try hard...looks like pieces of pre-finished flooring waiting to be installed.

ci_lantro: Good eye..yes it's just temporary until the granite is installed. I sort of like it actually....except for the unfinished edge. We are using the kitchen as is so I needed something to use as a counter.