I would agree that matching the cabinets to the dining room would be too much. Wood that is all the same just blends in the background. Your cherry will look more lovely if the kitchen is something different and vice-versa. Different wood tones together is normal - especially because these will never be "touching" (I think you have to be more careful to make sure floors and cabinets don't clash.) If I were you I would go to the cabinet place and forget about the dining room. Open your mind - consider all they have in natural or stained wood - and pick something you think is beautiful and go from there. If you want something lighter, consider maple natural or with light stain. Cherry is always beautiful, but a little more expensive, but try natural or other tone that you just love. And oak gets a bad rap but with the right door style and finish, the grain can be striking. Good luck.

I'm glad you included photos of the adjoining rooms. You have a lovely home with lots of character. I love the arched doorways & that pretty hallway. With the interest of your adjoining rooms & your dark wood floors, I think you can pull off all white cabinets, a white island & white countertops. Add glass uppers as suggested above and a new backsplash. The wetbar appears to be separated from the kitchen? If yes, I'd consider something totally different with the wetbar - not sure what. A countertop microwave wouldn't bother me & you have a nice corner for it. I have white perimeter countertops & white cabinets. I don't find that it's too much white with accessories & backsplash. I have a second larger white island that separates the kitchen from the family room (you have your wood table & chairs). Even though it has more detailed moldings & a beautiful dark walnut top, I much prefer the look of the white top on the other island. That was a total surprise to me because I put a lot of thought into the design of the wood topped island. Are you planning to add a hood above your cooktop? I am also a big fan of the "weird tiny windows." You've got a great space for your dream white kitchen.

They are pretty much in all the production built houses in our area now. I am very traditional, so I wanted wood balusters even though we built 4.5 years ago and our builder was still putting the iron ones in custom homes. Now, I am seeing mostly wood in custom homes as people in our area are getting away from that Euro/Tuscan type look. The wood ones look appropriate in farm houses, colonials, and if they are simple like the pic above, even in more modern decor.

Duplicate post why??