If you go with the box store or KD center and want Cherry, you will get that butt ugly sapwood showing just like in the pictures on the lowers. Over years, it turns into a bright beacon screaming "time to change my cabinets"

A soft white would be fine. Same with an off white. I like the white in the last picture.

Take a look at BM mascarpone. It might be too white but it does have some creaminess to it.
Getting excited to see your plans.

Macarpone is a lovely, cream color (picture mascarpone cheese!). It does have a slight yellow undertone (especially in our low-light downstairs) but much less than some of the other off-whites we had looked at.

When we met with our KD they had a lovely display with creamy cbinets. I absolutely loved them but DH nixed them in favor of stained wood. I asked our KD and he said the creamy finish is accomplished by glazing a white cabinet with a chocolate glaze. I still think about that kithen and I bet that would have been a less expensive route to go than the natural maple with stain and glaze that we are going with. If your lowers are a brown color go with a chocolate glaze. Good luck!

a2gemini-Thanks for the tip on mascarpone. I'll check it out. Isn't that what Fishies uppers are? (BTW, I'm originally from South Lyon - very close to A2 and makes me miss home when I see your name!)

cat_mom- Hmm, yellowy off white doesn't sound too bad to me! Remember any of those colors by chance?

Kent- well, I don't see any 'butt-ugly' in the pictures I posted, but, yes, I'm aware of the variations that cherry can have when not paying the premium for no sapwood. And I would imagine many of the cabinets being put in right now will scream "time to change me" if enough years pass. But thanks for the concern.

A lot depends on lighting too. I have a two-tone kitchen. The top cabinets are SW Antique White and the bottoms are stained espresso. Certain times of the day they seem whiter and other times they are creamier. And all my lighting is warm, so in the evening the cabinets are definitely on the creamy side. White is definitely the most difficult color to pick!

I'm attaching a link to a recent thread on yellow paints for cabinets. Marcolo was looking for something in a vintage-looking yellow, but most of the yellows he tried were coming up way too bright in his light. He was looking for something in a yellow-beige or cream. The thread strays quite a bit into creamy whites, so yom may find something useful there.

At the very least, you will find lots of company in your color struggles. I'm not sure if yellow is particularly difficult, but it was really remarkable how much difference lighting and window orientation and latitude and a whole host of other factors made in how yellows looked.

Here is a link that might be useful: Marcolo's vintage-y yellow thread

I'm not a big fan of two tone kitchens. I like the first picture the best out of the bunch. The lighter counters help pull together the two different cabinets. What are you thinking for counters?

You may want to check out Ben Moore's Acadia White. It may be too white, but it's an off-white with warm undertones. Ben Moore's Lancaster Whitewash or Monterey White may also be good, creamy choices that a lot of designers seem to use.

On the subject of yellows, I always have to put a plug in for Ben Moore's Wyndham Cream. It's yellow, definitely not cream, but it's the softest, most perfect go-to yellow. I've used it in 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, and the exterior of a stucco cottage. It's to die for.

"Kent- well, I don't see any 'butt-ugly' in the pictures I posted, but, yes, I'm aware of the variations that cherry can have when not paying the premium for no sapwood. And I would imagine many of the cabinets being put in right now will scream "time to change me" if enough years pass. But thanks for the concern."
agreed !
My kitchen cabs look similar to photo #2 but are Cherry wood with a coffee stain so a little darker, I never tire of looking at them. Uppers are soft white(Shiloh not BM). Photo #2 was my inspiration picture. Alas I couldn't go to the ceiling(I put the $$ into counters & sink )so I not only have butt ugly Cherry cabinets but "cheap" looking cabs(as I have read here) that stop 12" from the ceiling. Hopefully people look at counters & not up or I am doomed. (hangs head).

That last picture is gorgeous! I'd love that in my own house!!! Have been thinking of taking the plunge and painting my natural maple something like this. I love the two colors because I think I would miss the wood grain if totally gone and loving this combination. You have beautiful taste! Hope you find your perfect color! I have Aesthetic white Sherwin Williams on my bathroom cabinets but it changes throughout the day. I think it may be too white for you but it's a pretty color sort of a neutral white.