cookingmama -- do a search (down at the bottom of the messages page) for Holligator for a kitchen simular to what you are describing. You will see an example of what you are talking about, and know that you are on the right path. Also look for a thread started yesterday on the same exact topic -- their cabs were darker than natural, but still some great pics

Well CookingMama, as Rita mentioned, we have the combo of natural cherry cabs and soapstone counters, and we LOVE it. We also removed the wall between our kitchen and dining room, and our window trim even sounds similar to what you describe. Our kitchen is not what I would call light-filled, but other than that, these pics might give you an idea about whether you'd like that combination...

I have exactly what you were talking about. You can see my kitchen on the Optional link below.
One of my favorite craftsman style kitchens is Jaymielo's. It has quarter-sawn oak cabs with soapstone, but it will give you an idea of the look, because the color is similar.
Others who have similar kitchens are laxsupermom & timberj.

http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2009/01/jaymielos-kitchen.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Deb's Kitchen

For what its worth, I'm in the middle of our kitchen makeover and....yes, we chose natural cherry cabs with soapstone countertops. We even have hardwood floors, so lots of wood going on as well.

We needed to remove a total of 4 windows so like hollinger our kitchen no longer has all the sun shining through, but was necessary to have a true working kitchen.

Our kitchen faces south, and originally what was a Den is now part of our new space which explains all the windows that were removed.

sorry I can't post pics yet, but I will when finished and maybe it will help you decide on these 2 really beautiful mediums.

Holligator - what kind of stove do you have? Looks like you got a really nice stove into a 30" space. Also, I can't tell what your backsplash is. Love your kitchen. Priscilla

Thanks, Priscilla! My stove is an AGA, and it's 36", but I wouldn't recommend it if you like to cook anything in your oven. Do a forum search for AGA if you want to know all the boring reasons why.

My backsplash is . . . paint! I haven't yet committed to a backsplash choice yet, but I'm getting really close. :)

Thanks everyone!

Holligator, your kitchen looks great. Love the combination of cherry and soapstone.
I've heard that natural cherry reddens over time, which is what I want.
My cabinet maker doesn't understand craftsman, he looks at the pictures and says this is Shaker. Any ideas on how I can make him see the difference? Should I ask him to make a sample door first?

Natural cherry darkens but I would say it goes more toward brown than red. My KD showed me a sample door that was five years old and that helped me decide (against natural). HTH

I too am using natural cherry cabinets, but I'm putting marble on the countertops. However, I love the soapstone with the cherry as well. A friend of mine did that and it's beautiful. I think you'll just need to decide if you want face-frame cabinets or full-overlay, but definitely the Shaker-style door. The face-frame will give you more of a period look; the full-overlay more of a modern stream-lined look. Both would be beautiful. You should be able to find lots of pictures of kitchens with that combination. Also, I had to decide if I wanted a clear cherry, or a rustic cherry. We like the knots and wanted some sapwood for accent--so we called it cherry with character.

Sorry to hijack this thread but since it's about natural cherry cabinets, can I ask how quickly yours have darkened? I'm thinking of cherry but I'm afraid to get the natural finish because I don't like really light cabinets. I know the color will vary from monitor to monitor but I the cabinets shown in this thread don't look too light.

We have quartersawn oak and soapstone-- here's a link to our finished kitchen.

I think soapstone looks great w/ natural wood.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0319400014110.html

On the subject of darkening, I got an older cherry door in the same style as mine that was already finished as mine would be. It really helped me to have one that was already dark so that I could use it to pick the other things that would go in my kitchen. Not only that, but it was great to have a door that was already drilled so that I could try various handles on it.

mdod, I've had my natural cherry cabinets for almost a year and a half now. The pictures above, judging from the things I had on the counter at the time, were taken around April of last year, so about three or four months after installation. The cherry had already done a substantial amount of darkening by that time. The second picture looks darker, but it was taken at the same time. That second pic is actually a pretty good representation (at least on my monitor) of the current cabinet color after 17 months of darkening. They really didn't darken a whole lot after the first six months or so, and most of it had happened in those first three months. They say that pretty much all of the darkening happens in the first two years.

A great deal of the oxidation of cherry happens within the first two years as Holligator said above. Some of my cherry furniture which started with No finish except wax has gotten quite dark even after that amount of time but it is the initial exposure to light that does it. It was recommended I not leave anything in one place on the tops and to not store the leaves of the table for two years.

Holligator - let me know when you pick a backsplash... you were my major inspiration for getting soapstone counters. Love your kitchen. I'm still trying to pick a backsplash (and as you know, trying to decide if I should paint my cabinets)...

Thanks holligator and palimpsest. Sounds like natural cherry is a go. Wheeee! One decision is done. Now for the other 20!