prill... I really am contemplating using IKEA boxes and DH will build the door fronts. The only doors I will have are at the sink base and corner. I'm planning on uppers only the long 10' west wall where the window is. I think I want SS and glass there; kinda like the horizontal IKEA ones (if not those exactly); but I'll play that by ear. The style will be a very wide rail/style shaker like this: That is the Ultracraft door that I first fell in love with in the red birch. I think it's gorgeous but I'm just not seeing the reddish tone in my kitchen with the bakers table and floor. What do you all think? wolfgang, thanks for the compliment. Those trees are Latanya palms. (not sure if I spelled it correctly) When the really mature, they'll form a canopy over the pool. OH... and about wood cabs. I also adore walnut and teak but wonder if it would be too dark or if the teak would be too "streaky" with the floor.

I painted our ugly dark oak cabinets several years ago and they seem to be holding up well. My kitchen now looks bright and cheerful, rather than brown and dingy. I like the smooth finish of an oil paint, but oil yellows, so I went on the web to find an alternative and Cabinet Coat paint was mentioned on many painting forums, so I decided to try it. I think good preparation is the key to any paint job. I scrubbed the cabinets, sanded, primed with an alkyd made by Zinsser (OK, so I'm old fashioned) and finished with several coats of the Cabinet Coat paint. So far the finish has held up well. I have a few spots that got banged up, so I will be using an artist's paintbrush to fill in the chips. One thing that helps keep the finish nice is to always use the knobs to open doors and never open doors with greasy fingers. I can't tell you how much I enjoy my bright new cabinets. My kitchen was such a dungeon before and simply painting the cabinets white has made my kitchen a much more pleasant place to work. I was able to obtain it from my local Ace hardware store. Just make sure you stir it very, very well and use a good paintbrush. Here is a link that might be useful: Cabinet Coat paint

I, too, am a stainless counter fan, but can't see it with these cabs. I wrote in against using the spalted as cabinets, and have been reading others' responses. Now that it's been pointed out that the those otherwise gorgeous counters compete and detract from the wood, I've taken another look. I think that solid, dark counters (I'm imagining a rich, deep brown) would have a completely different impact, and I can start to see how great it could look in your cabin.

Aw, thanks, @Diana. UPW is always and option, because it will look nice with the glass tile and, of course, go with the trim. Polar Bear belongs to the yellow hue family. Ultra Pure White the Green-Yellow hue family. I'd be looking to see how Polar Bear related to the green-blue glass tile. I'd be looking for that edge of yellowness. In terms of Chroma they work. Polar Bear has a nice bump more Chroma and that's a good thing. If Polar Bear doesn't work, then I'd be looking for a white from the same Green-Blue hue family as the tiles.