Actually, I don't think you've made a mistake. It looks like you are off to a lovely start. I agree with your KD completely--a creamy white is much better than a pure white. Right now you are seeing all the costrast between the creamy cabients and the ultra white primer. Why not do some test paint of your blue over the primer?

Here is a pic of my creamy white (oyster) cabinet in my dining room:

{{!gwi}}

When you look up close, yes you can tell the cabinet color is different than the trim color, but I don't think it matters. Do you?

I think your color combination is going to look stunning. Best thing it to sit on it for a day or two.

I had a similar issue! Our initial (and brief) KD tried to talk me out of a bright white kitchen (cabinets) saying it would be too stark and harsh, esp. with our ebony-stained floors and our creamy trim (we are your opposite!). We did it anyway and I am mad in love with it. But anyway, I do understand people not seeing your vision. (I also have grey-blue walls in the kitchen, but in our kitchen / breakfast nook we kept the trim the same color as the cabinetry -- the pure, bright white.)

Listen, have you seen redroze's kitchen over on the kitchen forum? She has Benjamin Moore Natural Cream on her walls and it is gorgeous and tasteful. I wonder if something like that would / could work for you? I think it could be a wonderful bridge between the beautiful creamy cabinet and the crisp white trim. Basically a soft, pale taupe / greige.

There's someone else over there, jen something-or-other, I'll have to go poke around and see her user id, who has creamy cabinets and a darker floor -- I'll find her user id so you can see her kitchen.

Oh! And mamadadapaige has creamy cabinets.

Got it! Here's jen4268's link.

What about a deeper, greener blue? I don't have my samples in front of me but could your room handle that? More of a robin's egg blue?

I think you have a beautiful start and I've no doubt you'll be able to relatively easily and cheaply (paint) fix it.

valinsv and I just cross-posted and for the record I want to disagree with her and your KD's statement that "a creamy white is much better than a pure white."

How about this instead: A creamy white is much better for valinsv.

For me and my kitchen, a pure white is much better than a creamy white.

I just think across-the-board pronouncements are both unfair and inappropriate, esp. to those who might need hand-holding with their color choices.

My (beautiful) pure white kitchen:

I agree with valinsv totally - it already looks lovely but you're not finished so it's hard for you to see that. I love the subtle variations in whites used in a room - it adds warmth and life.

Now this is a purely personal opinion, but your blue is what's throwing me. It's too bright and clean a color. Your cabinets are great, the floor color is great, - would you consider a different blue? Something in the same value but more muted?

Don't panic - your dream kitchen will materialize!

I get it, you wanted a more crisp bright feel. One option is to make KD take the cabinets back and replace them with what you really wanted, and proceed with your original plan. Otherwise, it is fixable. The colors are relative to each other. There is no pure white. The cabinets only look dingy to your eye because they are next to the white trim, which is a white whiter than they are (and next to the stark awful drywall compound, as Val said). If you put an even creamier white next to the cabinets, THEY might very well look very white and crisp in comparison.

So, assuming that you did make a mistake and the trim is too bright and is making them look dirty (which may be the case), you will need to re-paint the trim, and select a different blue for the wall. I do think the blue is too pastel now for the cabinets, it needs to be brought down some.

How does the granite and backsplash go?

Don't you worry, it is going to look beautiful. When we were having ours re-done and custom painted, I spent a whole afternoon crying because the color they promised was not the color that went on. But when it was over, it was just beautiful, and it all ended up very well. That will happen with your kitchen too, fear not.

I think it's going to look great. Whites are all relative. If you can't change the cabinets, I would lose the blue, which is a very cool blue, and the white-white woodwork, and paint it all the same white as the cabinets. As long as it's not next to any absolute whites, your white will be lovely.

If you don't want to change your white-whites, then I agree -- return the cabinets and get what you want. Blame the KD.

Always, Always do what your heart is set on.

I agree with the other posters. A change of white color for the trim and a creamier blue.

How do you feel about Jen's kitchen (the one that RM posted for you)? There is nothing wrong with monochromatic.

rmkitchen: I stand corrected. Color is a very personal decision.

kellym2: I still think your cabinets are beautiful and you can make it work. I don't know that you can get the KD to take the cabinets back, however, if you signed off on the color and it's true to any samples you were shown so changing the wall and/or trim color should hopefully do the trick. Based on my remodeling experience of a whole house, I know there is a lot thrown at you every day and sometimes it is best to just call a halt to work for a day and regroup. Best of luck.

I agree w/ your KD about white-white cabs and dark floors. You probably will have to lose the blue though, so check out some of the neutrals from BM, in the historical colors, they might look just right w/ your cabs.

As far as returning the cabs, I'm assuming you signed off on the color of the ones you got, so I'd guess they're yours now.

Valinsv, I agree 100%, the cabs do not need to match the color of the base molding. In fact, I think it looks a bit dated when they do.

Susan

I'm playing with which fabrics to use and have two toiles with cream backgrounds that I wanted to combine. The red one's background made the brown one's background look very stark white. I then put a different lamp next to the arrangement. The lamp's off-white background made the brown toile's background look stark! I immediately thought of you and your white cabinets. It really is all relative.

I agree with mpwdmom, it's the blue that is not working.

Are you going to have a tile backsplash, if you are find tiles that bring all the colors together, blue, cream and white even brown like floor and voila problem solved, tie it all together just like it was the plan all along, use as much tile as budget will allow..

Kelly, when I take a look at the many pieces of blue & white transfer ware & Chinese porcelain I've collected over the years, I see that some pieces have a stark white background while others have a creamier white. Either way, the effect is beautiful & classic. I think the cream cabinets/blue walls can look beautiful & that the cream will look more harmonious with the dark wood floors.

In my previous house I had a blue & stark white kitchen, & now I have creamy white cabinets (BM's Bone White) & walls (BM's Linen White) w/medium toned wood floors. I enjoyed the white & I also enjoy the cream!

My trim color is the same whiter white (SW's Shell White) that is used in every room in the house. Trim should be consistent throughout, imo. Cabinets are a separate entity.

I would give the original plan a chance to unfold further before you nix it. You trusted this designer enough to hire her; you must feel she has some talent & good judgement. Certainly, if you continue to be displeased, you need to make changes, but you may always wonder how this would have turned out if you don't see it through.

Do you like this kitchen? I think it's beautiful and very much like your kitchen. I would soften the blue a bit but thats just me. Don't worry it will all come together.