Sorry for all my typo-Os!!

Val -- DON'T USE CLOSET WORLD. I cannot emphasize this enough. I used them. The materials were crap, they didn't show up -- repeatedly -- and ruined walls by improper installation. I had to threaten to file a criminal complaint for fraud and a complaint with the Contractor's Licensing Board to get them to even show up to my house. They didn't believe me until I told them what I do for a living. Google closet world. Better yet google "I hate closet world." You will be shocked and appalled.

I don't know Closets by Design, but be careful Closet World uses several different pseudonyms.

California closets will be a bit more expensive, but SOOO worth it.

I guess I missed your original post, but could you tell me what the closet companies will be building in the office, or is just for shelving?

If you're having desks/shelves built, I like the 5th color from the left as I see it in the first photo. In the last photo, I love the one that looks like cherry against your dark furniture (it's next to the black/brown sample.
The samples look different in each photo.......which one would you say looks truest IRL?

On my monitor the 4th sample from the left looks too much like maple and doesn't go as well with your flooring. I would choose either a cherry or a color that picks up the darker tones of your flooring.

BTW, my closets were done by Closet Factory and they have quality products. If you have one in your area I have a coupon for 15% off if you want it.

Here is a link that might be useful: closets

sarschlos: Thank you for the warning. I found out after we met with the designers that Closets by Design and Closet World are both owned by the same parent company so they are essentially the same thing. That was the one whose finish I liked, but the designer made multiple mistakes so I had a lot of reservations. She was using a 6" scale per square in graph paper. Even I draw more accurately than that! My scale was 1-1/2" per little square. Kept telling me the anominalies in her picture would be resolved with templating. I told her flat out her design would leave me with about a 16" deep desk (if that) and it would be impossible to open out the mouse pad slider as it would bump the adjacent cabinet. I doubt she's going to come back with the changes since I told her I needed accurate drawings and elevations. After what you wrote, they are off my list. California Closets is the one we are thinking of using. I have more confidence in the design as well as the designer. She has said she will use a senior person with 10+ years experience for the templating of my counters as they are on 45's. So in the large scheme of things, it seems more prudent to work with them and find a finish that works.

annz: Looks like there is one about 45 mins away from me. I'll call them tomorrow to see if they'll come out here. Thanks for the referral and offer for the coupon. I'll let you know if I need it.

The cherry one is called rustic cherry and is the 5th one over. I saw a whole office done in that and it was too grainy a look for us. The one annz mentioned in the last photo is cognac (7th over). We really like that one as well and if this was a totally separate room that'd probably be my top choice. I just am not sure if it goes with our darker wood. Anyone else vote for cognac?

I agree the 4th sample looks too much like maple. I also really liked the cherry but the cognac looks to me like it would work.

I like either #4, #5, #6, or #7. I guess I love finishes with a red tint or color to them. I think any of these finishes would look rich with your bedroom cherry furniture.

DH and I talked about it some more and are leaning towards cognac (#7) again. I just realized it's a very good match with his closet built-ins which makes me feel better as I think it'd be nice for all built-ins to match. Just realized I'd swapped pearwood (#4) and rustic cherry (#5) in a couple of picks. The rustic cherry has the straight grain and the pearwood is more oval. I plan to take DH to the showroom this Thurs to see the whole offices as the grain patterns aren't so apparant in the closeups.

Next choice will be the counters--which will be a high pressure laminate like WilsonArt or Formica. We are thinking a darkish green and I need to order some samples. Will check back for your thoughts on that as well.

Thanks for steering us away from the Candlelight. It felt too much like a compromise that neither of us was crazy about.

Val, I think you are leaning in the right direction. While it *sounds* good to try to match the cabs with the floor, in such a small space I think it would be odd and claustrophobic.. like being in a wood tone cocoon.

The two finishes look very nice and rich together and the cognac has an interesting grain. It will be stunning.

Not sure about the green-- but that is another post ;) I'll hold my thoughts until you share a sample.

Like funkyart, I'm not sure about adding green in an office. My first thought is that I don't think you want to use a distinct color on the cabinets since it will limit wall color choices in the future.

I don't know what style of desksyou have in mind for the office but have you consider doing a black base and cherry cabinet tops?

I think you're definitely headed in the right direction with your choices. My suggestion would be to go with a wood that looks like it belongs in your home, not necessarily one that matches your furniture. Thinking ahead for the long term, if you ever sell your home you need your built-in area to look like it belongs there ~ not as an afterthought. As for the counter area, my suggestion would be to go with a woodtone that works well with your built-in desk. Probably one a bit darker than the desk. I would avoid all colors.
Lynn

annz/funky: The cabinet style will be a raised panel with one set of uppers with fluted glass doors to lighten things up a bit. Thanks for the feedback on the green. DH likes green and I've seen some nice ones in a sage/thyme. I don't want anything too green though as I agree with you I don't want to lock myself in to one color scheme. I need to order some samples and definitely need feedback. When I was thinking a white office, I had in mind a dark countertop, but now that we are considering a darker cabinet, I don't want the space to get too dark, though I'm open to it if I can find the right color. In the showroom, they did all the counters in a wood toned laminate that matched th the cabinets, but that feels to monotonic to me. Below is a link to the website. Are there any particular ones you think are possibilities?

Here is a link that might be useful: Wilson Art Counter Top choices

lynn: Our posts crossed. If I look at it from the point of view of what belongs in the room/house, it'd be the cognac or rustic cherry. In the house all bulit-in cabinetry is all either medium or dark cherry with white painted trim and oak flooring. The cognac is the best match in terms of color to DH's built-in, though the grain is a bit different. The rustic cherry is a tad more rustic--grainy/knotty than we have and are looking for. The cognac sample almost looks like it does not have a grain, but some type of rubbed on finish. I need to see the whole office pic again to be sure. When I go in the showroom on Thurs I will take some pics of the offices. That is an interesting point about sticking with the wood finishes as all the offices in the showroom were set up that way. It seems they have laminants that are matched to the cabinets so you get the durability of the laminent counter. So my choices wuold be to either match the counter to the cabinets or to go with some type of color from WilsonArt or formica. I don't want anything too busy or dating.

OK well I looked at the site and the "green" group is much broader than I was thinking. When I cautioned you, I was picturing something more obviously green. I really like verdi oxide and jeweled opal...and I am sure others. You'll need to look to see what works best with your wood finish.

You have great taste-- trust your instincts and your preferences! You'll be looking at it every day-- it needs to make you happy!

Thanks! You've been a big help and I appreciate you sticking with all of my posts. I'll make sure to order those samples. We are also thinking of a black. You have great taste also and bring up other aspects something I've not considered.