And... back to Ubatuba as a front runner again. After reading some of the comments here and another trip to see more installed countertops, I had to just make the call and told her to pick a dark counter. No one seemed to be worried about the darkness of the kitchen and we're coming up on a paperwork deadline from the lender. Having something as expensive as counter tops hanging out there as an unknown just wasn't an option. So she looked at the dark soapstones, granites, quartzes, and solid surfaces and Ubatuba won the prize. Based on my reading of the "personality" of soapstone, it would have been my preference, but she'll be using the kitchen far more than me anyway. Now to call the local Lowes and see if I can twist their arm enough to let me come pick out the slab as well. :) For better or worse, the 203(k) documentation process makes buying from the big box stores much simpler than buying from a local place. Thank you for all the comments and links.

I have Kraftmaid Thornton doors in canvas. They were ordered through HD and arrived this past Thursday. Our contractor is on another job and will be here in 2 weeks to start. I opened one door so far just to see (we will open and inspect the rest in the next week or so if the weather permits). I love the door style and the color!!!!I did post on here a question about how picky to be b/c they are a painted door and the door style (4 pieces put together to make the frame) may lend itself to some hairlines where those pieces come together. Sorry I don't have pics yet - 3 weeks I will have some. Hope this info helps. By the way our order arrived very early. Took about 2 1/2 weeks from order to delivery and were were a good size order.

EAM44: Thank you for your feedback - much appreciated! When you say white cabinets, do you mean white painted? ( I'm a newbie to kitchen renovations so please put up with me). I did think cherry would be lovely and it was our first choice but we had to look at the whole. The problem is that the adjacent family room is all oak - walls are paneled, oak beams on ceiling, wood floors. It looks pretty, though, and has a fireplace surround done in the same brick as the kitchen cooktop area. This oak was continued in the current kitchen cabinets ( by the builder) and the ceiling light fixture ( which we will be changing to recessed lighting at a later date) is edged in oak as well. Also there is a recessed ceiling in the dining area of the kitchen - it is beautiful..but has oak molding. We wanted to keep this latter feature as it visually connects with the family room wood along with an oak 'sill' on a pass-through to the family room from the dining area. Cherry cabinets in the kitchen would clash with the oak, but white or cream cabs will look nice and actually lighten the space and give it an airy feel. When you say, "as long as you lean toward the red," are you referring to the countertop or to the underlying color in the light-colored or white maple cabinets ..or perhaps both? What kind of countertop would *you* choose with the white cabs? Thank you so much!

Since since lowes and Home Depot both carry kraftmaid, you could go get a canvas door off their display and take it to the paint counter to match.