Oil based paint will turn creamier. You might want to wait to do the backsplash.

Mascarpone was one of my finalists but I thought it was a too yellow for me. I chose Cloud White and it's quite creamy. I can't imagine Mascarpone being perceived as stark, but I guess it has a lot to do with your surroundings.

I got light gray grout and wish I'd gotten darker gray. I like the look, but not everyone does.

Thanks..first my paint for cabinets is cabinet coat so it's not oil based.
I think it appears much starker on my walls then even on the big sample sheet I got. Now if I put a pure white up against it then I can see it's a tad creamier, I see no yellow in mine. Lol..I think I wanted more yellow. Hehehe

I wonder why so many seem to not like the dark grey grout? I read that too.

I purchased the white grout from home depot and they had two different greys ..shoot not sure which one is the darker grey then.

Huggles

We painted a reno-ed bathroom Storm last year. The rest of the room is white Daltile subways with gray grout (a light-medium gray, maybe Delorean Gray?), with black hex tiles on the floor (with charcoal grout).

In that room, which only has one small south-facing window, I'd say Storm reads as a medium gray, especially against the white. And at least in that space I don't see any blue undertones. It's a really straight-ahead gray, to my eyes. I really like the color (although when I first started painting I was afraid it was too dark).

Thank u for sharing your storm experience. It's so weird everyone walking in my home today. Samples on walls...people are gravitating to storm.

Mmmnnnnnn...just scared my kitchen is open to the eat in area. Afraid it will be too much storm. Ayayay

I just saw the picture of the Storm sample on your other post. I think it looks great.

Here's a not-so-great picture of Storm in our bathroom. I think it's a bit overexposed because you can hardly tell that the grout is gray and it definitely reads as gray. And the wall color is a bit darker than this looks.

But for what it's worth:

If you're gravitating towards a darker/more intense color for the walls, perhaps it's because you're enjoying the play of contrast against your newly white cabinets? Personally, I love the contrast of gray against white (or cream). I also think cabinets can play a dominant role in a kitchen, so just because your walls are darker doesn't mean that your entire kitchen will be. You can always paint again with a lighter gray if you find the one you choose to be too dark in the end.

Also, I highly recommend you be patient and put some thought/research into the color of your subway tile grout after you install. There are numerous posts on GW about gray vs white subway tile grout. Personally, I like those that use a light or medium gray that show off the shape of the subway tiles. Grout the color of the tile will lose the shape to an extent and you'll mostly see color. That may be the look you want, but I personally try to avoid rushing a grout color decision.

I think you are gravitating toward storm b/c it is the only one that provides contrast. I know the other two colors you have samples and they are just too light, especially in a white kitchen with dark counter tops. If you think you want some color though, just slide down on the paint swatches from quiet moments to beach glass, mount saint anne or even stoneybrook. Same goes for glass slipper - santorini blue and water's edge could be nice. Does your granite have blue in it? On the warm gray, taupe side, a FABULOUS color is plymouth rock 1543.