I have to say that while I love "puritanical", I'm having difficulty with big chill 1950's style blending in.

Limed oak. French limestone knockoff in tile.

Cabinets all same color = soothing, a little background for pops of color delivered through decorative, practical items. Even when they are freestanding pieces. I'd be tempted to just change counters to whatever was best suited to the piece - wood, perhaps some wearable stone like slate and marble, even a limestoney quartz.

Good luck and can't wait to see your photos.

Oooh the mock-up is really great! We love SW paint too. Well, my husband does, he is our painter and says it is easier to work with than BM.

There was a Puritan Thanksgiving doen in Bon Appetit a few years ago. It was shot at some early American historical spot in Mass. (aren't I great with details!) Anyway, I linked it and my point is that Puritan does not mean no color! Although I do agree that washed out neutrals appeal to the aesthetic you are after.

How about creams and greige and oooh...rainwashed is a nice grayish blue!

What is the price diff between The Big Chill and Smeg? Can you get the Smeg? It is much more refined looking than TBC. I know the 2 door Smeg is not available in the US :( Are you going with TBC so you can avoid the icebox?

The tile you are getting looks kind of Provençal to me...Provençal Puritan? Cute!

Here is a link that might be useful: bon appetit spread

Thanks for the input. Yes, I was calling the style "French puritanical" and my teenagers corrected me and told me it was "Huguenot."
I like the Smeg too, but the only ones I could find to buy are more apartment sized (9 cubic feet- and about 1/2 the price of the BC but that's

I also am fully on board with the color scheme in the sample. I love the thought of a dusty gray tile (with a little texture to help hide dirt), with lighter gray grout, a beige tone or greige for the cabinets, maybe with a sage, blue-gray but even better just stained wood free standing piece. I'm thinking of a more muted version of segbrowns kitchen, lighter taupe, less white, more cream, same wood tone. But I also agree that a change in counter material might be enough variance, particularly if you want more of a canvas (versus painting) feel to the room.

And on a side note, Sabi, what is going on with the half off the table plates? I find it so unsettling it ruins the otherwise calming happiness of the decor. It's like they managed to express the stress of putting on such a huge meal in wordless photos simply by hanging the plate off the edge of the table.

dear jcoxmd: I'll keep thinking of flooring ideas. But for now I just want to chime in and say how much I love your kitchen ideas so far. I'm really excited to see someone using those beautiful backsplash tiles. (I've had them in my idea folder.) Let's hear it for Huguenot kitchens!

Brickton---Sounds like a question for the art director ;)

Jcox--True. Big Chill in baby pink and Big Chill in cream are totally different species. It will look terrific. Love your palette. Love your choices. Love the uniqueness of your future kitch.

I like the idea of a mixed, light slate or a tile that mimics that.
{{!gwi}}

Try looking at Farrow and Ball stone-like colors, like Light Stone, Clunch, Off-White, Joa's White or Archive, Old White, and Stony Ground, as examples.

Would it be possible to create a central "rug" within a floor tile pattern, using contrasting tile? It could set the tone for the French kitchen. I suspect you could create a fascinating combo using the colors of the backsplash tile.

Also, have you considered Marmoleum, which can be had in tile form and can be adapted for custom designs as well as larger solid sheets? It's supposed to be easier on the legs and wears very well.

Thanks for all the ideas! The Farrow and Ball colors are so beautiful...makes me love neutrals even more. Florantha-I did consider Marmoleum early on in all this, but DH nixed it and as he has been pretty much letting me do what I want I'm respecting the few things he pipes up about. I'll have to think about the tile "rug" idea. Could be very pretty...
Any opinions about the daltile continental slate in "English Grey" for this room? (Link below.)

Here is a link that might be useful: English Grey

Looks like it's worth sampling. Ditto for the Brazilian Green version. (You know how monitors can be. . . ;^))

I think the Daltiles look decent in real life: its worth it getting samples.

I am a big refrigerator buryer/hider but I like the idea of the subdued colored, vintage looking fridge in your scheme.

If you are looking for a bottom mount (as opposed to top mount freezer), vintage look fridge, Elmira Stove Works makes one in its Northstar line. They have a bisque color.

Big week for me...chose the soapstone (Minas)-and the fabricator threw in the marble (Carrara-but he had a remnant the right size). Have been tripping over samples of the Daltile "English Grey" and the "Brazilian Green" and Arizona tile's "Prairie Dusk" on the kitchen floor. Decided on 18" square tiles for floor. Have sample colors from Big Chill, AND got a start date from the contractor...2 weeks away, so I need to get a move on and get flooring, etc. ordered next week. I like the English Grey the best for the floor...it reads like the tile in my inspiration photo, and like the floor in the kitchen in the link below.
My new concern (and maybe I should start a new thread) is in the mix of the cool (the floor is a cool grey) and the warm colors (the range backsplash.) Is there a trick to blending these successfully (I have the beadboard and cabinet colors to play with, as well as the fridge)?

Here is a link that might be useful: unfitted kitchen, grey floor

Matching greys ...
http://colourmehappyblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-everyone-should-know-about-gray.html

Thanks everybody for helping! I ordered the fridge today (longest lead time) in a warm creamy color. I've pretty much settled on Arizona Tile's "Prairie dusk" for the floor (may not be magical, but will hide lots of dirt!). I've got my f&B color fan and I'm thinking maybe I should just STOP worrying about the exact colors of the beadboard/wall/cabinets until the floor and the new lighting are in place. This will slow down the finished kitchen (I have a talented, cheap,lonely painter and I was hoping he could do some of the work off site to speed things along). Validation? Should I wait until the room can help me choose the rest of the colors?