My vote would be white cabinets, white "hutch", oak island soapstone counters INCLUDING the island and carrara only for the backsplash.

Looks like it is going to be a beautiful room :)

Now why can't I make decisions that easily? ;o)

What do you think about the height of the hutch? Does it look freakishly tall and skinny?

Any idea why your photos all embedded as postage stamp size?

Sue

It's the first time I've tried doing it, and I have no idea how I managed that... They're clickable, but I know that's not as convenient.

I suppose you already know that I prefer it shorter. It's a different piece...unfitted...so can look a little different. I'm doing my hutch piece shorter than the rest of my cabs, so maybe I'm biased. When they're comparatively narrow and on their own, I feel like they're out of scale when so tall.

I'm not convinced about the hutch being white, but like Sailormann's other suggestions. I would only do the island in marble if you have it white, I think. Another thought a little out of the box of what you're planning...The hutch could be painted a whole other color for a little added charm, pizazz, or whimsy.

I had a similar situation in my kitchen, and I struggled for weeks trying to decide on the colors of the countertops, island cabinets and 2 hutches.

What finally helped me was to find photos of kitchens with the types of color schemes I was considering. Eventually I realized I kept coming back to the same inspiration kitchen. I ended up with white perimeter cabinets, including both hutches, wood top on one hutch (other hutch is like yours with no countertop), dark brown island cabinets, and white marble on perimeters and island.

{{!gwi}}

If we did marble on the island, it would either be black or white (not oak). I love marble with black, and I've seen several kitchens, including one here yesterday, that have that same element. My only hesitation is the kid factor with the marble... If I only had 2 or 3 kids to police, it would be different, but 12 is a whole 'nuther story! ;o)

If the island were white with soapstone top, what paint color would you suggest for the hutch? I was thinking maybe a putty or khaki color, but I think I might also like a slate blue-gray. My absolute FAVORITE kitchen picture I've collected for my files has a butler's pantry-type design like we're doing with white uppers and blue/gray bases. It looks gorgeous in the photos, but they have marble everywhere. I'm not sure I'd like it as much with soapstone.

I'm definitely agreeing with you that the hutch needs to be shorter.

I was thinking of the hutch in a color with the island in wood. I still like it in wood if the island is white...for warmth and a variation in texture. It could be almost any color stain and work...Something that lets grain show through. That's what I'd do, though. If you went all painted, which is certainly an acceptable and classic look, I think you could do any color that sings to your heart...Something you can love when you walk in...that would be the jewel of the kitchen.

So Rhome - are you saying white cabinets, wood island, and then the hutch a third option? I just want to make sure I'm understanding what you're suggesting. I think I would like a caramel color on the hutch, but then I'm still stumped about what color the server cabinet near the dining room should be. Oak? White? Same as the hutch?

And then the countertop options - ack!

What about this? What if I did all the base cabinets in a caramel color (or maybe stained wood) and the uppers and island in white? I could get away with using soapstone for all the tops.

If I used a honed statuary marble tile that has some faint tans in it, would it still work for a back splash?

I really like this two-color option, but I wonder if I would be sick of it in a couple of years. Any thoughts? {{!gwi}}From Last Import

I would keep the server cabinet white, so all the perimeter cabs(except the hutch piece) are the same. I would do the island either stained wood or black. If the island is stained, I would paint the hutch. If the island is black, I would stain the hutch. To me, the hutch piece takes on a much different feeling than the other white cabinets. However, if you don't want it to stand out, keep it white.

Good luck. I'm sure whatever you decide will look great!

Here's one more picture. It's my favorite kitchen in my inspiration kitchen file. :o) It's not a great photo (it's from a Uponor radiant floor heat ad), but I love almost everything about it except the chandeliers. I really like that the base cabinets are a subtle blue-gray color. Do you think it would look OK with soapstone tops? I'm really sold on soapstone. :o) We could still have the carrara subway tile splash, and maybe carrara on the island.

I think that is just gorgeous!!!! I wish I could photoshop and put soapstone on the cabinets for you. What I could do is try to put the blue-gray on one of the renderings like I sent you. I still think that color scheme could look wonderful with the island or hutch stained a nice darkish (not too dark) brown.

Oh, I see you asked me a question...Yes, I meant white perimeter cabs, stained island, and colored hutch. I agree with Mahlgold that the server cabs should be white.

And I do like the 2 color scheme you posted above in drawings, but maybe it'd be less trendy to keep the colors close together (not so much contrast) like the photo? I'm not sure. I could really like the stained base cabs, too.

Too many good ideas!!

worldmom, you and I have a similar vision, I think, for our kitchens (and don't even get me started on my passion for hutch-like cabinets!) I really like when the perimeter and island cabs and counters are the same except for one (and only one) variable. For example all white cabs but soapstone on perimeter and marble on island (which is what I'm doing.) Or all marble counters but white perimeter cabs and a black or stained wood island. In your case I could see having the hutch be the same as the island rather than the rest of the perimeter cabs, though, because it is almost like a stand alone unit. And I know what you mean about it looking too tall - it's because it *is* taller by virtue of going all the way to the counter. I'm currently wrestling with my on the counter cabs and worrying that they are too spindly. But I think your kitchen is going to be beautiful.

I love your inspirtaion picture. Would love to see the others.I agree with the opinions- the two different cabinet colors work so well above because there is a subtle differnce in color. I think doing a differnt color in your hutch like cab makes sense regardless. It just depends on your taste- in the stain it gives it more of a country look as well as a separate piece of furniture and the white seems a bit cleaner. Love seeing your posts, I am currently struggling with counter choices myself.