Wow! Thanks for all the fabulous pictures so far. mommycooks, I'm so glad that you found the thread and could post. I'm liking that praline color a lot! alexamd, those cabinets are beautiful...and since my floors are oak too, you've got me thinking. What's that stain color? And those pendants are really amazing too. I just keep going back and forth on the white or stained. My kitchen doesn't get a lot of natural light and it's only 13x17'. I'm worried that it's too small to have the wood on wood look, but I want something that's warm and cozy. Do you think that in my small space that it's too much wood?

My former formal living room (made a transition into a "library" last year) has light cherry cabinets / shelves (though they seem to be getting darker), and I used SW 'Grassland' on the walls. It's a lovely sage green. The room is north facing, 1 window. I could take a picture if you like, but the room is a mess (we just found out we're relocating out of state, so I never finished decorating that room, AND it's been collecting "stuff" while I work on the rest of the house).

roygbiv, this was exactly what I planned on doing. I have had the HARDEST time choosing between cream painted cabinets or the cherry... but for now, I am saying Cherry (but I so love cream too!!) and I will do the island in cream. jejvtr, thanks for all the links.. I got "stuck" on the rate my space, and spent a couple hours on it!! (of course, 2nd guessing myself again!) I did have hardwood in the kitchen in our last house, and I did really love it, however, I only lived there 7 months - barely enough time to settle in. The flooring is a Spanish mahogany, so it is a different wood species, yet I am not sure if it has enough of a contrast, or if it doesn't really matter much if I am going with a lighter (either in the gold or beige) granite and doing the island in a cream glaze.

Thanks for the help! lcskaisgir - I think I also like the darker floor color. DH is worried, though, that the glaze on the cabinets might drive us crazy. He says "It will look like a bunch of brown squares everywhere." lol Thank you may-flowers. We are definitely NOT using the mosaic in the kitchen. (Considering using a small strip as a baseboard inset in the office.) Thinking of just a cream arabesque or subway tile for BS. That is why I tend to lean towards the unglazed cream cabinet. The travertine under the mosaic is on the floor around the fireplace in the adjoining great room so we are also trying to make sure the the wood flooring works with that. ZLauren - I also like warm tones. Makes the house feel homey to me. What is we used the door on the left, but without the glaze? I know the detail wouldn't stand out as much as it does with the glaze, but would it be more in style with the rest of the kitchen?