No inspiring color suggestions from me with my head still pounding from my cold, but do have a suggestion about the small drywall area between cabs and window. Or maybe it's a story. My cabs and window/door/crown/base trim are the same color, BM Simply White. I have a couple of small areas of drywall showing around/between cabs and windows, doors, or applainces. Instead of introducing a different paint color in those tiny areas that could distract the eye and not relate to much, I'm painting those areas the same white as cabs and trim. I'm hoping the small areas blend in to the white rather than jump out. Is that possible for you?

And don't just revert to a safe, white subway when you want color!! Go for color!

Shaker Beige is neutral, but the key is watch for the undertones of those neutrals. Do you have a floor plan you could post so we can see how all these walls and areas relate to each other? I will admit to not really being able to sort out your description in my stuffy head.

It sounds to me like you have a vision of the colors you really want, but need to flesh them out literally in the light of day. Make up a color board for yourself: door sample, quartzite counter sample, paint chips, a few individual tiles in the color you want. I took my different samples with me when I went to look at granite, when I went to the paint stores. Try to find out which paint store has a good color consultant (Check yelp or citysearch.)

I like breezy's idea to paint the 1 inch strip the same as your moldings.

breezy... Thank you so much for your response! In a moment of frustration, I had considered painting both the walls and trim the same color as the cabinets. But it seemed strange to me and I wasn't sure if people did that. Then, I didn't know why it mattered what people did. Then, I didn't know anything! hah. But, you've given me a small boost with your story... and I'm certain that one less color for me to worry about blending or flowing or matching is a good thing!
I will try to post my floor plan... don't have access to my scanner right now.
I hope your cold goes away soon enough for some NYE celebrating. My 2 little ones and my DH are both in the same boat!

Hooray for you!!!
You are going to be brave a add a little color to your
life. Awesome. Truly this is awesome. Don't be afraid.
It is only paint. Yes, I know painting is daunting and
you want to get it right but the worst case scene would
be to have to repaint if you totally hated it. So since
this is not going to happen, because you are doing
your homework be brave.

You can do this and do this well.

The idea of the undertone in your colors is vital.
The color you have Shaker Beige has a slightly different
cast in different lighting and the undertone might not
work. Your inspiration pictures have almost a gray
cool base and the Shaker has a warm base. This is perfectly
fine, just be sure to see the paint options in different
lighting to get the inspriation you want. I find that
trying to match the udnertone helps when doing an
entire house. Cool with cool and warm with warm makes
it easier, more pleasing to the eye.

Pink base with pink, blue with blue, green with green.
Ask the folks at Benjamin Moore to help you find the base
of the colors you are choosing and take your tile with
you. And don't be afraid to mix your own color. Sometimes
graying down a shade makes it even nicer in your own space.
Or going a shade or two lighter.

A few ideas...

Blue Haze BM

Feather Gray

Heavenly Blue BM

Cedar Grove BM

Early Morning pratt lambert (this color is very cool based)

I show this last picture, not because the blue is an option
but so that you can see how to carry one color through many
rooms to create a sense of elegance. You can do this too.
You can use four colors or one.

Silver Sage (restoration hardware -Benjamin Moore)

Using three different colors

Artic gray bm

I just discovered this paint color yesterday. Saw it in Houzz and it's now my inspiration. I, too, will have an open design. I also love a soft sage green & some kind of white so will be trying to meld them somehow.

Looking forward to seeing how it works for you.

Here's the living room of the house of my inspiration.

[

[traditional living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by chicago interior designer Michael Abrams Limited

Here is a link that might be useful: [Shaker Beige house[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/seeley-living-room-a-traditional-living-room-chicago-phvw-vp~214101)

Can someone ID the b/s tiles in the OP's two photos? I'm waiting to choose a backsplash after everything else is done, but am drawn toward a soft green subway with variations in the color.

colorfast... yes, my next step is to make up a color board. It's been terribly difficult to try and obtain a sample door from my cabinet maker. Though they are scheduled to be finished with the order by next week, I am going to try again and see if I can get something earlier. I did pick my cabinet white by taking color samples with me when I went in to see my granite. Hopefully, my sample tiles will arrive soon and I can get a clearer picture of everything.

boxerpups... thank you for your ideas! They are beautiful. I wasn't a big fan of gray walls (one of my friends had suggested it), but then again, I never realized how much undertone can exist and change the effect of a color. I mean, only when I started comparing have I realized that there are blue-ish whites and pinkish whites, etc. I'll have to study those colors you suggested. They are lovely.

melaska... I have that same living room saved in my Houzz ideabook and it's the reason I've fallen in love with Shaker Beige! I would love to have my entire 1st floor in that color, minus my kitchen and sunroom. I'm also happy to hear that someone else is considering it with sage green and white. I'd be super interested to see how your space turns out,too!

linelle... the BS tiles in the 1st photo is Walker Zanger's Bamboo Mizu line. I had seen a sample in person and confirmed it with the designer. Unfortunately, it's been discontinued. The greens in it are similar to their Celedon color as well as Daltile's Pistachio. I'm hoping to find a tile with lots of variation in its glazing to get the same effect. Heath Ceramics has several colors that are close to both of the photos... since their tiles are all handmade, there can be a lot of variation in the glazing as well. I'm waiting for some samples from them to check it out... no showrooms in this area. Hope this helps!

dragonfly,

Don't you just love Houzz? One of my favorite inspiration houses on GW is from Jay Olson-goude. I'll link his construction album below. He uses a soft sage green I just love...he also uses a goldish yellow throughout as well.

I can't copy the other photos in his slideshow so I will link one that shows his living room in what looks like our color. This will take you to his slide show. It's a beautiful house!

Here is a link that might be useful: Jay's living room - it looks like our color