Are you going with a particular cabinet line such that you're tied to their color offerings or are you open to colors from anywhere?

Good question! We're going through a local custom shop, so we can do any color. I think they typically use Benjamin Moore paint, though.

Any particular color family that jumps out at you? I'm one of those that gets massively overwhelmed by the entire color line so I actually liked having the forced structure of choices through a cabinet line.

Color is so hard! I really like the idea of white cabinets to lighten up the space, but I don't know if the contrast between white/offwhite would be too much with the floor. DH prefers white as well. I also like gray and permutations of it (gray-blue, gray-green) like the photo below, although I don't know if that would be too much with the flooring.

19th Century Farmhouse Renovation; updated photos by Mick Hales · More Info

Kitchen · More Info

White cabinets with slate floors - too much contrast?

I was about to say that there is too much contrast between the white and the floors, but then I found this pic. Needs to be a creamier white than your pic. I think this gray backsplash also helps.

I like the blue-gray-green idea, but if your husband's not on board then I agree with a creamy white.

One can go crazy deciding on white paint. I recently spent an embarrassing amount of time choosing simple ceiling paint!

To help kick off your paint sample collection, here are two to creams to consider that Maria Killam recommends:

BM Mascarpone:

BM Spanish White:

Kelleg69, that is exactly what I was thinking. I tried to "put it together", but my photo shopping leaves a lot to be desired. Not to much contrast at floor level yet gives some brightness.

Thanks for the ideas and color names! Those cabinets are beautiful! I just showed DH, and he was actually open to considering something other than cream. With that opening up more possibilities, would you lean more towards something like the gray/blue like in pantry picture above, or more towards a two-toned look with cream uppers and stained wood lowers?

Do you think soapstone is a good choice with the overall look? Maybe with a simple subway tile?

I haven't looked at a lot of two tone kitchens, but it seems like it can get a bit tricky when you have a paneled fridge and/or a full height pantry. Which color do you choose? Will it look off balance? That kind of thing. So I'm thinking that if you're paneling your fridge and if you have a tall pantry, I'd lean toward all one color.

I'm doing soapstone in my new kitchen! I can't wait. My floors will be a dark stained oak and white cabinets. However, I'm now thinking of painting my island a mid-tone blue/gray/green color. I'm using BM paint as well and there are several colors that look great with soapstone.

Dmeah, I think I would look for a picture to use as your inspiration. One that grabs you...

Since it's a bungalow, and with your slate floors, I think I'd lean toward a stained cabinet in a light tone. They are not as popular right now as painted cabinets, but I think it's worth considering. You could do a light counter and backsplash.

Have you seen Deedles' beautiful kitchen? I love it, and think it might give you some inspiration. Here's a link to it, hope Deedles doesn't mind:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2814455/very-late-reveal-small-rustic-white-oak-kitchen-pic-heavy?n=122

You might consider getting the Farrow and Ball color card, which has such a lovely limited color pallette. They can always color match B&M paint to F&B and sometimes it helps to have less options. I would also consider a light gray-green like pigeon, as seen here.

http://www.smittenstudioonline.com/tag/kitchen/

Thanks all. I'm feeling overwhelmed with the color options, and it's hard to pick an inspiration photo because I'm drawn to the ones with wood floors. I feel like the tile limits our choices, and we can end up going too dark (or just not cohesive) if we're not careful. That being said, it could turn out beautifully! I'll try picking up a color card and some more swatches, and I'm going to try to find some soapstone to see if that will coordinate well. Then hopefully build from there.

motherwallace, what colors do you feel coordinate well with your soapstone? Do you think any of them would look good on cabinets?

And thanks jlc712 for the thoughts on stained cabinets. Deedles' kitchen is beautiful and thoughtful! I think a light oak would look beautiful in the kitchen and fit with the style/period of the house, but the original uppers are painted and it looks like they always have been. And I think benjesbride is right about 2-toned with panelled or tall cabinets, so we want to have them all painted. I love the look of wood stained cabinets, though, so maybe in our next house. :)

I like Kelleg69's photo. Creamy white cabs with a soapstone counter. I like two tone kitchens but if yours tends to be dark I wouldn't do gray & as you mentioned your might have issues with what color to do the pantry. I do love wood floors but I really like your slate floors so many great colors in it.

Is there a little yellow in the floor? What about a yellow cabinets? I love yellow :)

I agree in using just one color. I had a two tone kitchen before and loved it but did not have the issue with the tall cabinets. (Old house with walk in pantry) If you go with gray I would not do blue-gray because your floor has yellow undertones. Whether you decide on the gray or the cream I would use something that has the yellow undertones.

I have to ask....if most/all of the pictures you like have wood floors...why not have wood floors?

It's a small kitchen and a light cabinet would be very nice. Wood floors would allow you to have some movement in your countertop (granite, marble) without being too busy.

And...are the tiles real slate? Will they be a little uneven? How is that for cleaning, walking on, etc?

White with soapstone

White with marble

Lavenderlass, great question! We'd planned to do wood floors because that's what was original to the house, and I love the idea of trying to respect its history. But, we'll be moving within 2-3 years, and our realtor has told us that we'll only get a fraction of what we put into the kitchen back when we sell. So, with that in mind, we're scaling back. Since the slate floors are in good condition, they're staying even though I wouldn't have picked them myself. I love the inspiration photos you posted, though, and that's exactly the look I'd choose if money were no object!

Thanks for noting the yellow undertones in the floor. I looked at them closely, and yellow cabinets would contrast too much, but now realizing the yellow undertones in them helps to point me in the right direction. (Funny, I've lived with them for several years and never realized they had yellow undertones. That's why I need all your eyes!) I think one of those creamy whites that benjesbride posted might be perfect.

I'll look for a creamy white with yellow undertones. Besides soapstone, are there any other countertop choices you'd recommend we consider? Open to anything except stainless steel.

How do you find off-white/cream subway tiles that coordinate with creamy white cabinets?

My monitor shows mascarpone with a more yellow undertone, the other might be more of a green undertone? I stuck the paint next to your floor:

I like how the paint color looks with the tile, but the grout color looks very light. I was wondering if darkening the grout and reducing the contrast in the floor might updated the look of the floors?

Genius! I hadn't thought of that, but using a dark gray grout would make the floor look so much better! Hmm, wonder how hard/expensive it is to do.