Since it is a new build, I would encourage you to solve your lighting problems with a good lighting design and not by lighter or darker finishes. It's amazing how many people feel that they can't have what they want in a complete kitchen renovation because of natural lighting conditions when they could just add more lighting and it's not a problem anymore. That said, stained finishes are definitely more durable and hold up better as well as being easier to touch up. i wonder if your take on the the painted finish is because it is sprayed rather than brushed. A sprayed finish with topcoat will not look or feel like a hand brushed finish and will definitely feel more "factory" and "perfect" and less "natural" especially to someone who is accustomed to a brushed finish (I don't mean a hacked brushed finish either, but a nice one done by someone who knows what they are doing). It is definitely a different look/feel but also a lot more expensive to do a nice brushed finish.

Here's a glimpse of my 10 y/o son's room. It needs help. After seeing your before and after pictures and actually seeing my uploaded picture, I'm strongly considering painting the slanted walls in his room. We recently replaced his carpet with the hardwood, removed popcorn texture, painted his room, and put up that ceiling fan that "he" picked out. I have not got to the accessorizing part yet, so there is not much to see (except red walls and those slanted walls that now really seem to stick out like a sore thumb). Whenever I get to that point, I will post more pictures. Again I love the color of your son's room, and I hope you will post it again after it is decorated. BTW I don't think you're nuts:)

Very pretty, indeed. I love the fabric...It's great to know how to sew, you can save a ton of money and change things all the time! I have tons of fabrics as well...stored in big tubs that are stacked on top of one another in a large guest closet. It's a sickness. Next time I go to my wonderful fabric guys, I'm going to bring my camera. You won't believe how much fabric they have...they ship all over the world (not retail - wholesale)It's a fabric-holic dream... The place is huge...I went 2 weeks ago to look for my dining room chairs and went home with samples, but nothing was right. I'll have to go back another day, when I have more time to look. When I went, I said I wanted something for my dining room table to use for protection, so I don't have to use the pads all the time...He gave me a huge bolt of the stuff for free, He said here take it...They are so nice these two guys. They sell me stuff for 1/2 of what I pay in the fabric stores and give me extra too... :)

Cuuuute house. Play around with the black. Maybe the metal roof and porch posts, but not all of the trim? like this This works because of the high contrast black windows...black window trim?... or what about painting that entire window pop-out black, along with the porch posts, but keep other trim white? mess around in that SW app.