I think I'd do stained on all the bottom cabinets and painted on top, with the exception of the full length cabinets being painted and the top cabinets between the two tall ones on the left also be stained. That way the trim can be white at the top for all, and the top stained cabinets in the middle can have stained trim at the top only across that single top. Sort of make it look like a piece of furniture hutch placed there.

with a white fridge[?] I'd do all white...insert the stained alder for the the 2 double door wall cabinets between tall ones on long wall. Also use the alder on dish wall cabinets on left and right of window....use white on top cabinet above wall oven. Personally, I think you are short on counter run areas. I'd omit the tall assembly left of fridge...the tall unit at the far left should be enough....skooch fridge to the left..put a cabinet between dishwasher and fridge[save energy from excess cooling needs of your fridge].You need more space between fridge and sink, to be frank-don't proceed with this.

Print out the image you posted and break out your colored pencils.

I've been following your threads because we are remodeling a similar kitchen size/layout in an older split-level house. Personally I think you should do all white painted cabinets on the perimeter, and do a stained alder island. You can bring in more wood elements for warmth with hardwood flooring and your kitchen table. I'm afraid your kitchen will look too busy in your smaller space if you try to mix painted and stained for upper/lowers. But you've probably looked at lots of photos online and must like the look (I personally prefer a more uniform look to cabinets). And looking at your floor plan, I would try to lengthen the island a bit to give yourself more prep space.

you might like to read this article and look at the pics: http://www.mariakillam.com/kitchen-cabinet-uppers-lowers-different-colours/

Plan is for stainless steel appliances if that changes any suggestions.

I'd probably do something like this...

We just finished our kitchen remodel with creamy white uppers and stained medium maple lowers. I chose it for several reasons. First of all, I wanted some visual interest in a rather dull layout. It's a condo, and nothing could be moved. Second, I felt that stained cabinets up to the ceiling might be claustrophobic. And last, the cabinet guy thought that painted lowers would be much more difficult to touch up, should some calamity happen. The refrigerator is enclosed in the creamy white, and it looks well-thought out. I don't have a pantry wall--too small a space. And, I didn't really look at what was trendy now. I just had a picture in my head, and I wanted to go "a little" crazy. I'm getting older, and this is probably my last kitchen!

faftris: do you have any pictures to share?

It seems like we are/were thinking along the same "lines" There is a lot of oak wood in the space between a bay window, French patio doors, kitchen window, front door, garage entrance door, and a stairway. We are adding hickory medium-toned stained hardwood floors to the now combined kitchen, dining area, and original living room. All wood cabs just seemed claustrophobic to me too...all dove white cabs I struggled with due to no other painted white surfaces. DH REFUSED to consider painting the woodwork so I am stuck with tying-in oak trim. I have not given up hope of getting him to agree to dove white pained spindles and wood banisters...it is a long shot!

The space is not huge. I am waiting for the workmen to stop putting down the ply subfloor so I can take a picture of the space.

Sorry, I'm a moron who still has a flip phone! No pictures. But I was recently in a neighbor's home and she had redone her kitchen, leaving the oak cabinets and changing the counters to gray granite and the back splash to a mosaic gray-black-white tile. It looked great! Don't shoot me, but I'm with your husband. I would never paint beautiful oak woodwork. I think a gray stain that lets the grain show through would be lovely. Or if you want to go a little more crazy (LOL) a colored stain like a blue or burgundy that would show off your oak in a warmer way. Enjoy the choosing. It feels like a chore, but the results are so worth it, and SO much more fun to clean!

Generally I like uppers and tall as white (and that's what I did) because I like the eye-level cabinets blending into the wall. Yours is different because you have that buffet kind of section (that's the dining room?). I think the buffet upper/lowers should be the same color.

It would be nice if you could distinguish the dining section from the kitchen, either with color or style. Like maybe kitchen is shaker door and dining room is shaker with an extra rail. Or there's some molding to kind of trim around the dining cabinets.

This kitchen is pretty extreme, where there's actually 4 different colors.

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Just throwing out ideas, I think using the color pencils sounds like a good idea so you can try different options!

Oh about the woodwork: my parents have stained woodwork in their open family room, kitchen, breakfast room. Designer told them to paint it all. My mom hasn't ruled it out, but not ready to do it right now. She did white cabinets with stained island, and bought white furniture for the family room. I think the stained woodwork makes it feel warm.