Golden Oak rises again! :)

I like a two-toned look, and if you do a search here, you'll see you're not alone.
Sometimes the toughest thing isn't finding something you like, it's deciding between all the things you DO like.

When you make your decision, I suggest getting cabinet samples to check the tones in your lighting. Just like paint, they can change with the light exposure, the coating on energy efficient windows, etc.

That's a great picture!

I love the look in that photo. However I would not derail a beautiful, classic kitchen with two tone cabinets. When we remodeled our kitchen I chose dark cabinets and light counters. Mine were very dark as the rest of the house had dark woodwork and I wanted the kitchen to fit in with the rest of the house. Plus I loved the dark wood and it wasn't common or popular at the time. I did not do two tone cabinets as it wasn't popular at the time but were I to be doing a kitchen now I would also not do it. I think it's a look that will be associated to this era in the future and I prefer something more classic and timeless. I didn't make choices based on resale as I thought I'd stay in my house much longer than I did but I did sell and the kitchen was a big factor in the quick sale.

I just finished a remodel and used a creamy white upper with a light/medium maple stain on the bottom.I have some glass doors for display, and the counters are Cambria Helmsley, a crazy cream/brown/gray/shiny speckled quartz. Love the whole thing.

Sometimes the toughest thing isn't finding something you like, it's deciding between all the things you DO like.

Bingo! It's true. And in some ways it IS making the process harder. I think another reason I love these cabs/look, is that it is slightly rustic imo. Rustic is warm. I am drawn to warm, and want a warm kitchen among other things. But, my home is not rustic, and therefore I don't "think" I should be leaning that way.

Your suggestion to bring home samples to try out is a good one. One thing I thought of. I don't have a real light counter right now. If I get a bright white counter, that will reflect some light up. Will it change things much? Not enough to matter?

3Katz, you raise a good point. More than anything, I do want a timeless, classic kitchen. Good food for thought! Thanks.

faftris, got any pics? I am so glad you are pleased with the outcome! :)

I believe that's Sayde's gumwood kitchen, and I love everything about it! IIRC her island is stained two colors. I've always liked the warm tones of golden oak, although I used a fruitwood stain on an antique table and sideboard--sideboard is now a bathroom vanity, but the table remains in the DR.

ETA, this link from Atticmag still works, in case the GW thread on Sayde's reveal has been hit by the Photobucket hostage situation. Vintage gumwood kitchen.

Are you sure those upper and lower cabinets are actually different? I think they are the same wood and stain, but the lighting is making them look different.

I am going with a dark stain on my cabinets and a light counter (Taj Mahal quartzite). I do love white/light kitchens, but I have a Spanish style house with an open kitchen and white cabinets won't look quite right. I have seen old Spanish homes with white kitchens, but the kitchens aren't open to the main living areas. I also have dark ceiling beams in some of the public rooms.

The kitchen designer I'm using is really excited to do a dark stained kitchen ... not sure if that is a good or bad!

chispa, I do believe you're right. I wouldn't have thought so, without the link to the kitchen. But apparently it is all gumwood.

mama, thank you for the link!

Glad to see this and to hear there are others that like stained wood cabinets. We just got our new cabinets installed and they are medium dark in color. We will be going with a white quartz countertop as well. I have maple cabinets and due to how maple takes the stain we have a lot of variation in the wood (dark and light). I love it. I think the cabinets have so much character. Mine also look different according to what light is hitting it.

Love seeing the blog post too.

I have white uppers/tall and cherry lowers; my house is 1915 arts and crafts. I love wood and was originally planning all cherry. However I'm doing wood floors too and was concerned about feeling surrounded by brown. I think the white uppers help make the cabinets blend in more with the wall and not seem as heavy in the room. And while two tone wouldn't be original to my house, I like things a bit mismatchy and to feel like it was added and evolved over time.

Lyndy, what white quartz are you going with, have you decided yet? I am undecided on a counter material and how white to go.... I'm so glad you are loving your cabs! And yes, nice to hear from the "dark side", we are the definite minority round these parts. ;)

caligirl, I admire that you could do the white and dark. I could never do that, I am too "matchy", though I'm trying to get away from that. I think you were wise to break things up. I have seen some beautiful two toned kitchens!

Very pretty Lyndy. That looks like it would go fabulous with your cabs. It does however, to my eye, look a bit beige? I did not see the overall "white" I was expecting. Is that just getting lost on my monitor, or would you say it in fact leans beige?

I am also doing a 2 tone kitchen, dark lowers and whitish uppers, light counters. I don't want either cabinet color for all of the kitchen. I have worked on the layout for a while now (2 years+...dreaming, ha), but never once questioned my decision to go with 2 different cabinet colors. Husband wasn't sure at first, our area is doing all white kitchens and as he is a GC...

Good luck and I can't wait to see the reveal!

lucky, wow, you've been dreaming for a long time! You clearly know what you want though, if you haven't ever questioned your decision. How satisfying that must feel. ;) Do you know what counter you are getting? And when do you get to make this dream real??

Thanks for the well wishes, same to you!

Thank you! We finally have the plans and hopefully we will start/be in the middle of it within half a year! We are doing a huge renovation, adding 1,000+ sqft, moving the kitchen into a new location, taking down exterior walls and adding a 2nd story etc...if it was just a kitchen, it would had happened years ago :) Luckily my husband is a very talented GC! I dream and design, and he builds (and advises if my dreams cannot become a reality, ha)! I don't know exactly which counter yet...I want to choose the new flooring 1st, then cabinet colors, then counters based on how everything looks in that light. Yes, not a quick turn around project BUT I will not be without a kitchen for a day as we can do it in stages, and turn current family room into the new kitchen before starting to turn the current kitchen into a laundry/mud room. With 4 kids this should be an interesting journey ;) Hopefully hubby still loves me at the end of it!

Not what you are looking for but I have beige uppers and green lowers and my island is dark stained wood beadboard (new construction) and I'm going to paint it green soon. I live in a 1920's house. Countertop is white marble.

Beth, it is described as being white with taupe and grey flecks. So, yeah, it might throw a beige cast. It's white enough for our kitchen though. I actually wanted a darker counter, but was told it would make my kitchen too dark with the stained cabinets and my warm colored floors. So, I had to rethink my countertop. I have seen whiter versions of the speckled quartz, but I also love the look in the photo you posted above. I'm sure you will find what you want soon enough. Once my kitchen is finished, I will post some pics. :)

I have LG White Pearl with my wood cabinets. I recently saw a pic of LG Soprano and thought it was really pretty - might have picked it instead though I haven't seen it in person. It looked like it would work with wood.

Lyndy - I almost chose your countertop:) It is definitely white and not beige.

LG White Pearl:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~57088087

Lucky, now I know how you got your name, you're married to a GC! ;) Your project sounds impressive, especially when you throw 4 kids in the mix. Wow. Interesting indeed. lol You are brave... I wish you all the best, and look forward to pics!

Martha, thank you for posting a pic. Your kitchen looks very warm and comfortable and lived in. (in a good way, some kitchens look so bare and almost sterile) :)

Lyndy, thanks for getting back. Just trying to get a read on different counters/colors. It is hard to go look at every single one you might consider, so I try to do as much "leg work" as I can on line. But that can prove difficult also because of monitors. I am thinking though that yours would be a warmer white, given the color of specks. And that is kind of what I am after. I look forward to your pics!

jhmarie, thank you for confirming about Lyndy's being white. Your kitchen looks great! :)

beth, did you see this newly posted Houzz tour? They used two different woods, stains in the kitchen.

[Houzz Tour[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/a-kitchen-mixes-dark-and-light-for-a-contemporary-homey-feel-stsetivw-vs~90861802)

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No I hadn't barncatz, thank you for linking it!