IMO demolition does not beging until almost all the design has been decided that includes cabinet color for sure . I usually leave backsplash choice until cabinets and counter are in and the same with paint. But everything else should have been thought out before demolition. Who is your designer that is where these questions need to go. We have no idea about the colors without knowing what the rest of the house is like. Do you have mostly warm or cool tones, I sure hope that range is going whaere your sink was it will allow proper ventilation instead of the MW and I can’t tell but a counter depth fridge is IMO a must in small kitchens.

Thanks PCC. We are replacing mw with 30" hood and new stove will be a 30" GE Cafe gas range. Advantium 120 is going left of range (under counter where toaster oven sits). I initially decided on white shaker cabinets perimeter and had the layout completed, design is done but I'm just wondering if I should go darker with lowers instead of white. Last minute jitters. . I have everything in place just wondering about colors and counters. Order should go in by next week. Demo wont begin and cabinets not ordered until all of my concerns are figured out. I was good with my choices until I started reading more!

and we are doing counter depth fridge.

Thanks CW. I don't know the name of the exact white but they are white, not cream. I have a quote on inset cabinetry and overlay, just trying to decide on the that considering budget. I do like the look of a gray island cabinet, and they offer a lighter gray or a darker, charcoal. I was thinking the lighter gray as my kitchen is small. The cabinets are from Woodland Cabinetry.

Are you set on dark grey countertops? I wouldn't do grey cabinets and grey quartz together

Personally I would do all stained dark gray lowers with the quartz that has a marble effect. I would then have the bright white shaker uppers (and full height cabinets).

The upkeep with white cabinets is that paint wears faster than stain as it can chip, scuff and the shine shows everything.

Thanks - and I was planning the white perimeter uppers and lowers with a darker quartz counter top ( i like the darker charcoal -matte finish- on top of the white cabinets)and the light gray island cabinet with marbled quartz top. I do love a dark gray cabinet but I have a small kitchen and worried it may be too dark. We are a family of 5 with three messy kids - although they are getting older and less messy lol. Ill have to look at the stained gray - i just dont like to see the grain of wood in cabinets. This island below has the pendants I will do (I'll do 2 smaller Hicks pendants). I like the look of this island and top and the white cabinets with dark quartz in lower pic

Also, we plan another 10 years or so in house before move so I want something I can live with and something that won't be too trendy. I live in a 1930 colonial in Connecticut -a very traditional home but I like a transitional look - light, airy but still homey and comfy - not sterile

If you do the two tone, the darker would be more timeless. Where as the light gray an white is a little more trendy.