Flipping through magazines and clipping picutres here on GW can really help. You can clip by saving to your "Clippings" the scissors on the upper right corner of your post. Visit FKB (Finished Kitchens blog) look at all the cherry and brown kitchens you can find to see what you like. I tend to agree with you that a cool brown not cherry is going to be easier to work with than a red cherry color. But this is just my personal love of wood tones. Keep in mind colors of floor, walls, counters, and the lighting will all add to the way the colors work. Meanwhile here are some different toned woods. Maybe you husband can start looking at what he loves the most and perhaps the two of you can find a dream kitchen. ~boxerpups Cherry Here are both woods used. A reddish tone and a warm brown island. Oak or fir (something with a rich grain) Maple Celebrity Cabinetry Strawberry Hill Millwork Cherry Luxury homes Delaware Cherry with a pecan stain Progressive Builders Mutschler Ktichens inc. Blake Sophisticated Stone Kansas City Lyptus Wood DuraSupreme Alectra Montego Door Lyptus Riemer Fine Cabinetry 11 If there is more of one color or type above let me know by responding and I will try to find more images similar to what you like above. Thinking of you and hoping you can find the right combo for your new kitchen. ~boxerpups

Thanks colorfast, good advise. I do plan on getting the cabinets made locally and have been to a couple of shops. I will look for alder. Because I am going with flat panel cabinets, it seems that everyone uses veneers for stability. And there are lots of choices out there for veneers, including exotic woods. I saw a veneer today that was quarter-sawn walnut, lovely warm brown colour and narrow grained, like quarter-sawn oak. I will keep looking, to see all the choices. Has anyone heard of or used a product called eco-wood? It is real wood made into veneers that look like other species of wood, ie mahogany, teak, oak, etc? It looked like a pretty good product, sustainably produced, but it feels strange to buy "fake" wood when I live in British Columbia!

I tested a bunch of stains. I like the Defy Butternut color on our rough sawn cedar (#8, lower right corner) but on the smooth cedar it looks a little red/orange. I think we will solve that by keeping the ceiling of our gazebo natural w/ a poly coat and do the outside and pillars with the defy butternut. Second picture is our gazebo (upper left) and two inspiration pics of the color I am trying to get. Bottom right are my samples, Defy Butternut is the closest I found.

I like #2 and #11 for your attempt at a Fumed European Oak. Now for the biggest issue that you did not anticipate....you MUST apply a coat of the finish OVER TOP of the samples you have put down. Do NOT attempt to pick a colour without adding the single coat of finish. Remember to put down a "Control Patch" of finish on a 1ftx1ft of raw wood. You need to know what the wood looks like with JUST the finish. What finish are you using? Can you add a coat of finish and reply with the new look?