Thanks so much Pillog for the feedback and the philosophy. Saying to DH last night, wouldn't it be nice if the world worked more like the gardenweb? :-) Everybody helping everybody else... I really like Eliz's kitchen, because it seems countryish, and at the same time, sophisticated and somewhat eclectic. The cabinet choice is similar to mine; the soapstone was my first choice but thought the green granite a practical substitute; and it looked like the colors would work well in my house. However, there's alot going on in her kitchen that would be difficult and/or impossible to acheive in mine and you articulated many of these things very well. Though a white kitchen is what I envisioned being "authentic" in my 1936 home, I guess my biggest fear was that the white (even cream) wouldn't flow with the colors in the rest of my house. Thankfully, you've eased my mind about that. However, when you say my stone is medium to medium dark, are you looking at the actual samples I have shown? The two on top are the granite, and the one below soapstone that was oiled, sanded, and left kind of a mixed bag. To me and DH, the soapstone seems pretty close in color to the blackish green granite samples. If my granite is darker that you seem to see it, I assume it goes with creamy white? If so, creamy white it is and on to obsess about other choices! Grazie!

Yes, based on these latest photos, the French gray is far too dainty. I think you're looking at the paint samples in the wrong context. Any color you have there coordinates well enough with your fireplace. But the cabinets will not be placed up against the FP, will they? I think you should be looking at the samples in the kitchen with the island barnwood, wall color, counter material and flooring.

It is very hard to see colors on screens. That said, to me the far left sample looks the best. The other two seem a bit yellow on my screen and the countertop does not seem to have any yellow.

Berwyn is a rather busy countertop. I'd go more subtle w/your wood flooring. you can always jazz up a room with prints, art, rugs, etc. but once you have a busy looking floor, you're a slave to it's look. If you want specific opinions, then post a picture of the flooring you're considering. you can never go wrong w/a nice oak. these last two show a deeper stain. I don't think it's oak, but it's a similar type of graining.