Hi, here you go! It's really hard to get good pictures though as one side has all windows and the room is small but tall. Not only do I have two different cabinet colors but I have four different counter/table surfaces. I put skinny mirror's in the uppers which reflect the outdoors, they are not wide so you don't really see yourself...just a reflection of everything. This is a DIY kitchen and everyone thought I was nuts with my picks until they saw it finished. http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=finished022.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=partoffinishedkitchen049.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=morekitchen001.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=morekitchen003.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=finished015.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20picks/?action=view&current=counterwithsink.png" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=finished011.jpg" target="_blank">

As a few people have mentioned before, posting a picture of your current space would really help! Painting your cabinets is, of course, an option (milk paint and chalk paint are two durable low-VOC options). However, I'd try a few simpler strategies first. 1. Backsplash. Try cutting sheets of beadboard to fit in that space. If your current backsplash is anything other than white, white beadboard will brighten it up quite a bit. 2. Mirrors. Do you have an area of wall where you can hang a mirror? To outsiders it may seem vain to hang a mirror in your kitchen, but reflecting what little light there is can really make a difference! 3. Appliances. Someone mentioned it before - black appliances will make the space seem darker. 4. Window. If you have any valances or window hangings, take 'em off! And check outside, too, for anything that's blocking light. 5. Upper cabinets. If you have ample storage space, consider removing a section of your upper cabinets. This is especially true if they're hanging over a peninsula or island. Other options in this vein include removing the doors on a couple sections, using glass inserts (frosted if you're worried about keeping things tidy), or replacing a run of uppers with open shelving. Or you could paint them. 6. Lowers. Cherry darkens over time/exposure to light, so it might be possible to lighten the tone by refinishing them and then sealing without a stain. 7. Counters. Replacing perfectly-good granite would likely be as expensive or more so than for professionally painted cabinets, but I think it would yield better results. Not an ideal solution, but still keep it in mind. 8. Flooring. Short of replacing your floor (what is your flooring, by the way?), try a couple of light-colored throw rugs. 9. Connections. How does your kitchen connect to the other rooms in the house? You mentioned you are in an historic district, so chances are you don't have an open floor plan. Do any of the adjacent rooms have natural light to spare? "Borrow" light with French doors or transoms above. Or remove a door completely (where it makes sense, of course), leaving a cased opening. 10. Declutter. A lot of extra stuff can make even a well-lit space seem claustrophobic. However, a few well-placed objects (especially reflective surfaces like a silver platter, or a small lamp for a dark corner) can brighten the room without having the overhead lights blazing. Let us know what you decide to do!

I painted my cabinets. My cabinets are exactly that "Dull and Flat". I LOVE them. Get what you love. Don't glaze just because she believes dull and flat is something bad. Here are a few links I used to help me learn and plan. Maybe they can help you too. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,202424,00.html http://www.doityourself.com/stry/paintkitchencabinets Meanwhile My humble kitchen is nothing like Kpaquettes or other GWers but I am proud of my simple white flat paint job. : ) I wanted a soft white not cream because I have white trim throughout my open concept house. A soft white worked for me. Trim is still unfinished in this pic. Glazed... Lovely but not my kitchen. This pic just inspires me and it is painted too..

I like two-toned kitchens in general..and I love white plus wood even though I agree with chocolatebunny that on this particular picture the contrast seems a bit harsh, at least to me because of sheer size of the kitchen, I'd like softer transition in such a space..but in any case it is quite beautiful. Whether it'll work or not-the two-toned look- will depend on size, light, as have been mentioned, and more than that-on layout. One needs approximately even amount of lowers and uppers to make the look work, or will indeed feel too chopped Very good point on deciding what color the tall cabinets( pantry, oven, etc) will be -should be well-considered. Great advice from cpartist as usual-always consider everything you plan in the kitchen in general context of your house White/light Quarzt is cool(I have light off-white Quartz myself) and is usually very clean-because you'd be prompted to keep it as such, every crumb, you'll see it, and will be complelled to clean it right away. -be prepared though to see seams when installed. You'll forget about them soon but first time comes as a bit of a shocker even if the seam is actually quite good. You see it like a very thin pale pencil line. "Who drew on my counter?" lol