What are your plans for furnishings in the great room and dining room? Do you have furniture, rugs etc. from your current house that you'll be moving, and if so, what are the colors? If not, do you already have ideas/plans for what to buy? I ask because if it were my house I would want to co-ordinate.

I'm assuming that the cabinets are custom if your color choice is vast. That's good because you may want to change the color in the future. I'm only half joking.

If this is your primary home, and you're never going to do your kitchen again, stick with something that will stand the test of time. If you're looking for something trendy in your new kitchen, put that on the walls, window treatments, or hardware - things that can easily be updated. I have ripped out many "trendy" Pickled Oak cabinets and a lot of recent glass backsplashes that already look dated. There is nothing wrong with also doing the island in white as well. Maybe you could change the door style or add some fabric-covered stools in a fun fabric in a blue that you love!

My approach is a second/vacation home is different than a primary home. I assume this is not the case.

Good luck!

I'm not a fan of random colored islands. I think it's a passing trend that will be on it's way out before you even do it. I think it's great to have two different colors of cabinetry in a kitchen, and the island is the perfect place for a different color, but stick with the neutral colors is my advice and get a little more longevity out of your money.

Thank you all for your advise, it’s all very sound, and appreciated! I’ll take a look at that F&B color, and I also took a second look at the Tempe Star in the setting and realized that the suggestion had come from the reasoning that you just expressed, cpaul1. I can completely see the logic in keeping it more neutral with potential for longevity when dealing with cabinetry.

A medium to dark blue could work; avoid a satin finish -- choose a muted blue..