IMO- While I agree with 82mainstreet about painting cabinets white and not expresso, I also believe you won't be happy unless the color combo pleases you. - First, what do you want to accomplish? Are you intending to live in the home for a long time? Or are you painting for resale? - If you are painting for resale, then classic white for your cabinets is your best choice. It has wider appeal. A future owner will find it easier to change the wall color than the cabinets. - If you are planning to stay in the house, you can be more personal in your color choices. - But be wary of fads, especially when painting cabinets. It is much easier to paint walls. From your photo, it looks like your cabinets are nicely finished wood. Personally, I wouldn't change that unless they are damaged. I would just update the wall color, but that is just my opinion. If you do paint the cabinets, don't be swayed by fad colors. I would still recommend white or maybe a pale cream. That way, if you get tired of your color combo in the future, you only have to change the walls to update the room. - Unless you are changing your appliances and flooring, very dark cabinets will probably make your kitchen feel overwhelmingly dark and warm. - Consider your lighting and how you want your kitchen to feel. Does your kitchen feel too warm or too cool when your work in it? - White will give your room a light and airy feel especially if paired with cool blues and greens. If that seems to make the room feel too cold, white or cream can be warmed up with a bright wall color like apricot, lime green or turquoise. Try looking through magazines for color combos you like...or look inside your own closet for colors that make you feel good.

My kitchen, nook, and family room are all pretty open to each other. A friend who I trust picked Comfort Grey for my breakfast nook kitchen and family room. Once I painted the nook and kitchen my husband and I both thought it would be too much in the family room. These rooms have northern windows except for the one western window in nook and 2 smaller windows in family room. I really like the Comfort Grey in the kitchen where there is no natural light cause it looks more green. What should I do? Should I paint the nook and family room one color and what color should I try? Also I have a taupe going up the stairway off the kitchen and family room..how do I transition paint there with 2 possibly 3 different paint colors? PS Please disregard all the kid stuff and clutter..its winter break here! Also my daughter and husband both do not like the paisley drapes..opinions on those? We are looking at putting our home on the market in a few months so I would like to stay neutral. Thanks!

Your tile is beautiful and I love it with the counter. You might try posting in Kitchens....it has a lot of activity.

Thanks, H D! A friend tipped me off. I'd been gathering samples for ages without finding the right thing, and I don't think I would have found the "Terra Nova Mediterraneo" submenu on Mexicantiles.com without a tip. Here are some closeups: