First off, find another painter that knows what he's talking about. Cedar shakes take paint fine and the fact is, solid color stains are indeed paint anyway as they are both film forming products that sit on the surface of the wood. That your surface is already primed means that no finish is going to penetrate the wood at this point - that is what the primer should have done. Two coats of BM's MoorGard (low lustre) or Moorglo (satin) should provide a finish that lasts 10 years or more. Biggest concern is factory prime. In most cases, primers should be topcoated within 30 days of application otherwise adhesion by the top coat becomes problematic. If it was my house, I would prime it again with Fresh Start 023 and apply two finish coats of either of the products mentioned above.

lceh, I'm sorry I came late to this thread -- have you looked at the General Finishes dye stains? In terms of quality they're superior to the MinWax products and you might get a longer lasting finish from them? Then there's also milk paint, which is a fabulous cabinet finish topped with a good sealer. It's gorgeous. For anyone who is trying to "stain" their old cabinets and can't get all the previous coating off, this is a potential option. They make an additive that allows the milk paint to seal to previously-finished surfaces. Done this way, it's more opaque but has lots of natural tonal shadings that are the next best thing to a translucent stain. This is an old unfinished oak dresser I did, it's milkpainted white with gray stencils, but gives you the idea. (Driftwood plus Snow White and a little Slate gives you a perfect Gustavian Grey...) Whichever product you choose, they'll all look good -- have fun mixing! Here is a link that might be useful: Milk Paint

Oh, I agree...no fun to make decisions under pressure, but it feels like thats been the story of this build...Ive learned so much and it feels like 80% has been under a deadline...so am considering trying to figure out the paint stuff tomorrow-or at least take a guess...the walls are so small it wouldnt take much to repaint if needed-Thanks so much for the suggestions of those colors...I just looked them up--I really like both of them. They do look clean/fresh. The laundry room will basically be filled up with the rustic hickory cabinets (lowers along the sink wall- a silgranite sink (blanco laundry sink) which I'll need to choose a color for as well---thinking something of a medium to darker shade just b/c it will be easier to keep clean), & then upper cabinets on the washer/dryer wall) with a quartz countertop (doing granite in kitchen, but figure quartz will be easier to maintain in laundry room)-color tbd...that will take up the log/sink wall and the right/garage door wall....the opposite 'longer' wall we are planning to build a bench/cubbies 'mud room' type piece that will run along that wall...perhaps paint/stain that. There will be a light (pendant or semi flushmount) over the sink, and a flushmount mid room in front of the washer/dryer-oil rubbed bronze and frosted glass. I was also thinking about putting some simple, maybe live edge shelves to the left and right of the window, or maybe those could have some color too. We're doing most of the finish work ourselves & are both working full time--nothings been ideal about this build & I know I should have these things picked out by now- this is my first house I've even owned (I've always rented & have moved A LOT-so maybe have painted a wall or two, but never had the opportunity to design/paint/etc anything from scratch...its a gift, a challenge, and outside my comfort zone all at the same time. :)

Yeah I posted it twice. I couldn't get it to upload a pic from my phone so I did it on the