I struggled with this exact same dilema. Most of the two tone kitchens have light perimeter and dark island. The style of my house and surrounding furniture does not really support the look of so much light cabinetry. But I also didn't want an all dark cabinet kitchen. I began searching desperately for pictures in magazines and as I looked I began to find a few and they were beautiful! Then Sharon1 posted pictures of her kitchen and she had the exact same color scheme I had just ordered and I thought it was gorgeous! It was a huge load off my back. My perimeter is a dark stain rustic beech and my island is a creamy glaze. I haven't picked countertops yet - I don't know what I want to do yet. I think the reason you see my light perimeters is that it keeps the kitchen light and airy and a dark island looks more like a piece of furniture. Flipping it is less common, but it is still beautiful. I wish I had pictures, but I'm a DIY project under construction! :-) I also searched for Sharon1 and all her pictures fell of the forum, which is a bummer. I couldn't find her in the FKB either - she must not have posted there. I'm sorry to not be more help visually. But hopefully I've reassured you that many of us have done the very color scheme you are considering!

A kitchen and bath store in Deer Park Long Island about 30 min. away sells only Hassem cabinets but his showroom looks so messy with cartons piled onto each other obscuring the door styles that it makes it unlikely that anyone can find what they are looking for. Yet people must be buying Hanssem as stores sell them or they would go out of business. At this time, I am slightly discouraged with what I hear about Hanssem. I am looking for a frameless, very moderately priced cabinet that won't give me any aggravation with a light maple finish and a door that looks like the Camden door (framed Thomasville.) I have Omega door taste and a Thomasville door pocket.

With regard to Thermofoil option: Yikes! I have yet to see a high quality option. The product is basically a sheet of plastic, printed to look either like wood or a high gloss lacquer. The MDF or particle board door is shaped and then a heater is applied to shape the sheet of plastic over the top and around the sides of the face. It is cooled and cut off along the back edge. Any cabinet next to an oven or dishwasher, will have issues. Period. Over time the sides tend to delaminate and you will get lifting and loose looking edges. Eventually they rip. Trying to match one, if something breaks a door is very difficult and expensive. If your cabinet line offers a free touch up kit- that is wonderful! Just imagine that when your counter top is being installed, they accidentally bump a door face. This is not a warning of an inferior finish- it is a thoughtful manufacturer.

I was having issues posting from my phone so now I'm on my laptop and for some reason under a different user name. Anyway, thank you all for your input. I was able to get a rendering from my KD with the saddle stain. The countertop is not that color though - we will be going with Calacatta Miraggio Gold quartz which is much whiter and should brighten it up more. Haven't made the final decisions on backsplash but will definitely be in the white variety. We're also putting in four recessed LED lights and most likely a pendant over the sink - still thinking on that part, but there will be light over the sink. Below is a better picture of the floor sample with Saddle and Barley. I'm still thinking Saddle is the obvious choice, but what about Barley for the uppers? I'd still leave the base cabinets and the cabinets surrounding the oven and refrigerator saddle since they meet with the floor. If not Barley, maybe Shortbread? I don't have a sample, but below is from Kraftmaid's site. I've also posted the Saddle and Barley for reference since colors can look different in different light. I've never been a fan of the two-tone in the past, but I think that is because most of them are white on top and to me it just looks a little unfinished. No judgement against anyone who has done this - I'm the same way about white cars. I have issues, I know. Anyway, the two-tone is growing on me - probably from seeing so much of it on this site. I don't know anyone personally who has done the two tone so it's a newer concept to me. I've tried searching this site for inspiration photos, but most of them are a mix of painted and stained cabinets or have just the island a different stain. My kitchen is small and we do not have an island. Does the two-tone work better with larger kitchens? Or does it not work well with two kinds of stain? If anyone has any pictures of a kitchen with dark wood stained lowers and and a light wood stained uppers would you mind posting? I'd like to get an idea how it would look in real life. I know I can ask my KD to re-color the rendering, but real life pictures are always better IMO. Any input or suggestions are greatly appreciated - even if you think I'm off my rocker for even considering this!