TR, milk paint has always captured my interest,so I will look at that. BP: Gosh, at first I thought those were your kitchens, then realized. Nice pics and thought provoking. GD, that is really the issue here, how much yellow would be too much or would it matter, being that high up on the ceiling. PW: love your beadboard island. Oh my gosh, I can see why this forum is addicting and now the choices. Better made with lots of opinions though. Say, most of y'all don't use your real name on this forum yet it doesn't seem "stalker prone", lol. Well, too late now. Interesting though. Thanks, will keep thinking and hoping that others will chime in. Of course, the floor color will make a difference too. Ellie

I enjoyed reading all the commentary. I learned alot especially about the use of varnish. It is an old school finish that uses resins to protect the wood with the added benefit of a leaving the wood with a lovely patina as well as adding a drama to the hue. A comment up the chain aptly likened it to the look of wood on his boat. In addition to varnishes I love using gel stains when i want to add a stain. The viscosity or gel quality allows longer curing period and therefore enough application time to greater control than regular stain products. I have also had excellent effects with gel stain on painted wood. If you work with it the look mimics wood quite convincingly.

IMO espresso colored wood was often Chinese junk why not look at something either darker wood not espresso or something completely different like metal and glass.. If you post some pics of the rest of your spaces it will be harder to advise

Here are some fabulous ideas! https://www.houzz.com/magazine/what-goes-with-dark-wood-floors-stsetivw-vs~29251681