Thanks for your replies! Sharb's kitchen is similar to what I have planned -- but all of my cabinets will go all the way to the ceiling. It looks like hers have a space between the top of the cab and the ceiling? However it makes me realize that off-white cabs can look lovely with white trim! My kitchen will be a very simple/classic style and there is not any height variation with the cabs -- it's almost "boxy" (by design of course!) since the kitchen is a rectangle with the island in the middle. The molding is also a design choice, it will add depth to the boxiness. Hope that is a good way to describe it! I'm having trouble picturing how it would look if that line was broken by painting the molding white. I'm still open to suggestions! Thanks!

@kel_kat5 How wide is the counter space in each of those three options with the various pantry sizes? How big is your family? I'm considering a 15" pantry which seems quite small in comparison to most I've seen, but I live alone and currently have no pantry at all, so I think any tall cabinet would seem luxe!

This is the combo I have thru out my house - Alabaster walls and Extra White trim. I love it in every room.

If this were my space i'd spend to fix the microwave situation. the walls are the problem as they have a yellow undertone. I dont see the problem w cabs and counter at all. Paint the walls the aesthetic white shown above. or a neutral bone or ivory or a white w more green undertone. stay away from yellow anything due to the true tan/brown of counter/floor.....Then I'd probably swap the glass in the vertical cabs for a smokey/frosted glass. I dont find the clear glass in that situation a plus at all. I dont see any yellow issue w cabinets from these pics........lighting assessment and a neutral wall color will address what you think is a yellow cast to cabs.....but probably is not. Money saved. Fix the corner w microwave.