rhome - I agree the dark counters would have been cold and warm but to me, more or less a black color is more neutral, and I was also borrowing the idea from a magazine. Why exactly that black and the beige worked in my inspiration picture is beyond me - I just know that it worked. That picture also showed a kitchen w/ white cabinets and it worked beautifully, but again I can't say why. Probably cause there's a hint of peach or pink that makes it less than just a really dull beige - and then also because the beige went so nicely w/ the floors. Yes I like contrast and I definitely would have had it w/ the black/dark grey counters but I was really trying to move away from something that's not only so ubiquitous these days and yes so potentially dreary in our small, dark, North-facing kitchen. I too like grey and beige together, which is along the lines of liking tan with black. And it's funny cause you know how right now tan and grey is going together more like in interior furniture. As for my instincts, I don't know...I think it's more of a hit & miss thing. I think when I hit it I really hit it but when I miss it, well it's just too often or random for me to be able to gamble considering I won't have the money to rip it all out and start over. Don't even really have the money to be doing this in the first place! :-o It's not deficit spending per se, and half the money's going to pay off the one and only credit card we have, but the money could have gone to pay something more off such as car, or savings toward kids school, etc. (having some guilt there). Re. not having enough faith in my instincts, I agree there too...I just haven't had the opportunity to remodel before (the most I've ever really done is choose paint colors, curtains, rugs, throw pillows and furniture)! I think the bottom line is that black w/ tan works REALLY well - thanks to that magazine picture pointing this out ;) but grey and beige is just a lot more questionable. Here's the clincher, which happens to be what I want to say in response to mondragon: mondragon - What's funny is that I totally agree w/ you that it works in a more modern looking way. I think in a modern kitchen, the stainless steel and beige tiles would look pretty cool. Almost retro-modern, since pink was such a '50's color. Problem is I'm trying to make the kitchen look more 1913 (trying to make the stainless *work* as period, due to its surroundings and the fact that they did have zinc countertops e.g. in pantries back then). So I guess the final question is that while it can look good in a modern kitchen - and that's I guess where I guess my instincts may be okay - can it work in an older looking kitchen (regardless of the fact that marble definitely can)? Something tells me the farm sink, gooseneck faucet and pendant light might tie it all together (and the original cupboards) but once again - not sure. Thanks for taking the time to read and respond, and I'm sorry to always be writing so much! I hate that about me but just can't seem to help myself when it comes to something so important to me! Can you imagine having 3 small, messy boys, one big messy husband, and no dishwasher or disposal or undermounted sink to make life dramatically better?! ;) And now I'm thinking of upgrading from a very standard fridge made in 1990 that has 18.2 cu. ft., to something much bigger! Just being able to keep big gallons of milk in the door will be a massive improvement!

Making progress! Busy day so far. Second coat of paint, one hockey game, interior and exterior window cleaning, and some more pictures. New color is BM Aura shimmer. It reads blue in real life, almost a matching blue to the Vancouver Day, in a good way. I don't find it conflicts next to the brown tile. The white paint is much better I think but I think the trim work needs work. I still think the windows are a little top heavy, especially with the top trim piece. It could be more rectangular. That said, there are a lot of rectangles in this view. Perhaps something to introduce a curve? I spent some time last night looking at window trim on Houzz. The trim could be very wide and tall: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchens-traditional-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~1541411) [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Boston Architect Jan Gleysteen Architects, Inc It could disappear, with trim that goes to the ceiling: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/shingle-style-home-in-hanover-nh-victorian-kitchen-burlington-phvw-vp~106086) [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Burlington Architect Smith & Vansant Architects PC Or it could connect the left run of cabinets with the right (eventual) one; I forget what this piece is called: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/portfolio-traditional-kitchen-denver-phvw-vp~207337) [Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Denver Kitchen And Bath Angela Otten; WmOhs Showrooms Inc Thanks a2, blue would be more of a blue grey. I originally had baby/sky blue and couldn't STAND it. dretutz - what a nice thing to say, thank you! I am not familiar with Revere Pewter, will look it up. Hi colorfast - I haven't yet bought a paint sample of Gray Owl; may try if I decide against the current off white. michoumonster - thank you for the soft chamois color recommendation, with a name like that, it sounds lovely:) I may still try it.... BM china white I have used a lot of in the past. A few more shots then off to tackle stacking the wood. Gorgeous fall day out there! View outside the kitchen window: And my personal favorite:

megtannahill - thank you! It's 1in unglazed porcelain hex tile with white and two shades of grey (no black) so it has a matte finish. We have black and white hex tile in our bathroom but like you we felt the contrast was too harsh for our smallish kitchen. The tile is from Heritage Tile/Subway Mosaics. We laid out the design and the made the sheets for us. Dal Tile offers similar colors and finish but the edges are quite as rectified and they only offer solid color fields. This isn't bad if you just want to do a border but if you want a full on mosaic you're probably better off getting someone to make it for you than go through the madness of popping out all the tiles as you go. If you do want to go the custom route they can make about anything you want at Heritage Tile or they have a lot of predesigned options. M G - that looks great! I would see a soft white with a satin finish with a light grey grout (that matches the color in the counters) looking very nice in there. If you don't need trim pieces Terra Verre has a white subway tile with nice edges that could look good in your kitchen.

Note. Dark is pretty in pics but heck to dustmop several times a day..choose colors that help themselves look nice like anything which is in the family of the soil that walks in on the bottom of shoes in your house or whatever is in the air. Don't go too dark or too white but a denim or dusty sage or weathered wood look or medium hue basically, can be very enduring and add warmth to the tile and marble surfaces--- unless you have only adults and a very clean exterior? Than your options are many and that is easy to go with your dream view of the space. It sounds very pretty so go with the idea that the oak will evolve after you recoup from the kitchen update!