The problem with a really brown shade is that it will dull down the appearance of your wood countertops. The counters read as red-gold. The highest contrast to that would be a blue green. A more yellow green would pick up the gold and be a softer contrast. A more blue tone, like a spruce or a deep blue-gray, could be very soothing. If you want to stay with warmer colors, try going for a good value contrast (i.e., light vs. dark). A reddish beige tone, for instance. All of these tones are in your backsplash tiles (I'm assuming you were showing us the mosaic, not the hidden subway tiles). The best way to choose paint is to get samples of all the different colors you think you could like, paint large patches of each on different walls, and see how they look in different lights. Daylight, shaddow, rainy light, electric light, etc. Some which look fabulous in one light look dreary in another. One, at least, should look good whenever you catch sight of it.

buehl, question 1, I only got a quote from my regular painter who quoted me $1800 for the refacing. I don't think that quote is realistic as he is not a cabinet guy and simply gave me a low quote to get the business. question 2, I ordered 5 cabinets from Craftmaid to be assembled for my new island. That alone costs me $2500 and $500 labor to assemble. The total cost will be approaching $20k if I were to buy new cabinets, instead of refacing. But I see what you're saying. I certainly don't have a $20k budget but also realize that refacing won't be as low as $1800 either. Another consideration I didn't mention is our living room located next to kitchen has fire place, book shelfs, storage cabinets with exactly the same oak finishing too. I guess those should also be refaced if I chose the refacing option.

Tamara....I know this thread is old, but your kitchen is simply stunning! Are your cabinets Chantilly Lace? I read you kitchen delays and had to smile. I've lost weight and sleep over my darn remodel. Who knew how stressful this would be? If you used Chantilly Lace did you paint your ceiling the same. I just ordered my paint yesterday and I'm freaking out that it might be too bright.....

I have the gray bodbyn cabs in my basement. We use SW Lazy Gray in the entire basement.