I don't normally like this look, only because I think in ten years it's going to be really easy to date a kitchen from about 2003 to 2010 by the colored island contrasting the cabs.....but in a period home I feel totally different about it, especially for islands because they didn't exist when the home was built. In a local home here (about 1870) they have done three different paint colors on their cabs in milk paint, and it has a very unfitted look for a basically fitted kitchen because they have used multiple cabinet styles. The main style is a simple shaker but mixed in are a couple of hutch looking areas done in fancier cabs so they look like they migrated to the kitchen over time (both are different) then there is their fabulous island which they did in quarter sawn oak, built in a mission style like a large bureau. It workls perfectly to enhance the feel of their period home, which they are restoring very true to it's original feel. The hutch cabs have reclaimed marble tops from other pieces long gone and they are about an inch below the main counter. The other counters are wood aside from the zinc in the butlers pantry and the island is soapstone. I love the way they were inspired by a period look but made it functional and expect to be doing something similar in my 1889 home. I'm expecting to paint one island and do the other in wood to resemble an old store counter (likely in oak) but will be doing the sink in a different style with distressed paint (to look like a dry sink) and the hutch will be in antique pine. It sounds busy if you think of your kitchen in a 2000 way, but in a turn of the previous century way that's exactly what a kitchen looked like. So my vote is...yes to the painted island, but if you really want to enhance the period feel consider changing a few more things and maybe add another color in as well. :).

I also lean towards the all the same color camp. I love some of the kitchens with the accent island, but I do worry it will be a trend, and I know some people don't like it so for resale it may not be a great solution. (I know it's a balance between what you love and what will work long term, but since you're asking for other's opinions...) Glaze can look nice, but I only like it if it's really subtle, and if it's really subtle, you may not even notice the difference between the island and the cabinets. I think with dark cabs and light/white granite there will be enough contrast I wouldn't worry about making the island stand out too. Just my $.02! Good luck!

I've used an ebony stain on a maple rocking chair and found the task to be really difficult. It took lots of coats to get an even color. The final finish is great, but I doubt I will ever try it again. I love milk paint and have always had success with it. I have an old maple dresser, stripped to bare wood, that I first applied a diluted red milk paint to and then did several coats of black. I rub out each coat between applications. I follow the directions in the link including the oil finish. The dresser turned out better than I ever expected it to. I did a very gentle rub to barely allow the red to show through in normal wear areas. Have you thought of painting the island a different color? You may not get an exact match and a color with a thinned black wash over it might blend the new island with the cabinets without going for an exact match. I've always done construction first. You need to make sure you clean any excess glue as you use it. Stain or milk paint may not absorb if glue is on the surface. I have also used many brands of milk paint and found they all worked well. Just mix what you need and keep it stored in a tightly covered container while you are working on the island. Please email me if I can help in any way. Here is a link that might be useful: never fail milk paint instructions

emagineer... We have checked the restore and the cabinets they had were even worse than mine! They were absolutely horrible and ugly. Nothing new in that store, everything was used. Its about 45 minutes away, so not something we can frequent often. We had actually originally stopped in because we are trying to put a corner shower into our master bath (there used to be one but the po took it out and put in a huge hutch). They had one but it was 4 inches too big. I could probably go once a month though. Ill have to look in Feb. Electrical is going to have to be upgraded.. it drives me crazy when I cook. Thanksgiving day, dh just stayed downstairs so I could yell at him to fix the breaker again lol. And with 4 children... I could use a dishwasher!! I had thought of painting the cabinets white.. the big hutch is very close to me taking a sledge hammer to it. Whats interesting is the old stove plug in sits there. I can see why they moved it... since it would have put the fridge right next to teh stove. I would also like to put my new fridge over there again.. and I do believe that would make it fit though Id have to check height (just leaves water line to redo lol). Nope no Ikea close by :( But I have seen an island somewhere around here like that. I do have white curtains up now, but they arent doing anything for me. Hmm.. silver accents.. didnt think of that. And I can find ads online and print those off and frame those. The old walls are yellow... one of the many many paint colours in there (currently there is white that is peelign off, with the yellow under it, then theres the inside of the cabinets in an ugly olive green, and behind the old fridge is another green. I just dont love being in my kitchen, and seeing as I spend a lot of time in there, I would like to love it!! I could easily paint the walls yellow... but would that be too much? Ive gotta paint soon. And then of course look for new hardware for the cabinets.. and I do love a lot of the ideas!