I love the contrast of very dark brown/chocolate wood with white painted cabinets, like

Maybe a coffee-glazed cherry wood (go to: www.shilohcabinetry.com), although cherry wood will darken over time. I have a friend who just did her kitchen in creamy-white painted cabinets with a dark cherry wood island. She did the same granite on both the island and perimeter cabinet countertops-- a coffee color. Just beautiful!

I know this wasn't what you asked but here is what our KD told us. I was thinking of white cabinets and white appliances but he recommended against it because whites are difficult to match and/or coordinate. I followed his advice and went with stainless and I'm glad I did. Before he gave me this bit of advice I had already picked out and paid for a white acrylic tub, white (porcelain?) toilet and sinks and white subway tile for one bathroom. It is all in now and the whites defintely look off to me. No one else in the family is bothered by it but it bothers me. I don't kow if this is something that would make you nuts but thought I would throw one more thing in for you to consider.

I currently have white cabinets, white tile counters, white tile back splash, and white appliances. I don't like it at all. The whites do not match.

Now add to this lots of sunshine coming in from two story windows. The white color changes through out the day. A yellow tone and sometimes a bright blue tone but when the sun goes down a beige color. The counters and applainces will be replaced because of the white matching problem. Some of the whites cabinets look dirty next to the white refrig.

In my situation white appliances have not worked. But I have seen wonderful kitchens with white appliances and white cabinetry.

Best of luck