soft sage green-on the paler side.

Restoration Hardware's silver sage is really nice w this combo - i have this in my mudroom.. will post pics at some point :o)

We're thinking maybe yellow - like SW Hinoki. Any thoughts on this? The lack of natural light makes me shy away from sagey green. With compact fluorescent bulbs it might be hard to get right.

Yellow can be so pretty and it can be ugly. Its really hard to get the right shade. My previous kitchen had yellow that I loved loved loved WHERE THE SUN WOULD SHINE. In the part of the kitchen with no direct light - it looked GOLD :( I don't know the color you're considering, but I would just make sure its just a hint of yellow, not too much. Yellow and pink are 2 colors that (to me anyway) seem like the walls are reflecting or bouncing off each other. A little goes a long way. Especially with artificial lighting.

No light changes things.

Go yellow. I agree that yellow bounces off itself, but I disagree about a hint of yellow--that just looks off white or too pastel. But yellow does depend 100% on its environment. I have BM Lighthouse (NOT Lighthouse Landing) in my LR, and it looks soft, neutral and classically colonial. On a chip, it looks like the children's ward of a mental institution. It also looked awful when we tried it in the kitchen. Perfect in the LR, though.

Yellow can be very tricky, especially with not quite white...have you thought about a soft leaf green? The yellow side of green is spring like and cheerful...and will bounce what light you do have, around the room.

The difference between sage green and leaf green is like slate blue and soft turquoise...the yellow tones will really warm it up. It should be beautiful with your copper pots and butcher block countertops! Hope this gives you some good ideas :)

If the wall areas are just scraps of undesigned shapes in undesigned places, I'd paint them the same color, or very similar, as the cabinets, then bring in color just where I wanted it.

I think we want pics. We always want pics.

And I think lavender's leaf green suggestion is a very good one. Brings in the yellow light without giving you the sudden urge to do basketweaving projects and play checkers.

I'd get a sample of the soapstone and try paint samples and swatches next to it. You want your greens to complement each other. I think a light minty green might work.

I too want to see pics.
Meanwhile here are some white cab kitchens with soft
yellow paint to help you visulize.
~boxer

Westford MA by Homestead Kitchens MA

Divine Kitchen Inc. MA

Luxury Homes Maine

Cook and Cook real estate image

Kitchen Snyc

Annarbor Remodel

Thanks for all the help - especially the inspirational photos, boxer. We painted the walls a soft buttery yellow this weekend. We have a lot of french provincial style furniture and a blue dining room so i think the yellow will work. We are in the middle of our remodel so no photos yet! The floors are being installed this week followed by the cabinets at the end of the week. I hope to have photos to share very soon!