You probably already know we used Douglas fir. We used DF out of our yard for the house's interior trim, and love the beauty of the grain and natural colors, so didn't stain it. We decided to do the same with our cabinetry. I think it'd be easier to stay happy with light wood over time than dark. I don't think a clear finish is as trendy, so not really the fad, but not something that will go 'out' either, and I won't ever feel like it's darkening the kitchen. I wanted a kitchen that was mostly natural and light for a calm, fresh type of atmosphere, and I think the light wood does that. It's also a nice base for adding depth of color elsewhere... in accessories, backsplash, or in painted cabinets mixed in.

It's forgiving as far as splashes and flour or dust. My smaller section of burgundy cabinets show it all because of being dark, and the cream island cabinets show a lot, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: my kitchen

Rhome- Thank you for the response and the pictures! I was wondering how you had the faucet mounted on your island sink...so that really helps. Also, love the wood and mix of painted finishes.

I do want to add some painted areas (like the green island) and I think the light wood will highlight the ceramic tile better, too. Thanks to Plllog's ideas, I want to do the french blue countertop tile (with the white drip edge) and the white backsplash (bunny tile) with blue tile on the window sills. I think it will be interesting, durable and look good with the wood on the island and marble in the baking area.

I like white appliances so that should lighten up the space, too...but it would be fun to find a colorful range...but with everything else going on, white might be a better choice! LOL

I went with a natural red birch. In the late afternoon sun right now, it looks very light. Other times it looks more mid-brown. The grain is really pretty in the red birch. I just posted my pix finally here.

A painted white cabinet didn't feel right for a 70s tri-level house. I love these cabinets. The doors are the clear conversion varnish and clean up well. The cabinets are light enough that even though my granite is dark, it still feels cheerful and light.

As to the specific wood, here is a classic thread with a lot of choices.

Here is a link that might be useful: Show me pics of your bright, wood kitchens

We're using natural maple and soapstone. Our house has a lot of wood (posts, beams, all the trim) so we wanted something that wouldn't compete with the other wood. This is the sideboard we just completed - haven't started on the kitchen, but it will be the same maple, soapstone and light green glass backsplash.

My house had dark oak cabinets when we moved in in 1984. Ours is a small galley, with only 1 slider which faces north onto woods. I wanted a lighter, brighter space so in 1997 I painted the cabinets white. With kids grown and college paid for it was time for a new kitchen and I went with natural maple. Was tired of white but still wanted to keep it light. Love the natural maple. I have granite counter and backsplash which read gray but it also has the honey/gold tones of the maple in it. OOPS---sorry for the large picture!

Dseng- Very nice sideboard! The light green glass tile and soapstone really compliment the wood :)

Colorfast- Thank you for the link. There are some beautiful kitchens, but I especially like the last one...a bit lighter than the rest. Your kitchen makeover is wonderful and congrats on everything looking so good together!

All these kitchens with the light cabinets and clicking the link with the wood cabinets are beautiful. I love both white and wood kitchens as long as the kitchen has a lot of light and updated cabinets and everything works together. Thanks for sharing.

Colorfast- I looked through your pictures again...and I thought you had a soft gray tile backsplash. Maybe that would be an idea? Or maybe a soft gray/green?

Joanie- Beautiful kitchen! I like the granite and it looks so nice with the cabinets and the appliances. The granite backsplash is perfect...and I think more people should consider doing that. It's a great way to see the granite, even if you're not standing over the countertop :)

Lynn- I like a lot of sunlight, too...and the lighter wood cabinets do seem to reflect the light around the room!

My brother chose a shaker maple in a very light stain with super white countertops and gray cleft slate floors. He loves the look and wanted something light but not white. He felt having it open to the dining area meant that wood would work better for him than a painted finish. Sorry I do not have any pictures.

Prickly- That sounds like a very nice combination. I think the wood really makes the white countertops pop. I'm hoping the marble in the baking area will look a bit warmer, with the wood, too. I like blue and green, but with all white it can get a bit cold...so I'm hoping the light wood will keep things a bit warmer feeling, especially in the winter :)

Thanks, Lavender! Regarding my backsplash, I have been thinking grayish blue since there are light blue flecks and bits in the granite. There is also a bluish green glass I've been eyeing. Now I have a bathroom that needs tile too so I'm stuck trying to get tile and prep for both rooms worked out.

Regarding your wood choice, this is something I thought about a lot before starting. You may want to also post over on the woodworking board. I also found other woodworking boards that had good info. Also ask about how much darkening you can expect with the different wood species you are considering. I think(?) your inspiration pix could be pine?

Some of the photos on my prior link are darker than others in the same kitchen--lighting is everything. I think it's really difficult to capture the color of a wood precisely on camera--almost as hard as getting a good shot of one's granite. Note that the very last picture you like in my prior link, that was actually a painted wood cabinet. I think the sheen of the paint looked brighter than the wood does. Something to think about.

I did look at a lot of wood, and you really have to see it in person. Also, you have to see it as it will be finished. When you get to some finalists, with smaller contractors you may need to buy a door or drawer front sample if they don't have the one you want in their collection.

Given that you like really light--it seems to me that fir, maple, select maple, white oak, regular birch would be your top contenders. There is also bamboo but it is used in modern applications, and not at all like your inspiration. Beech is in your color range, and is very popular in Europe. I didn't really like it as well natural, but this is all personal taste. (Many people love beech.) And while people often stain alder dark to mimic cherry, it is actually a moderate to light colored wood naturally.

Perhaps on the edge of too dark for you but still in the light to moderate range are red birch and quartersawn oak. Quartersawn oak was not in my budget but it is so very pretty.

I tried to find more pix of a couple of my favorite lighter wood cabs lately--presumably you have seen Rhome's so I did not pull hers up. Check out the full post of Farmgirlinky's vertical fir kitchen:

Farmgirlinky's Kitchen

Best photo of Sparklekitty's red birch cabs on this site:

Wood kitchens with Red birch Drawerbank closeup pic

The Finished Kitchens blog has categories where you can look at different wood species. Here is one in white oak:
>White Oak Kitchen by SW in Austin

HTH

Here is a link that might be useful: Natural Quartersawn Oak, Random Google Image

Colorfast- Thanks for the links! There are some wonderful examples, but I do like the yellow/gold cast to the wood...in the island (last picture of the earlier thread) and my inspiration picture. I think it makes the room feel warmer and will look better with the blue and green.

As for your backsplash...I really like the way it is now, but I know it can look different on a monitor. Where do you plan to end the tile, at the peninsula? It looks so crisp and clean right now...but a little sparkle from the tile (and I'm sure easier clean up) are nice, too :)