I think its important that the flavor of the kitchen match the house more than anything. i wouldn't put a victorian style kitchen in a midcentury home, for example.

Raised is more traditional, recessed is more versatile IMO. With recessed someone else could make the kitchen look contemprary or shaker/simple like.

Don't know if dual colors are a fad but if you're thinking about resale now, it'll probably still be "in" when you get ready to sell.

the fridge thing is personal and I don't think would make or break a sale at all. if someone totally hated whichever one you chose, they'd buy a new fridge.

Bottom line is houses with updated kitchens are going to sell better than houses that don't have them, so I wouldn't worry too much about the details. Doesn't sound like you've chosen anything off the wall.

Here a fridge would likely move with the owner so that isn't even a consideration.

Ditto the cabinets need to fit the house and beyond that raised or recessed wouldn't mater here. DH would think slab equals cheap, but in the right house, they would certainly fit.

First thing for me though was concern about a "large island" in a 13 x 11 space. Is the island taking the place of one wall? If not, that sounds very tight and could be the deal breaker for a lot of folks.

pence -- thank you. Valid point about the recessed being utilized in the future as more modern/Shake/mission. We'll consider that, even though this house is probably not going to be turned into anything remotely modern (at least not in OUR wildest dreams, but in the heads of others - who knows?!).

We don't WANT to sell, but with the uncertainty of job transfers... resale value must be a consideration; which is why this remodel is more midline than topline. We're hoping to "cut the difference" and choose items we can certainly love and live with, should we stay, but without bumping up the cost and completely over-doing it should we need to go.

Figured the kitchen would give us a good rate of return as it's an oldie from the 70s, and I'm no Carol Brady (or Alice)!!!

Thanks again for the input.

lascatx: Appreciate your comments. Each time I knock on a veneer panel, it's a negative, even though I like the LOOK of certain mission/Shaker styles. But I'd bet we'll stick with solid raised cabinet doors.

Here, fridges tend to stay with the house or are used as a negotiation point (which I find ludicrous, but that's just me).

About the island... It's hard to explain the kitchen layout, but while the kitchen "per se" is 13 X 11, there is ample space past the 13' footprint on both ends (6 feet plus each end). The kitchen was originally just a one wall design (yes, I currently have an IMMENSE 27 INCHES of countertop, haha). Since this might suffice in a 600 SF apt., it's just not working here. So we added the island which will seat 4 comfortably (6 in total), plus contain the sink, DW, wastebasket cabinet, and additional drawers cabinet. It provides a better work design yet keeps in-room dining, plus gives a more "wow" look from the entrance(s).

The "one wall" will at last have plenty of counterspace. The wall opposite is a mammoth fireplace which, while lovely, is a major constraint, but integral to the home.

We've run this design past a gazillion KD's, friends, and family, and so far everyone thinks it's so much better than the original - with still meeting code. :)

In most homes, I'd completely agree, this would be too tight. Here, the elongated island seems like the best solution to more than one aggravating problem. I'll try to remember to post the outcome once everything's complete!

Thanks so much, again.

For a small kitchen, I would do the island the same color as the other cabinets. Each change in color scheme will break your smaller kitchen into smaller pieces.

I've been looking at shaker style cabinets, and I've learned that the recessed panel may be veneer or solid. If it is solid, the raised portion is on the back of the door--looks kinda weird, but I don't think I want veneer. I haven't determined the cost difference yet, but I'm sure there is a difference!

Someone who did their kitchen a few years ago said the biggest mistake she made was not choosing a classic finish color. As I look at kitchens, I'm inclined to agree with her. So when I see a finish color called "praline" I worry about resale value.

I'm planning to use cherry with a light finish so I can see the grain.

Quick answers ;) are:

1. shaker/inset
2. black island, regardless of size. It's a nice, contrasty, old fashioned but edgy look and will pick up on lots of black that you'll have in the kitchen due to appliances and other things you'll most likely have like picture frames or what have you. Well, this is assuming you don't do very dark cabinets on the walls but if you're going to do stained cabs then I would do a painted island.
3. I used to think I would say no ice and water in-door but now that I have my Samsung counter-depth fridge w/ dual ice makers including ice and water in-door, I can't IMAGINE ever ever ever going back! The key is to research (I know...we're all sick of researching!) and find a fridge that has good customer reviews re. the in-door water and ice feature. If the worst complaint you get is that there isn't enough ice or that it makes noise when it ice falls into the lower bin, that's a great fridge. And w/ some models such as mine, you'll have enough ice (RFG 238 which can only be bought at Lowe's, I'm sorry to say...but there may be other companies out there who have similar features). If you're selling right away then it doesn't matter but if this is for you guys, have the luxury of ice and water in door unless you're not really into cold water and crunchy ice. I think I must have an iron deficiency cause I can never have enough ice! ;) Of course if you're going for a high-end fridge like Sub-Zero that's a whole other animal.

janet: I do love the dual colors, but your very thought (about it breaking up the smallish kitchen) keeps running through my mind. The "piece-y piece-y" is what I'm afraid of. Glad to know I'm not alone. Thanks!

kerrys: Yep, there sure is a difference in price (whether the raised solid part is on the front or on the back -- agree, as you say, "weird"). I'd really love to go with red burnished farmhouse cabinets (that's my heart speaking there), but my brain says, If the kitchen is to last for years, keep it rather classic and in keeping with the style of the house.

The cabinets will be birch KM, so the praline doesn't show quite as dark. It's the Dakota door style, which is rustic, with knots and worm holes, but the birch doesn't feature the extreme shading/striping that you see in hickory. "Praline" is medium toned, very warm, not dark, not light. Rustic cabinets won't work for many; dark and light won't work here. Guess it's the Goldilocks house; it needs to be "just right"!

The house is mostly cedar, with lots of glass and stone, thick beams and 25' peaks. (Why the original builder stuck in a small kitchen that can't be expanded is beyond me.)

Your light cherry sounds beautiful. I, too, love to see the grain bursting through beautiful wood.

Thanks!

With the fridge I would consider (1) if the door has wood panels, and (2) if the floor is wood. If either answer is yes I wouldn't do ice/water on the door.

theresse: A quick thank you. ;D

Would you go with the shaker even if the inset were veneer? I'm having a hard time getting over the "sound" of veneer.

Your thoughts on the black island echoed my daughter's... She also though it provided an "old fashioned" look (w/o being Victorian). It does remind me of the 30s, and before, when pieces more akin to furniture were used for kitchen "cabinets." Would you still go with black, even if the cabinets will be rustic birch, stained praline (medium, warm, not dark but not light)?

Another concern is that DH wants black granite countertops; black on black would be too "blobbish" for this kitchen, imo. But I guess we could go black granite on the wall countertops and a beautiful wood block on the black island... or simply stick with a lighter granite all over.

Love Samsung, too! Not knowing if we'll stay or move, a Sub Zero doesnt' make sense righ now. So Samsung it will be; just didn't know if it would be worth the extra bucks for through-the-door ice/water. (Might be worth it to make the hubby happy!)

Isn't life great to have these "problems"?

Thank you!

I was going to also point out that you can have a flat recessed panel that's not thin veneer...It's called 'reverse raised panel.' I agree with the others that it's a cleaner look and easier to adapt to any taste and style. Raised panels are more traditional and formal.

My parents have SO much trouble with their ice in the door fridge. If others actually keep working, I could see it being nice.

Hard to know without seeing your space and the overall style whether your particular kitchen and home can 'handle' the 2-color thing. It should look comfortable and 'natural,' not forced or contrived. That's what will help it survive a change in trend.

sue36: Thanks. I'm assuming that you would be concerned about water spillage harming the wood? Since it's just the two of us, and we've always had hardwood floors and ice/water through the door, w/o problems, I'm hoping we won't turn into spilling fools anytime soon. :) Or, was there another concern about the combination?

rhome410: If we stick with birch, the recessed panel is less rustic and shows way fewer knots and such. It would, however, be a nice chunk of savings over the raised. Your word "contrived" describes another of my concerns; I don't want a thematic kitchen -- other than it being rustic just like the house. Thank you!

If your kitchen is one wall plus an island, I would tend to make the the same rather than doing 2 colors. If you do a second color, vary the style a bit and make it look more like a furniture piece.

Water and ice through the door can sometimes spit out beyond the glass (crushed ice is the worst) -- and some ice dispensers have a tendency to spit out one more ice cube after you walk away. It's more the fridge than the people.

I have recessed panel on my perimeter and raised on the island and hutch and I don't feel the recessed is any cheaper feeling than the raised (which are knotty, btw). I've had door panels that rattle in the frame and feel pretty cheap. The house we rented after we were married had those and DH would reject anything like them. If you want recessed but don't like the feel of the ones you are looking at, look at some other brands.

None of these options sound like they might "make or break" a sale. However, my preferences would be as follows. You could also check with a local real estate agent or browse local real estate listings online to get an idea of what else is being done in your neighborhood.

I prefer inset/shaker style. However, I do remember checking to see if cabinetry was solid when I was first looking to buy a home (years and years ago). I would also look at some other brands to see if I could find a shaker with a solid recessed slab.

I would stick with all one color. I personally see the multiple stains/colors having a potential for going "out" at some point. However, I have also seen it done incredibly tastefully such that it adds a lot of depth to the kitchen, so again it's not a deal breaker.

I personally prefer the ice/water in the door. We drink a LOT of water in my house and it is hugely convenient. I would not worry about this being a concern for resale as long as the fridge looks new and clean.