They do look good!

I'd just stain the bottom dark and go for it.

If concerned it's too dark, then I would paint the upper cabinets a light, warm gray. IMO, it will look a bit off-balance having the dark uppers with light lower cabinets.

While I do think that the cabinets are a beautiful color, I think that it would look better if the bottom cabinets were stained this rich chocolate brown. Then you could paint the upper cabinets a lighter color, such as an ivory, light cream, or light grey. Right now the cabinets are blending in with your gorgeous backsplash and creating sort of a "black hole" effect. Also, as mmilos stated, it does look sort of off-balance when the upper cabinets are dark and the lower cabinets are light.

I agree that they are off balance on top. I would have put the darker on the bottom. Could you lighten the top with a white wash (I'm not liking this idea very much but just throwing it out there) and do the darker on the bottom? Minwax colored wood stains are lovely and can be mixed to almost any color.

Alternately, paint the top cabinets cream and put the dark stain on the bottom cabinets.

I would paint the lower cabinets cream, maybe add a brown glaze.

I don't think it will look very good with a lighter color on the bottom. Usually you want the darker color grounding them. So I'd just stain them all the darker color and then if, in a year or two, you feel the kitchen is too dark, paint the upper cabinets a lighter color.

Great solution! I love the idea of cream on the inner cabinets and more of them open. That will look quite beautiful!

Here is a picture of one we did, this is just to give you an idea of using 2 colors together. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Personally I like the dark and would do dark on top and bottom

Stain the lower cabinets to match the upper. Do you have under-cabinet lighting? It would help.

I agree with Kitchen & Bath Design. Stain them all dark, add under counter lighting if it's not installed already to show up the backsplash and counters, and add some glass doors to lighten up the top. If you decide it's too dark overall, you can paint the uppers later on down the line. I have blond oak cabinets and am trying to decide whether to paint or not to paint too. It looks like your stain job turned out great!

I also agree with doing the cabinets all one color. What you've done so far looks great. All you'd need is pops of color to add brightness to the room.
If you haven't stained your island, then you could consider painting those cabinets a complimentary color, even a gray.
Chrysteen

Thanks for all the feedback!!