I like the first picture. Will you be contrasting light counter and floor with the dark stain?

Have you taken samples of both and brought them to your house? Natural lights can make a big difference. Are you keeping with your existing floors or picking out new flooring? Does one color look better than the other?

Hello

They are very similar. Does the cherry have a hint of red when you view the sample in your home's lighting ?

If so keep that in mind.

I would select a contrasting countertop regardless.

Let your hardware and lighting define your style and enhance it.

No contrast unfortunately. I do not have enough room for an island. The top is cherry java bottom is maple espresso

Santa Cecilia granite. Silver hood.

I'm having this same dilemma!!!

Cherry holds dark stain properly (rich looking), while maple looks washed out, no matter how dark the stain.

Hi

Hi, which one did you end up picking? and are you happy with it ? I have same delima.

Here we go again another person picking colors not taking into account the species of wood.

Stain color and wood species color are two different things. Maple espresso, so is that on maple wood?? Cherry Java, so is that on cherry as those are two very different woods?

What is the species of wood that is being stained?? Without that how is anybody giving stain color advise as it will look different on each species of wood.

I will save you a ton of grief here. Your cabinet co is using low grade wood and using a coating that is basically a paint to hide it. In reality your cabinet doors will be blotchy. Notice how you cant see any grain? its a paint that covers cheap

Choose a species that you like the grain of and that pick a stain that accentuates the wood not covers it. Also please do not go off of colors your seeing on the internet.

What backsplash is that? Mother of pearl?