I'm thinking dark brown like in this photo...

Fabulous Kitchens · More Info

I'm not clear on your question...you may want to cross post to the design forum.

I love contrast too. I don't think it is too much at all! I think it depends on your space and what you love. I love every inspiration picture you posted.

What are your floors?

My floors will be a dark hardwood. I haven't picked the colour yet but they will be dark... just not quite as dark as the island.

I like contrast and am doing the same thing- white cabs with black perimeter (soapstone) counter, and dark gray island with white/gray quartzite counter. I am Hoping it will look beautiful!

I like the look too. What I would say is keep the lighting simple or, rather unobtrusive. It can still be really pretty like the third and fourth pics where it is seen but not heard. In pic one especially, I'm drawn from the beauty of the cabinet and worktop colours to the lights too quickly.

I think a lot depends on the size of your kitchen. If it's large enough it can definitely handle the contrast and in actuality the contrast will help it visually not look so large. However if it's a small kitchen you might want to choose one less element.

I'm no color expert but I'm a bit concerned about you having a dark floor and a dark island. I think there needs to be contrast between the floor and island and you might lose that if they're too close. And there may be a possibility of the two darks clashing? I dunno. Just something to consider.

Would you consider a color? Gray and navy are popular now and would look great, imho. Or a something that can go with many color schemes like a pale yellow, celadon green, pale aqua because they often play like neutrals?

I think we had that question before. To me it seems a little too positive/negative.

Several threads with lots of pictures.

http://www.gardenweb.com/gardenweb/query/kitchen-countertops-with-white-cabinets

I don't think it is too much contrast and I am planning on the same colors. I will most likely do lighter floors though. Dark floors might be too much. I love a nice espresso stained island but I have seen some black stained islands recently that I like.

I like all your images, but have to say that even the first batch looks like a very dark brown to me, although it is hard to get colors right from pix. Agree that you want some contrast between floor and island-- I would pick them out together and with samples in hand under lighting conditions as close to the final reality as I could get them.

Just be aware that really dark floors will look dusty immediately after you've mopped, so that's another reason to go for some contrast between the island the floors. We had very dark (espresso) floors when we moved in here, but when we redid the floor, we went with a mix of coffee/rosewood stain, which is both beautiful and so much less maintenance.

Choosing a kitchen focal point? Here is a great
article that might help: Kitchen
Focal Point

The contrast is nice imo. Another advantage of the dark island is that it won't show wear as much as your white perimeter cabinets and is easy to touch up. And the island gets more wear and tear than the perimeter., so nice to make it stained dark.

Getting ready to sell my ten yr old house with a similar kitchen. Very little touch up needed on the dark island compared to the lighter cabinets.

On another note...Dd just redid her red oak floors in Minwax Dark Walnut. They are beautiful. She says they do not show dirt too badly. And she has two little ones.