White upper cabinets, brown lower cabinets and large island photo...

Either all natural wood finish or all painted cabinets would look best.

You could paint the lower cabinets and the upper cabinets different colors, however, really dark with white is too much contrast.

If you decide to paint your cabinets, consider opting for one color with a paler shade for the upper cabinets and a somewhat darker shade of the same color for the lower cabinets.

I'd lose the fixed island with the odd (lower) bar overhang on the end - keep the countertop level instead. Alternately, you could even consider an upscale rolling butcher block cart instead of a fixed island -- especially if you have a door from the kitchen directly to a deck or patio and enjoy cookouts. A narrower center island might work better but the one drawn seems to large for that width space and I'm guessing it could be in the way of the standard traffic triangle (between sink, stove, fridge) if the cabinet in the foreground on the left is the refrigerator.

Having overhead cabinets sitting on the countertop is a waste of expensive countertop space. It takes up elbow room and crowds your workspace. I'd change the overhead cabinet with the microwave so you have the same overhead cabinets on each side of the stove hood, preferably with the widest doors practical, and then put the same overhead cabinets above the base cabinets in the right foreground, too -- but leave two of the bottom shelves in that row of overhead cabinets open -- perhaps the two center or the two outside cabinets -- one for the microwave and another for a toaster oven or other appliance.

Your current built in for the microwave appears to have no room for air circulation around it -- that is a potential safety hazard and will likely reduce the life span of your appliance as it overheats. Make sure you have the open shelves large enough to provide air circulation all around any heat producing small kitchen appliance. You'll also find that having the microwave and toaster oven closer to eye level more practical.

I love walnut and white kitchens I do agree keep the island all one level it just makes more sense for use I really dislike cabinets sitting on counters what a waste of precious counter space i would really look at how you want to mix the 2 materials visually i don’t really like either choice. As for layout I always walk my clients through the drawings as if they were working in the kitchen every layout I design is for my clients way of using the space not just about how it looks.

Thank you all for your feedback! I should have clarified that the lower table was intended to be a breakfast table since we will not have space for one anywhere else and the entire island/table length is long - 12 ft (7ft island/5ft table). We had considered full counter height for eating but felt it might not work well with young kids. As for the cabinets sitting on the counter it is intended to house a microwave and toaster oven which we would hide if guests come over for a cleaner look, but maybe that isn't really necessary? The appliance on the wall is a built-in steam oven. Regarding the comments on the lack of circulation for this appliance, I didn't know that was an issue as I assumed it is a standard method for oven appliances. Shedding any light on this would be great. Thanks again. This is my first time using this and I am thrilled how quickly the community comes in to provide valuable advice!

Nancy Lee - the first color combination is risky because the tall oven cabinet is dark and there's no clean break between it and the white wall cabinet beside it. It might look ok but it's not timeless.

The second combination has clean breaks with the perimeter in one finish and the island in another, but I'm not sure about a white island.

For classic and timeless it's hard to go wrong with a dark island and light perimeter.

don't make island two levels you will regret it. kids will grow up quickly and counter height will be fine and won't look dated in 3 years.