ballardman - iron mountain actually does have a strong brown undertone in my room's lighting. It doesn't look black at all. I'm leaning toward that choice at the moment, but keep coming back to the simplicity of all white as a backdrop for the room. Have to decide by Saturday, so 48 more hours to change my mind 100 times!

I suggest using a light shade to keep the kitchen full of light. If you go for a grey try a lighter shade!

the grey!

I personally like the all white option. If you are going with a "touch" of farmhouse, white cabinets that get nicked, dented or worn over time in my opinion look better than a chipped or worn black painted cabinet. You may want to consider going with the more neutral option (white) as you can always add accents of gray or black. Down the road you may want to change to a new color scheme and it will be easier to add a different pop of color with the white. Whatever you decide you certainly will have a beautiful space with the selections thus far!

I say go with the Iron Man! Your beautiful floors add the farmhouse look and the pop of dark on the island will add the wow factor. The deal breaker for me was how much it brought out the grains in the marble. All white seems to either wash out the cabinets or counter, I can't seem to tell which. However the dark counter just brings it all together. Overall great choices! Hope this helped!

Wow love the colors, would love to see it finished

jent78 - I'd love to see it finished too, ha!

I'd be happy to post pictures when it's done. Crossing my fingers that it's soon, but so far this project is just crawling along.

Our kitchen is more modern than transitional. We installed white cabinets and a grey painted island and are very happy with the choices. Let us know what you decide.

I personally like the idea of breaking up white with a little gray. Is it a large kitchen or small?

Cabinets were installed today, so you can see the layout now! It's a decent sized kitchen, not large or small. Kind of a galley I guess, but not really. It's a remodel, so we are working with some preexisting quirks.

Kitchen is off to the side in a huge open space that will be our entry, family room, and dining area. So I can't tell if the space is defined enough to warrant a contrasting island. Ignore fogged up picture window in the background, it will be replaced by new doors.

View from entryway:

7sisters - yesterday I spent some time I narrowing down my favorite kitchens on Houzz down to my top 5, and those two happened to both be in the final 5. If I could get that feel with my home, I'd be set. This one is also top 5 though, and it's white with white!

What did you decide to do?

Still totally undecided! Having a tough time settling on either choice. I wish there was a way I could visualize each choice, but I don't have photoshop skills.

Not sure if this will help or not, but my kitchen was BM white dove on perimeter, BM Coachman's cape on island, with a very similar floor to yours. Hopefully these photos come through ok.

Your selections are so beautiful and I think you can't go wrong. Good luck with your decision! I would love to see the photos once complete.

Looks like Saturday's come and gone. If you are having trouble visualizing your options, how about the old Houzz idea of painting sheets of foamboard in your color selections and leaning them up against the island? Step back, look at them during different hours of the day in varying light conditions. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong.

I've decided to go with all white! I can always change stuff in the room around it, and I'm just not ready to commit to the grey on the island. I'll post pictures when it's done. Thanks so much for your thoughts, it's always helpful to hear various opinions.

Is your install done?!?

Nope... Nothing has even been painted yet, just delay after delay after delay. Will post pics once it's done, if that ever happens!

Ha! I know how that goes. The 17th is my third demo date, cabinets go in on the 25th.... I'll believe it when I see it!

I would go for a gray island. You still have time to change your mind. If the primer is white, you will see if it all just blends together and you should have your gray choice on hand in case you decide to go that way. There are lots of grays and paint is relatively cheap.

It's done!! Well, almost. A few details here and there left to do, but I'm thrilled with the almost finished product. I still think a grey island would have looked great but I'm so so happy I chose the white.
Would love to see what others chose who were trying to make the same decision.

wow. that came out really nice! love those floors and cabinets! it is white!!! are you planning on doing a backsplash?? As pretty as it is, from the cabinets up to the light wall and then up to the white uppers and white ceiling, it all just sort of melds. And it's possible it may just look like that to me because of the way it is photoed. I think that a backsplash is the jewelry of the kitchen. some sort of color or pattern (like herringbone marble or long thinner subways (not in white!) ,etc) would give the eye a break and some contrast. Just my two cents. but very nicely done. Where did you find the flooring??

Beth - the floors are engineered wood - Provenza in fossil stone.
I forgot about the backsplash! Yes, it will be installed once the tiles arrive in 4 weeks or so. I picked a 2x4 ceramic tile in a soft grey that has a green tint to it. Crossing my fingers that it works. I definitely didn't want white, but I also didn't want to go too crazy with a shape or color I would dislike in a few years. Clearly I'm not a risk taker. Retrospectively, I see how much I could have gained hiring a designer to help me think outside the box.

You did a fabulous job! Love all your choices--enjoy your beautiful new kitchen!

It's beautiful..well done!

I love your kitchen! I am current building and
my cabinets will be white but my island will be a lighter gray color. My floors
are a light distressed wood. I cannot decide on what hardware to do. Is yours
Oil Rubbed Bronze? I am deciding between ORB or Chrome. The rest of my house
will be ORB but I am not sure I want to keep it all the same... Any thoughts or
opinions will be much appreciated. My other dilemma is the bar stools and
farmhouse table. We are having a table made but I do not know what color to stain
in. This in turn brings on my confusion for bar stools. Help! :)

@kmarlette - sorry it took me so long to respond... My hardware color is called "rustic pewter". It's from restoration hardware. From a distance it looks like ORB, but up close it has a distressed look and has some brassy tones to it. I personally didn't want what I consider to be the more formal look of polished nickel or chrome, but I think that would have looked great too, and many people would probably prefer it. My dining table is left over from our previous home, and if I had the ability to replace it, I'd chose something in a lighter stain. Still darker than the floors, but not as dark as my current table. As for bar stools, I really didn't want fabric because I have young kids and wanted something easy to clean, so my options were limited, but I absolutely love mix of the metal bar stools with my wood table. The other bar stool style I considered was wicker. Hope that helps a little!

@smstef - one more question. Where did you get your stools and what color are they? I like that they are not shinny. Thank you!

Kmarlette - They look like restoration hardware remy stools in burnished steel or gunmetal.

Looks amazing! I am in the process of making decisions for my kitchen reno and I will definitely go with White Dove cabinets and island. Are your floors engineered hardwood or solid? Thats my design dilemma right now.

That's such a great kitchen! I love the your lighting choices/pairing!

Yes, the stools are RH remy, in burnished steel.
Floors are engineered wood.

I think a deep blueish charcoal would have been terrific, but this is lovely too. Remember, it's just paint! Enjoy your fabulous space :)

Great kitchen. I thought you would go with the dark island - but the white looks great. Very soothing space. Looking forward to seeing your backsplash!

Beautiful colors to work with. Love island in darker color

Backsplash is up!!

Here is what I did recently! White dove cabinets and a dark island

The new backsplash is a perfect choice smstef! What a pretty kitchen.

Your kitchen is beautiful. Can you take a picture with your island pendants on? I love them...where are they from?!

smstef, so nice! Love your countertops. And the backsplash works well. I am soooo very sick of that mottled brown granite you see so much of. Ick!

Lisa G, the fixtures are from west elm, but I purchased them back in October and they aren't available anymore

Smstef, beautiful kitchen and floors! Where is that backsplash from? I'm trying to find something to go with Cambria Torquay that's not white subway tiles to bring in a bit of warmth!

Backsplash is from Sonoma tilemakers, I believe the line is called "stellar".

Smstef, your kitchen is exactly what I'm planning right now! Can you tell me, the length of your island? Also how do you feel like the counters look in person with the white cabinets. I really love both but everyone is trying to push us away! Please let me know I have to decide next week!

Jennifer - I love the combo and I've seen it often in other kitchens. Why are people pushing you away from that idea? What are your other options? Most important question - Do you like it? If you like it then I can't see a reason why you shouldn't do it!

The island is about 8.5/9 ft long.

smftef - Absolutely beautiful kitchen!

Hi there! I came across this post, wondering how your Provenza floor is holding up, since you mentioned kids. How’s the wearing? Maintenance? I’ve noticed some oil floors get oil spots from walking with bare feet, do you see that? Thank you! Beautiful kitchen :)

I’m happy to say they have held up great! No marking or discoloration, not even a scratch! We are barefoot all the time and I never thought to worry about it, but luckily haven’t had a problem. Haven’t done any maintenance, although your comment made me realize that we are coming up on two years so maybe it’s time? They look fine though so maybe not!

I just went through this. I chose a dove gray. Our house is delayed. Ive had a few months to think about my choices now and wish Id chosen just all white. Im so nervous of gray being completely dated by the end of this year. Sadly my builder won't allow the change even though they will be delivering the house significantly behind schedule.

I love your kitchen! You made great choices. I am familiar with the Sonoma Tilemakers you referenced and the stellar line. Do you happen to know specific name of tile? I am trying to identify backsplash color. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!