I like white cabinets. I like birch cabinets. I don't care for them together. The two-tone thing is a trend, and I don't think you want to be trendy on something as expensive (and built-in) as cabinets.

Go one direction or the other.

You're probably tired of hearing me talk about my two-toned kitchen.

Part of why your house has so much two-tone already is that it's an older home that's evolved over time. That's part of what appealed to me about a two-toned kitchen and why I've told myself it's not trendy in my 1915 house :) that an older home doesn't need to be matched up like it was all done at once.

As far as whether more mismatch in the kitchen is too much? It's so hard to judge the overall "feel" in the house without physically being there, I'd trust your gut on what you see in person over our opinion.

That said, based on your description I think all white cabinets sound lovely. You'll have a lot of interest with the stained wood trim and blue flooring. I like stained wood a lot, but you already have it with your trim, and I like white uppers in a small kitchen. But I don't think it's a mistake to do two toned or all birch cabinets if that feels right to you.

Since your home has a lot of two toned going on, I'd say that's actually a good reason for having a two toned kitchen. For continuity.

If you chose all the two-toned-ness and enjoy the two-toned-ness, why not continue it through?

Because the white decisions are stressing me out! Lol.

White is stressful, for sure. It doesn't seem like it is until you actually start paying attention. And then you go crazy.

Hire a KD to help you. Lower your stress with expert assistance.

I'm starting with the Corian decision since the options are more limited than paint, but having read recent threads about trim, now I'm realizing I should also be paying attention to the trim color in the dining room. Crap.

Yes, I hired a local designer to help me pick colors. She worked on an hourly basis; we spent 2 hours going through all my samples and looking at details I was having a hard time finalizing. I had inspiration pics, and she helped me pick exactly which white cabinet color, which stained cabinet color, which wall paint, etc. It cost $500 (HCOLA) and was worth it to feel confident I wasn't making a $15K mistake on the cabinets.

It would seem to me that a house with a lot of two-tone going on might benefit from a respite from it here and there.

I think I will hire a designer at this point. I feel good about most of the decisions we have made, but the paint thing is overwhelming me.

What about a SW in-home color consultant? We will most likely be using SW since that is what Scherr's uses. Or maybe I'll start there and then hire a designer if I am still uncertain?

Where are you located? You need more than a made up certification by a store “color consultant”. You need an actual designer with training. Color, texture, continuity, contrast, and a whole host of decisions all inter relate. You need someone capable of seeing the Big Picture. Not just their small corner.

I'm just outside Chicago. I'm sure there are tons of designers here. Do I look on Angie's List? Ask friends for recommendations? Go through the professional organization?

I found mine by checking Yelp/Houzz