Autocorrect so off, it’s called Coastal Cool :)

For whites, check Greek Villa or Steamed Milk? I know the steamed milk looks awfully creamy, but try it out if you really want something a little warmer than Alabaster.

For greys, maybe take a peek at Colonade Grey, Repose Grey, or Aloof Grey.

Of these three, Repose tends to read cooler, while the other two are warmer.

I don't think SW really has anything that fits quite into that same grey going faintly green of Wickham or Moonshine, unfortunately. Sea salt is likely as close as you get, and that's almost more green going faintly grey.

That’s funny Holly, before I even read your post I went out a bought a sample of Aloof Grey. I was just about to get Greek Villa but then decided on a sample of Whitetail. I’m leaning more toward all white perimeter and grey island as I’m afraid of of my kitchen looking baby blue or too green in certain lights. Some people have said they think my kitchen is too small for the two toned, but wouldn’t a more compact kitchen look better two toned than large and spread out?

Thoughts?

We painted the cabinets and the walls with Benjamin Moore White Dove. I'm really loving it.

I love Alabaster and Comfort Gray together! I have this very combo in my family room (Alabaster wainscoting and crown moulding, comfort gray on the walls). I have other grays in different rooms so I wanted something that had a little more color to it in our family room (southern exposure with lots of natural light). I have received more compliments on comfort gray than I have have on any other paint color! The room definitely reads more warm than cool but that is probably influenced by my other furnishings and the lighting. I have used Sea Salt as well, both in my laundry room and in my daughter’s bathroom. Sea salt is definitely more blue green than gray and might not provide as much of a contrast with your Alabaster cabinets, but it’s a pretty color too! Good luck!

Pensivern, if you choose to go with 2 cabinet colors, you can check on those large HGTV pamphlets at the SW stores.

I think there are still 8 collections, 20 colors in each, all having lightest to darker tones that work together. It takes guesswork out really nicely.

Any of those colors can also be found in their regular larger samples as well :)

That’s good to hear Meg- any pics you can share?

If I wind up doing just the island in a color, I’m more apt to go for the comfort grey. If I do 2 toned, than aloof grey/ it’s more muted- I’m just so scared of walking in my kitchen and not liking the look in certain lights because the entire lower half is too green. I think I’m headed to Staples to get big poster boards to paint and tape them to every cabinet door. It’d be too costly a mistake not to!

Girlwithponytail, I’ve since mixed the green backsplash- if I go two toned, I’d go with plain white subway. The quartz is way too pricy to use as a backsplash anyway. Which color do you think would be better for lowers and island? SW comfort grey or Aloof grey?

Pensivern I would suggest white cabinets with grey island. This is very on trend right now. I think mixing the upper and lower cabinet would look too choppy. You can always add "warm" accessories if it needs a little color! Enjoy!

All white cabinets. Island could be gray or white. Love granite or quartzite (real stone), not the engineered since the patterns stick out like a sore thumb. If you have to do quartz, do a solid color on perimeter, then a gorgeous granite/quartzite/marble on your island. From there, once installed, pick your back splash. That usually is the last thing you want to choose......

Just read the rest of your thread...the exterior of my home is actually painted aloof gray:). I have aloof gray paired with sw snowbound trim. I didn’t like the Alabaster with the aloof gray as much for some reason...I felt it looked better with a brighter white. The aloof gray really only reads greenish to me at certain times of day. It’s definitely more gray than comfort gray! I won’t be home during daylight today but I’ll try to send you a picture of my family room tomorrow!

I found a picture of the comfort gray and Alabaster together on my camera roll...

I love that Meg!

That does look really pretty together in the photo!

If it somehow doesn’t work as well in your kitchen, SW Eider White is paired with Comfort Gray on their Coastal Cool collection. (Unless too cool-toned in your space.)

Like Inside Out Staging said, I’d stay with just the island for the accent cabinet color. I don’t think you’d regret that later!

If you find a Benjamin Moore color you like better/ Sherwin Williams will match the cold for you

Color

@pensivern, have you thought of doing all white cabs, and a navy island? Navy is soooo pretty and very 'in'.

Benjamin Moore Navys are gorgeous!

Or, a dark charcoal/black island...

Those navy islands look great, but I don’t see it in my house/- just not neutral enough .... I’d have to change the decor of all my surrounding rooms.

Here’s Alabaster white ( top cabs) surrounded by Aloof Grey on left and comfort grey on right ( bottom cabs) with planned countertop. The comfort grey is looking a little “ molding clay green to me”, I’m think a bigger expanse of the Aloof Grey would be more than enough green grey(?)

I enjoy the all white look against the marble. Really opens up the room and makes it feel clean.

Pensivern I’m following this topic.

I noticed in your pictures that your quarts looks pinkish/ purple. I think i brought that sample home and it had some pink undertone. Maybe it’s ok for you, but I’m just pointing that out.

I have a similar size kitchen and same dilemma except that I already have counter top and backsplash installed. ( Ceasarstone frosty carrina counter and white subway for backsplash)

I’m also scared of all white kitchen and I’ve never been a big fan of them. Although they look stunning in magazine photos I feel like all white would be disconnected from others elements in my open concept house. Same for you I would say.

I have a peninsula instead of an island.

I brought many color samples, I have 3 canvases painted in off white shades and one called Fog Mist by BM which I like the best because it is not too warm but not white either.
My dilemma was two tone vs single and I’m still not sure .

In one of the Maria Killam’s blogs she said do not paint your island different colour unless it’s looks like a piece of furniture . I think she is right. Here is the article.

ttps://www.mariakillam.com/marias-kitchen-refresh-5-years-after-the-first-renovation/?inf_contact_key=d767457948c813857268ce4dcc951c2e14c0513eeb3e800366c798210c6d6842

After installing my quartz countertops my kitchen looks much better but I realized that quartz does have that fake stone look. If I was to do it again I would go with natural stone but not a bussy one, just some nice pattern with a little bit of contrast and movement.

Thanks for weighing in Sondramartin. I don’t THINK Viatera Minuet has pink/ purple undertones- looks pretty crisp white to me. Yes, I agree quartz looks a little “ fake”- I have it in my bathroom but still think it’s beautiful. I’d be open to a natural stone but have yet to find a granite in person that I like enough, and doesn’t look too busy with that “ globule look” , as I call it from afar. Every time I drool over a pic of natural stone on Houz- it’s always some type of marble which I’d never do.

My island definitely looks like a piece of furniture, I’m just still stuck on whether I should paint the bottom perimeter cabinets the same as island color, or keep them white.

Agree , you island does look like a piece of furniture. However I see blue/grey veins in you countertop. It's not green/grey. Then I would not go with green/grey island. Am I wrong?

good luck with your project! your island has some really traditional features (the spindles, the arch on the cookbook shelf). do you plan on removing/altering those when you change to shaker doors? I think the two tone look will be great in your kitchen as will the quartz.

That's a beautiful island. I don't know what color that is painted, but I'd keep going with that on your other cabinets. Gorgeous!

Sondra, the countertop is definitely on the cool side with light greyish veins. I think this counter will complement any cool toned island _ whether it be grey, grey green, blue green grey of any combination thereof. I wouldn’t put a marble look quartz with say tan, golden, rust, or any other warm color.

I’m not switching the islands doors to shaker style, I see the island as a unique piece in the kitchen with its own furniture like style- I dont think it has to have the same door style as the perimeter cabinets; It’ll be linked to the rest of the kitchen cabinets by its same countertop.

I would go with all white cabs with gray island. I think because your kitchen is on the small side, the all white perimeter would open it up a bit. To my eye, the more you break up colors, the more it closes in a space. I have an all white kitchen but did a walnut top on the island so as not to be overwhelmed with too much white. And if you like a coastal look, lighting and accessories can really add to that feel. Link to my kitchen.

Stunning home Nidnay! My kitchen looks the size of your laundry room lol. What are your kitchen countertops and cabinet paint color?

pensivern.....counters are marble - honed Bianco Avion....(ha.....I know you’ve nixed the marble idea....I REALLY love marble though and am so happy I took that leap of faith....no problems with staining or etching).

Walls are SW Useful Gray, cabinet color was a custom mix from the cabinet guy....once we got that color figured out, we then mixed a custom color to match the cabs for all the trim in the house. I wanted something white but not a stark cold white nor did I want a yellowish white. I didn’t want it to look like a hospital ward but didn’t want it too warm either (although I am drawn to warmer colors).

I’m still working on the backsplash (most of my decisions need time to marinate) and we are replacing most of the furniture and rugs. It was hard moving my old furniture into the new house :)

My husband insisted on Carrara marble for his bathroom- it’s attractive on the black cabinet, but it is stained and not looking so great anymore. Granted he’s a slob, but since he does the bulk of cooking, I just can’t trust him in a marbled covered kitchen

I know most people are steering me toward an all white perimeter, but it’s these looks that make my heart sing.....

Did you seal the marble? It really does make a huge difference. Even so, I would not turn my husband loose on the marble counters :) He does a lot of food prep.... BUT...all his prep is done in our scullery/pantry on a maple counter (virtually indestructible as well as easily repairable).

Although my preference would be for an all white perimeter, I don’t think you can go wrong either way. In the end you will have a bright and airy kitchen. So much of this comes down to personal preference.

If you haven’t already, maybe do a search for a two toned small kitchens and see how it feels.

Hello! Our kitchen reno starts tomorrow and my choices very close to yours. The inspiration for my kitchen was from Sand and Sisal - an absolutely gorgeous coastal kitchen with white cupboards (upper and lower) and her island is painted in Oyster Bay by SW. The backsplash is the crowning jewel, which was an agate pearl tile by Lunada Bay.
I've always wanted a white kitchen and for the past 15 years I've had one, but with builder grade cabinets which are now falling apart.
I decided this time that I'd like to be surrounded by colors I love and what I'm drawn to. Our kitchen is going to be Sea Salt, white upper and lower cupboards, Torquay quartz countertop and the back splash will be a similar colour to yours. I think your update will turn out beautifully and I cant wait to see it all finished. It would be fun to share our results! I've included some pics of my Coastal Kitchen inspiration - not cold in the least ;)

Yes Tracy!! I’ve admired that kitchen too for the gorgeous colors I love ..... that kitchen was redone do to water damage, right? I even have a sample of Torquay although my husband didn’t care for the tiny speckles. I’ve also tried to track down that Luanda backsplash but hit a dead end.

How exciting your Reno starts tomorrow!! What color white are you going with for the uppers? Please post pics!

I like the idea of 2 tone. brings a little life to the kitchen. people lately have been doing grey and white or white with a rustic wood. both very pretty.

There are so many great suggestions above. I know what I would do which I know isn't seen often. I would paint the cabinet face on color and the doors and drawers another color. If I had to purchase partial overlay cabinets like yours that's what I would have done. I don't like white cabinets yet my new kitchen has white painted oak (visable texture) cabinets because my existing fridge is textured white. Also, white looked best with my stained spicy cinnabar base cabinets (love at first site). Since my kitchen is narrow, white was the wiser (not favorite) choice. I love more than one color as I get tired of single colored rooms. My cabinets are 3 shades as some kitchens are today and I love my choices. Go with what you won't get tired of seeing every day year in a year out. One thing I know for sure once you paint--you'll always have to paint because paint chips.

That Lunada Bay tile -- pattern Agate, color is Lucca Pearl

Hi, just thought I'd give you an update on our Reno! Colour on walls is Sea Salt by Sherwin William's, cabinets are Glacier White (Ray Wal) countertop is coming and is TCE Stone 4005. I'll update again when we get the seafoam glass tiles installed. I hope your update/reno is going well!

Beautiful so far!! Ours won’t start until after the holidays.

Thanks so much :) We're nearing the end of the reno journey, so I'm getting a bit antsy lol. I hope you enjoy the coming holidays and a brand new shiny kitchen for 2019!

Definitely go with the gray on the bottom of the cabinets and island, I refinished my oak cabinets (added oak trim to make them shaker style)... white on top, Sherwin Wms pewter tankard grey on bottom and absolutely love it. I tried 4 diff grays on the bottom cabinets before i got the right one for the lighting in my kitchen. Everyone's lighting is different.I didn't even want white on the top cabinets to begin with, but my sister talked me into the white on top and love the 2-tone look. White on the bottom would've been white overload for me. Walls are SW Anew Gray. My sister, mom and I did the entire update ourselves! We've since gotten new stainless appliances, and am picking out new flooring now. LOVE IT!!! pensivern, you'll probably want a lighter, cooler gray for perimeter, I was going for a bit warmer gray.

Tracy, love your cabinets and that SW sea salt color... so pretty. I'm going to check that color out for my bedroom update. Thanks!

Thank you Erin! I think you'll love Sea Salt, it's such a subtle wash of green/gray/blue. It shifts between those colors with the light but that's what I love about it.
Hope your bedroom update goes well!

PS Erin, I love your choices for your new kitchen. The two tones look great!

Looks great! Love your new kitchen tones, the right choice!

We used white cabinets with veined quartz and blue-gray backsplash.

Is that clear glass on your cabinet door Jeff or slightly frosted/seeded? I can’t decide what look I want.

clear; the photo shows a reflection from the windows