You need inspiration images. They will help you get an idea of what these choices might look like together, and they will help you to learn which looks you like and don’t like.

In my opinion, it really doesn’t. But, the marble quartz seems to now get paired with everything from the whites to wood tones,so maybe I will get used to it.

White is not “on trend” it is classic and has always been the top choice for kitchens. All one has to do it google year after year.

I don’t want to see you avoid white because you think it’s trendy.

Eam show a really good example. If this suits your taste, then go with it.

You also shouldn’t get white just because it’s what you’re seeing everywhere. Get what makes your heart sing.

I much prefer stained wood, As you said, “the warmth” of stained wood is unsurpassed. Every time I walk into my kitchen, two things make me smile...not the high end appliances, though I very much enjoy using them...no, it’s the Belvedere soapstone, and the beautiful graining of my stained cabinets.

The trendy choice is the marble-look quartz and it doesn't go with everything, it just doesn't.

If you want stained cabinets, then find a calacatta gold-look quartz, that has some beige/brown/gold veining to complement the warmth of the wood.

I don’t agree with the disparaging comment that Functionthenlook wrote about white cabinets. As a long-time poster on this forum, there are plenty of posts of wood finishes of various woods and stains, painted finishes (in colors of blue, green, yellow, and others) and white finishes. I don’t see one type of finish “that looks like everybody else’s kitchen”—not in the least. Though the Shaker door is indeed ubiquitous, and so what. Get what sings to you that you will be happy to come into first thing every morning.

The only thing I would question is that dark stain on the maple. Maple can be difficult to stain, and end up blotchy when some stains are applied. We have seen numerous posts from disappointed homeowners here who stained their maple dark and each stile and panel was shaded a bit differently. If you like that, then that’s good. I just want to give you a heads up to make sure you choose the right stain, and see samples before giving the OK. Or choose a more easily-stained wood than maple.

@eam44 thank you for sharing the image. That is pretty close to what I was thinking. Here are a few more images I had been using for inspiration.

@darbuka I love how warm and inviting your kitchen is!

@Monica M - just to continue what I said above about maple, in your inspiration photos, the top 2 pics are oak. The third one might be maple, I am not sure. Eam44’s posted pic looks to be cherry. I don’t think Darbuka’s is maple either, but Darbuka can you please confirm?

My kitchen cabs are birch.

I do have stained maple cabs in two of my bathrooms. They are a bit splotchy, but I’m okay with it, as it’s not in-your-face splotchy. I might have chosen a different wood, had I known about the difficulty staining maple. But, we dropped a bundle on the kitchen going all high end, and were looking to save money in the bathrooms. Maple was the least expensive option.

Also disagree with functionthenlook. White is timeless and has been around for decades.

As for what's trending, I don't ever really think it matters. What matters most in designing a space is designing it for you. That said, wood stained cabinets are trending. As is a mix of white and wood stain... lucky for you, perhaps you'd entertain white on top and stain on bottom...?

For my personal preference, I don't like marble-esque counters with wood stain or with dark hardware. But again, you have to design what you love. Not what strangers on a message board tell you they like or don't. ;) Have fun with the design!

Thank you, Monica!

Here‘s one more look, which includes the dining nook:

I do like marble look with stained wood, but the warmth of the marble has to match the wood. Some marble is quite cool/grey (as are some white granites) while others are warmer.

I think, also, depending on the color of stain chosen (and the hardware), a wood/marble combo can look very vintage, like I would have seen in my great-aunts farmhouse. Your second inspiration photo reminds me of hers, actually.

@shannon_wi thank you for your input on the types of wood! I hadn't considered how some woods take stains over others. Would oak be a better option for a medium shade stain?

Monica, if you can swing for quarter sawn oak, do it, as it’s gorgeous. Just, keep the stain on the lighter side, lest you cover up the tight graining.

Definitely put one finish on the cabinets and one finish on the island.

OP: word of caution., i would veer away from a orangey stain, that's dated. if u love warm, then go towards browns.

agree with others, maple does not take dark stains well. get samples before you commit.

stained with a white-marbley counter would look fine. i personally like dark hardware over nickel of any finish.

LOVE your 2nd inspiration pic.

QS Oak is gorgeous, wish we did that species...

what are u doing for your floor?? that will impact your decisions as well.

Darbuka, do you have a closer picture of your soapstone counters? I have never seen that shade and it looks beautiful.

I had trouble deciding for our new build! White kitchens look pretty but I worried about it being to formal and stark. Wood kitchens feel homey but sometimes make the room seem dark.

So I picked white uppers and stained lowers for the kitchen but all stained for the master bath.

Sorry my kitchen pic is not the greatest. I had taken that to show that we had some electricity and finished flooring in the "building a home" thread!

H D...Thank you! Here’s a closeup:

darbuka, your kitchen is gorgeous!!!

White is a color. Not a trend, not a classic.

Don't believe me? Here are four white kitchens -- two are "outdated" and two are "trendy". Not too many years ago that first kitchen was the height of fashion -- in a decade or two, the two kitchens on the right will appear just as "dated" as that first kitchen does.

Today's trend is not white; rather, today's trend is the combination of white inset shaker cabinets paired with white countertops and plain subway backsplashes. It's not the color white that'll look "outdated" in the future -- it's the details /the combination of today's trendy details.

So go with white, or go with stained wood -- but avoid choosing "today's package", today's trend. Choose your own details, put in something that makes it your own.

Aptly stated, @Mrs Pete. Aptly stated.

I think stained cabinets are beautiful! I love a gorgeous white kitchen as well as many folks. But, the kitchen I'm working on right now will not be white. My island is stained and my cabinets are painted BM Coventry Gray. My master bath and guest bath will also have stained cabinets. It comes down to your taste, & not anyone else's. Definitely best to find inspiration photos that you really like & build off of the design from there.

Darbuka, your kitchen is gorgeous. The refrigerator panels are beautiful. I also appreciate the recessed light placement and the shadows on the cabinets.

@dianeski, thank you. The recessed lighting in the main part of the kitchen, has wall washer trims, so the light beams to a specific place, not just down in a wide spray. For broadcasting light, there are also two semi flush pendants with Holophane glass, which gives up lighting, as well as down lighting. We also have a third layer of light, LEDs under the cabinets. In the nook area, there’s an array of uneven hanging pendants. All are dimmable, and are on separate switches.

Thanks Darbuka for that close up. So pretty!!

Some of it depends on how much light your kitchen gets, the size of the space, and what other rooms, if any, the kitchen opens onto. Consider sharing pics of the spaces and see if that generates more thought. Personally, I love white and think it is almost never a mistake. But if you have an airy space and the budget for QSO, it could be amazing.