I like the layout. I would probably move your dishwasher and sink to the right so that you have more functional prep space between the sink and range. I wouldn’t be bothered by the interference of the plumbing stack—that just is what it is. I think your counter suggestion is both darker and cooler than what you should be going for and what you say you want. 5 years from now that gray will look rather dated already. Look for something much warmer, then make sure it still works with the cabinet color, your white may need to be a bit warmer as well.

Thanks - that's a good point about the workspace to the left of the sink. I think the narrow cabinet that is currently to the right of the dishwasher could easily be moved next to the sink, either as is or removed completely to create a wider set of drawers and more counterspace above. I'm really torn on the counter - I love this pattern, and want to avoid anything on the brown side of things. We originally liked the "cosmopolitan white" in the picture below, then I started reading that the all-white kitchen was on its way out, so we tried to go a bit darker. Any particular Caesarstone suggestions? The colours on their website are so inaccurate.

If you break up the white cabinetry and white counter with a colorful backsplash, and you have warm wood floors, I don’t think you’re in as much danger of looking dated as you are with a white and gray kitchen. But I am just one person who lives nowhere near Toronto. Resale matters, but you’re planning to live there 5 years, and that’s a long time. Choose what you like to live in.

I suggest that you consider putting the doors on the corner cabinet to open away from the kitchen. This would make it easier to get things out of the cabinet--dishes that will go on the table? Think about how you would use this cabinet.

I like your choices! Can you push the peninsula out so that the column “becomes” the corner?

Definitely push the peninsula out so the plumbing stack becomes the corner if you can. Best use of a corner ever, IMO. It will give you much-needed space on either side of your range. Muriel's comment about sink placement is also spot on.

All white kitchens have been around for decades and decades. They will never truly go out of style. Gray is actually the trend that is “going out of style”.

@lmckuin @biondanonima (Zone 7a Hudson Valley) I would love the stack to become the corner! Unfortunately it would take too much room from the living room (14 ft long, so not tiny, and we can give up some space to the kitchen, but probably not that much). Hopefully we can get the space around the range by pushing it out a foot or so.

@Yvonne Martin It's a good point, thanks! We considered this before our contractor tried to squeeze in the second corner cabinet. I think extra drawer space might be helpful (or, perhaps, a microwave shelf inside the cabinet to get rid of the OTR microwave). We thought about adding a shallow cabinet on the other side, under the counter overhang to hold glassware, etc. Dining room is separate, across from the kitchen opening, so not a lot that would go directly from the kitchen to the living room.

Here's that Symphony Gray with a blue/white backsplash tile and a nice walnut island. That wood keeps the kitchen from looking too cold

without any wood tones.

have you looked at Silestone?

I have the Eternal Serena in Matte, (the slab cost is about $2200)

but I also added quite a bit of warm wood to my kitchen to keep the cooler tones down a bit.

but they now have a Desert Silver, which does look more silver.

caesarstone Bianco drift is also nice. a cooler gray.

Pair it w/the Cloe Tile

@suedonim75 I think I'm starting to realize that - I guess I thought the somewhat warmer grey in this counter would help with that. I think it's back to the drawing board on this one! Husband likes the grey to hide crumbs and spills. Unfortunately all stores here are curbside-only, so will be a challenge to see our options in person.