We're doing stained lowers and white uppers. My floors and cabinets will look similar to your first picture. I don't have a photo yet since it's being built now, but I would say the only con would be that this may be a short term trend (2-tone kitchens).

We will have stained floors as well. My concern is I don’t want the kitchen to be too dark if I went with all stained lowers.

Love mine!

Beautiful!

A bar area needs a small bar sink…if someone is cooking or at the kitchen sink, the bartender might get in the way every time he needs to get water or dump anything down the drain. I also like a small bar fridge with ice maker.

@Heather Solomon -— your kitchen reno looks gorgeous! Would you mind adding additional photos so I can see more of the space? I am getting ready to start my kitchen renovation soon (as soon as my master bathroom is finished - it’s been delayed along the way - and is taking way too long!) I am deciding between doing white stacked uppers with stained lowers (including the island) - or just stain the island.

I don’t think I’ve seen a kitchen where someone has stained the island + a portion of the lower perimeter cabinets like you’ve done. Looks like it might be a good solution for someone who is worryied about whether staining all of the lower perimeter cabinets may make the kitchen too dark.

@Susan Murin - Beautiful kitchen! What material did you use for your countertop? Is it quartzite? Looks very nice.

My cousin just did all black lowers (no uppers) in their new build, and the color doesn't make their kitchen dark. I think natural light in your kitchen would make more of a difference there. I also think dark uppers have a much bigger impact on whether a kitchen looks light - if uppers are white the lowers don't matter as much.

I agree with anj, my very dark lowers do not make my north facing kitchen dark at all because my uppers (only a couple of them) are white, and so are my walls. Also, I have large windows that come down to the countertop. If anything, the dark cabinets just ground the space nicely.

Pros of a stained island is no scuff marks show like they would on white! We have all white cabinets except for a dark stained island. The floors are a lighter stain so there is a contrast there. That would be the only issue I could see - having trouble coordinating wood floors with stained wood island.

@dmac1108 my countertops are Taj Majal quartzite. Pricey but bulletproof.

@heather solumon love your kitchen! what cooktop do you have?

i don't personally care for 2 tones but I'd be more concerned with 2 islands. I would think you would get in each others way if there was someone at the inner one and the bar one?

@laurieanderson @dmac1108 We wanted our cooktop to have more of a furniture look so we used the same stain of the island to the pullouts and drawers surrounding it and also added “feet.” We went with thermador and we love it. Still waiting on the hood. We also did a paneled fridge and dishwasher to make the look more seamless but we did those in white.

Yup, white around the kitchen…and stained island. ❤️it.

We did SW pure white cabinets with the island made of maple that has a clear coat. the band on the hood matches the island. the hood has a removable panel. My countertops will be installed in 2 weeks. in these pics my floor was just finished we do currently have our furniture in place.

Did In my kitchen and LOVE it!

We did that about 12 years ago in our kitchen and plan to do it again at our new house.

We are interested in the KraftMaid Dove White cabinets also but do not want the HDF material. Did you order the solid wood (frame) doors? What are your thoughts about the paint cracking? I have heard this most likely will happen due to fluctuations in the humidity. Did you consider this and what were your thoughts, please. I have wanted white cabinets for so many years, now is my chance to order them and now I hear of cracks? What? TIA.

@Lidia - what is your countertop material? I need to finalize my decision ASAP. I think I am going to stick with marble - but I’m still looking at other options because of the maintenance issues with marble. I just haven’t found anything else that is a close second choice. Thanks!

@kim k - your comment is exactly why I‘m doing stained lowers with white uppers (I also love how it looks!). I passed on doing an all white kitchen back when I built my house for the same reason. My stained cabinets still look pretty good for being old - and having raised kids (and ex husband) who slam doors and drip stuff!