.

Get a few sample stain shades and test them on a sample piece of maple wood to see which looks best. When I had my new oak stairway installed, the carpenter tested several stain colors on sample oak pieces and he matched the stain to my porcelain wood look tile flooring. Also consider painting your island if you cant find a stain that looks good. I dont think there are any rules about this. It is a matter of what looks good to you. Did you have a kitchen designer?

I'd seriously consider mdf doors and have them painted for the island. Maple is so difficult due to its eternal tilt toward yellow . and darker stain attempts just dont go well. I could see a painted green island . Are you working with someone who can show you samples of stain on maple for your situation? Thats where you have to go initially and take a pic of final 3 you might like and post them here. Your other choices only look cool to me so maybe a grayed medium shade but again darker pigments of any sort are just really difficult. A different species like QS oak would handle natural stain without a yellowish cast so you can stay light with that sort of pick.

Thank you all for your input! We have decided to skip the stained island, go all dove white with a different quartz altogether! Much happier and less stressed!

Shawn: good decision!!