Just did our walls in SW Alabaster and I LOVE it! I'll add some pics later. We have creamy-ish moldings and doors in the house we recently purchased and was not certain it would work well. The Alabaster is white enough to contrast but is not stark and cold.

Hickory is a very busy wood, so keep everything else quiet, otherwise the elements will be competing for attention.

This is what I did in my kitchen, dining, great room....Hickory floors, Homerwood, random plank, factory finished in Saddle. Interior doors, solid wood ( for staining purposes, my builder used mahogany), and I chose the darkest color in the Hickory floor) for 12' bar and doors. Cabinets, walls, trim, painted in the appropriate finishes, Divine's Icing, sample is not showing true...gorgeous warm white.

BTW, that a Japanese antique kimono on the wall. Doesn't show the beauty in the photo.

My husband wanted hickory so I went along with it. I wish I would not have. The floors will be white oak. I am worried about everything clashing!!