Are you doing this yourself or are you having someone stain it?

Who is doing the staining? Make sure you use someone that knows how to stain maple. It does not take stain well. It tends to get blotchy.

I am not doing this. I have a pro staining it. But want to get the color right

Isn't the staining pro helping come up with the color you want?

You don't stain maple that dark. You either dye it or tone it. And if you are dealing with a cabinet maker who needs a homeowner to figure it out for them, you are dealing with the wrong cabinet maker. Find a different custom guy. Period.

He is going to help me with with the color. I am trying to get an idea of the color “family” that would have this look. I appreciate you pointing out that maple should be dyed and not stained. Is there a dye manufacturer that you recommend?

He doesn't need help from you. If he does, you hired the wrong person. Experts need to expert, and homeowners just need to pay for the expert.

Beautiful inspiration photos!

Not all cabinet makers are professional finishers. You need to have someone who knows how to stain/tone/color (dye) maple cabinets in order to achieve the color that you want in your inspiration photos.

Your cabinets should be finished with products used by professionals who are experts re: cabinets finishes.

For example, Renner and Milesi:These brands are known for their advanced coatings, particularly the two-part, post-catalyzed conversion varnishes. These finishes offer exceptional durability and resistance to wear and tear. The waterborne version from Renner is a key feature, as it prevents yellowing over time while maintaining high durability.

ICA and Sayerlack: I am familiar with Renner and Milesi - but have also heard that ICA and Sayerlack have good professional finishing products.

My understanding is that toners/dyes are often used in order to achieve even finishes on maple (and some other types of wood) as stated in the above comment.

That was so helpful! I appreciate you taking the time to explain the process. The person doing the color is not the cabinet maker. The GC has a company he specifically uses for the stain/dye/toner part of the cabinets. I learned a lot with your post. I am going to print out the recommendations you gave me. I hard no idea that maple was going to be so difficult. In fact, I thought it was one of the higher end woods to choose. Thank you again for being so kind! @dani_m08 🌸

The GC has a company he specifically uses for the stain/dye/toner part

Suggest you work with them directly. Ask questions like what type and brand of stain they use, and what type and brand of clear will they apply.

Have them create samples using wood from the cabinetmaker that looks like your cabinets.

A GC will typically have a painter that they use for all their finishing needs -- staining and painting.

The process often works like this. Painter hands you a Minwax color chart and asks you to pick a color. Painter buys stain, stains cabinets and one day you arrive at the jobsite surprised to see the cabinets.

Painters sometimes see stain like they do paint -- as a color and not a specific look, and that's not what you want.

Sorry but some painter guy trying to stain cabinets is going to be a complete disaster. Especially since they have the homeowner researching for them. That is just crazy.

Painters are NOT cabinet finishers. Any cabinet maker that doesn’t finish in house is not a real custom cabinet maker. Any GC that uses guys like that is trying to cut costs, because half the actual cost of true custom is the finishing.

Hiring a painter, instead of using the true custom maker who costs double, just buries the true costs, and ends up with a worse result.