us 2-3 other colors off the strip

This is a red flag.

This tells me there is minimal experience with color.

Either they've spec'd the same colors for years or they don't have a lot of experience specifying color.

Because when you've specified a lot of color, you know that fandecks/paint strip chips have no built-in color harmony. There is no gurantee that the colors on one strip belong to the same hue family.

This is typically a lesson desigers have to learn the hard way. Because it seems reasonable that colors on one strip mean something.

If you post specifics about what you're working with, what you want to do, there are several forum members that know their stuff about design and color.

This is one of the few places on the internet where you will get different opinions about your color options that are actually worth considering.

Another red flag is "architect/kind of designer." There is a difference between an architect and a designer, but I'm not sure what "kind of designer" means. Doesn't sound professional.

In any case, wall color is usually the last color you want to choose when designing a room. Having a cohesive plan is the best approach, but if you don't have a plan, then the second best way to go about it is to paint all the walls and trim the same white, just different sheens. Then as you decorate each room, you can choose to paint the walls a harmonizing color. It's easy enough to paint over white on the walls.

Regarding cabinets, there's no reason that you can't have them painted in a darker color, and different dark colors throughout the house. Making blanket statements like this is another indication that this person isn't really experienced in how to outfit a home with color.

You might want to post some photos of rooms you like, a floor plan of the house, and any furniture or styles that you want to use, in order to get some more concrete advice on what to do.