It sounds like your basement will be more formal than ours given that you have installed hickory flooring.

We actually have 3 differing cabinet styles making our kitchen/bar area. Most are from Ikea - a couple were built-in-place. The low-bar door/drawer facings are stainless as it seemed appropriate there. The back-bar is black while the upper cabinets and bar trim are birch. I know it sounds like a gobbled mixture but we like the result, keeping in mind that our intentions were for a relaxed setting.

I'm sold on the Ikea cabinets. They have withstood significant modification and use.

The linked photos have commentary posted below the pictures offering explanation which might be helpful. Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Basement Kitchen/Bar

If we ever get back into th basement to work on it I had planned on using the IKEA gloss gray cabinet. I don't have a floor choice or color so this has me completely stumped. We have a lot of natural light because of deep window wells but I am worried, nevertheless, that it may be too dark.

I think I need professional help.