I am a huge fan of 2 tone kitchens, but I am also biased as I have had this in my kitchen for about 8 years now. I was worried I might tire of it or it would become overly trendy, but hasn't happened yet.

I also love the quarter sawn oak. I grew up in a huge old farmhouse and many of the built ins were the big old oak. I think the two would go very well together.

Would it go with the rest of the house? Is your other woodwork painted? what about floors?

Also meant to add that my lowers are stained charcoal, but another member here had stained wood lowers in her old kitchen that looked lovely. Maybe she will post some pics.

This post was edited by daisychain01 on Thu, Jan 8, 15 at 7:34

daisychain - thanks so much! It helps to know you haven't tired of your 2 tone cabinets even after 8 years.

I think either stained wood or painted greige lowers with creamy white uppers would work with the rest of the house. It has a rustic look with walnut stained wide plank floors, slate floors in the kitchen, reclaimed wood, antique pine, ORB Baldwin hardware, etc. I also have quite a few painted pieces and creamy white millwork.

Kind of modern country/rustic with a bit of traditional, I guess. I have quartersawn oak furniture in the master and a more grayed washed oak RH wall unit in the living room.

I have the same question as daisychain--will it go with the house? I think QS is more than just a cabinet option--it has to fit. I love it, but my house is late 90s traditional with no architectural interest and skimpy moldings. I also love rift sawn oak, which leans contemporary and may be less dependent on home style.

may flowers - stained lower cabinets will work in my house but I understand what you mean about quartersawn oak being more than just a cabinet option.

Below is a link to a post with some pictures of my interior. Do you think it would be good fit in my house? Stained knotty alder or something similar might be a better fit but the existing frames are oak.

Here is a link that might be useful: My house photos

This post was edited by juddgirl2 on Thu, Jan 8, 15 at 15:47

The way that wood is cut that results in it being called "quarter sawn" is a totally different way of cutting than just taking a trunk and slicing it into planks/veneers. Google "quarter sawn" and see how the cutting occurs.

As a result, there is no way possible that grains will match. Nor should they.

I love cream uppers and wood stained lowers. I had it in my house and never tired of it!

jmc - of course you're correct the grains won't match. Maybe I should have worded that first part differently.

I'm wondering if the difference in the grain would be very noticeable if I use full overlay doors and the same stain on the doors and frames. If anyone has done this I'd love to know if it worked out. If it's not a good option, I might just go with my first plan of painting the lowers in a darker color than the white dove uppers.

I'm also interested in hearing from others about the 2 toned stained/painted look in general.

artillery -thanks! Good to hear from someone else who is very happy with their stained lowers and cream uppers!