Perhaps a very light wood with not a lot of grain would be a good choice. Also, not sure I’d go with black counters unless you really love them.
Really…this is YOUR house…do what you like. Don’t worry about trends.
We have light blue counters in one of our upstairs bathrooms. If the next owner doesn’t like them, they can change them. I happen to love them.
So…choose something you really love.
This is what I am wondering-if the white feel will not fit the wooded feel of our lake home. I am not as big on the all white kitchen but kind of like white trim/windows/baseboards. It makes paint colors pop and feels fresh/light to me. Other days I like the warm look of wood trim.
Here is (not that great) photo of our kitchen after refacing. The window trim in the skywall is off-while, and the countertop (Cambria Berwyn) lightens up the look. Pardon the stuff on the counters - what a mess!
BB-What type of counters? I feel like the wood in our current kitchen could be a similar color to yours but with black counters it makes them appear darker, but with your lighter cabinets it makes the color seem lighter? You have a lovely kitchen and far less clutter than mine right now.
This one:
It is quartz by Cambria. The style is called Berwyn. It has grey and beige undertones so can match white, grey, and natural wood quite well.
One reliable option for cabins and lake homes is to go with local materials and styles. For example, is there a local granite or slate that is quarried near where you live? A local wood that is logged? An architectural style that is traditional to the locale (e.g. Scandinavian, Western, Cape Cod etc)? I am not a person who can make up my mind, so using local materials, styles and color schemes helped narrow my choices.
I think you hit it. A lighter counter will brighten things. And BB’s wood has far less grain than the pic you posted upstream. Both of those things will brighten the kitchen. And your idea of white trim sounds good too (an off white would work too).
@BunsenBurner counter clutter? Oh my…don’t come here!!
Hahaha! I see a box of fruit that needs to be placed in the fruit basket and a ton of $h!т under the microwave. Lol. We are chilling on the deck as we speak, but after posting that pic, I have an itch to run into the kitchen and start tossing stuff now! 
Our granite is Ivory Fantasy. When we purchased it in 2012, it was one of the lightest granite or solid surfaces available. If I were buying how, I would go lighter.
@1Lotus - just looking through ‘kitchens 2022’ I think there are a lot of darker wood options coming back - doesn’t seem you’d have to necessarily have to stick w/your prior kitchen palette or go all trendy white/grey.
The pix you posted that look like your house have a modern, angular feel. Is that the kind of interior design you like in any way (combined w/a cozy element)? I’m thinking cozy might be able to soften something w/a bit of a mid-century, structural feel…?
Actually, yes on local for counters. H was considering taconite, but I think that is all the darker colors.
I am liking all the discussion and ideas-keep them coming!!!
I think @BunsenBurner kitchen is a wonderful example of a fresh, warm, place you want to be in. Love, love, love. I’m sure this is also enhanced by the expanse of windows. I like the wood cabinets much more because there is all the light to brighten the room. The wood cabinets warm the room and make the space un-sterile looking - which SOMETIMES too much white can do.
@1Lotus sorry if I missed this but will your kitchen have lots of windows for light?
Taconite is gorgeous! I have seen it look good against lighter wood cabinets such as unstained birch or maple, both of which are native to the area where taconite is mined. Dale Mulfinger and David Salmela are architects who use a lot of local products in their lake homes. Both have published books.
One thing I can not recommend enough since you are doing a new build is to consider Universal Design when making choices! Many people don’t realize that when you’re building these decisions can be integrated seamlessly and invisibly. Examples include ensuring that hallways and rooms are wide enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair if one is needed in the future. Or choosing levers instead of round doorknobs. And if you are able to do so: ensuring that there is a full bathroom on a main floor with a no threshold shower.
My folks built a gorgeous house years ago that just so happened to also be designed with Universal Design in mind - but you’d never know it. They were in their late 50s and were planning ahead for maybe 20-30 years down the line as they were both vigorous, active, and healthy people. Well, my mother had a debilitating brain aneurysm in her early 60s and was in a wheelchair for two full years. Because of the choices they had made when building their home, she was able to go anywhere in the house, she was able to be bathed by caretakers in their no-threshold shower, and when she graduated to using a walker and learning to do everything herself again, the design principles of the entire home made it possible for her to do so.
Here are some tips of things to consider:
A basket-We will have lots of windows on the side of the house facing the lake and should have some natural light. I’ll look into Taconite options.
As someone with a spouse suddenly in a wheelchair, please consider this. Now is the time to plan for years ahead (or really soon). Wider doorways, roll in shower, a kitchen with lots of drawers instead of upper cabinets.
We redid our kitchen about 10 years ago and the one thing we are most happy with is the butcher block island counter top. It’s warm under your elbows drinking coffee in the morning when the granite counter is freezing cold. We went with a thicker block (Google boos blocks)
A big slab of maple will warm up the look of your kitchen.
I was not familiar with universal design-I am looking into it-thank you for this information. We were already thinking in that direction with having a one story home with finished basement and master on main floor, but this article gives me other areas to think about.
I’m glad that was useful! After my family’s experience I talk about this with everyone who is remodeling or building from scratch. You have a terrific opportunity to implement these Universal Design choices throughout your home now for really the same costs as a build that doesn’t have the accessibility built in, and you won’t be potentially faced with any costly retrofits in the future if the need arises. (Plus accessibility retrofits can often end up looking institutional or tacked-on).
In addition to looking at “Universal Design” you’ll sometimes find information described as “Aging in Place” for new builds; you’ll find plenty of ideas where a simple choice of fixtures or measurements can make your home accessible for years to come. (And again, it can be done invisibly and seamlessly - a concern for many people is that it will look like a hospital - it won’t!)
You’re already on the right track with the primary suite on the main floor - and with a few thoughtful tweaks to your plans you’ll be set.
So agree w/the universal design for all builds! There are a few YouTube videos on it; really illuminating.
Also, here’s a pic of an interesting kitchen w/wood/darker accents (beam, floor, oven hood) that still incorporates a bit of a fresh, lighter look.
Ha, add me to those admiring Bunsen’s really beautiful (and clean!) kitchen!!
Also found this kitchen w/cozy wood tones but some fresh looking green cabinets (re-doing my own kitchen in a few weeks so have been on the look-out). Not sure if it’s your style but had a warm feel…
