I like the adage ' form follows function'. Are you forgoing having a dishwasher to keep things compatible? Are all your appliances vintage? Are you applying for some type of grant where everything needs to be period correct? Who's going to see/care about the insides of your cupboards and drawers?

If you want them painted- get them painted. Be prepared to line shelves and drawers (probably also period appropriate).

I have no clue as to what a 1930's kitchen looked like, so I'm no help there. But I'm guessing yours won't look like that anyways- (better use of space, more cupboards?).

IMHO, no one would ever open up your cupboard doors or open a drawer, and say- OMG you didn't PAINT the insides?

Cupboards, sure. Paint them. Drawers, nope. If it was a real '30s kitchen, the paint would be rubbed off the sides of the drawers (been there done that). Assuming you're getting modern slides (please do!), you won't be able to replicate the guts of vintage drawers anyway, but unpainted sides would be authentic enough.

If it were me I'd clear coat everything except for the glass cabs. I'm trying to achieve the best of both worlds. A vintage look but not so vintage that I feel like I'm actually back in the 30's with no modern advances. I'm trying to get the look without sacrificing convenience and common sense. Of course, maybe you actually WANT to feel like you are living back in the Great Depression, which, I'm hoping is not going to be the case. : )

Raehelen and fori, thank you! Both of you made me laugh at myself and are just what I needed...a touch of reality, feet back on the ground...it'll be fine either way so we're mixing and matching, I guess. Clear drawers and painted cupboards. I'll be sure to post when the first person comments on it :-) Thanks again....I do sometimes get carried away...what's that old saying about the forest and trees...something like that, anyway. Yes, I did remove the old icebox from the back door and no, none of my appliances or my layout smack of 1930!!! Thank goodness.

Oh, yeah, fori, yes I did get the modern glides on my drawers together with soft close drawers and doors...another deviation from the 1930's era! How funny, upon reflection, I realize my kitchen has nothing from the 1930's...it's just designed to be compatible with a 1930's house. I too lived with the real 1930's drawers and cupboards for way too long.

I'm not saying it's awful to wax your drawers, but when "full extension" means it's all on the floor, it's time to go modern. :)

I do enjoy a good period-inspired kitchen!

I don't think it would look funny to do the drawers clear and the cabinets painted.

I had the same choice.

I let them clearcoat a few shelves, but I had almost everything painted inside.

I think a house is not frozen in time, it's something that evolves. And in the 1930s, money was tight. A house in the 1930s would have had things in it going back decades, so "1930s" colors might also include 1905 colors, 1880s colors etc. That gives you a lot of license.

Sooooo .....

There's a long folk tradition of painting the insides of cabinets bright colors. A few colors, including a very pretty blue called, and a bright green, were thought to repel flies! Peacock blue was also popular. I've seen ochre and pumpkin, red, of course. Even wallpaper on the insides of doors. Beautiful, beautiful things.

Thanks, growlery...somehow it helps to know I'm not the ONLY one to think of doing it this way. I love the idea of bright insides...I might have tried that out except that DH is pretty much of a traditionalist and every time I suggest a bright color he pretty much vetoes it...except lately he's been talking about red walls in the dining room. Go figure!

Oops! I'm really distracted today ...

The blue is "dolly blue". It's pale blue with a little purple in it. Looks suprisingly modern, actually!

Sometimes I think men are scared by the idea and talk of color. But if you show them something specific, they're good. At least that's how my friends boss their husbands into it!

Where there's paint, there's hope to repaint in the future.

And, for what it's worth, I have painted over clearcoat with good, though not bulletproof results. If you feel you've made a terrible mistake, you could paint and touch up (or throw down a drawer liner, or ignore) as needed.

By now everything must be on and off the truck, so you can relax!