You've accidentally posted in "Gallery" -- this forum is for finished kitchens. I'm sure you'll get more of a response if you re-post in the "Discussions" section of the Kitchen Forum. FWIW, when I renovated my own kitchen a couple years ago I had the original 1914 cupboards and more. One thing I suggest is to take tons of before pictures, an overview plus details. This may help inspire parts of the new kitchen and it would be a great thing to leave behind when you move on (in 2.5 years you say). My own remodel of a small kitchen is shockingly close to the original and even more shockingly expensive. It would be nice keep some of the old fashioned charm of the old (after all, the next homeowner will be attracted to a 1920 foursquare) if you can do so without breaking the bank. Where do all those doors go? I had 4 doors in mine and eliminating one (& flipping a staircase) turned out to be cost effective and bought us a lot more space & flexibility. Our problem was similar -- the fridge didn't fit in the room. I know you need to keep costs low but I thought I'd throw the thought out. So really, where do all those doors go? I hate to see you shrink a window but keep all those doors! Do you have any practical reason for a shorter counter, in part? (I ask because I did place one of my counters 3" lower on purpose & it works for us.) The 1920s kitchen era is my fave, though appliances have come a long and happy ways since then!

I am pretty spatially challenged, but I did just wrestle an 11 ft x 11 ft kitchen into something like submission, so I will weigh in here with a few ideas. First, what will dwarf everything else is your fridge. If you could install it so that only the front -- rather than the side as well -- shows from most vantage points, it won't loom as large. So, if you are willing to invest in replacing your windows and moving some plumbing, some variant on this might work: The lower cabinets next to the fridge are pulled out to match its depth. The windows above the sink and DW would be any array similar to those of laurainlincoln (with higher windowsills) or jenwrens (sills to the counter), both of which yield an enviably large area of glass. (Please note that I am pretty vague about the entrance to the kitchen from your 48" hallway. You obviously need a certain entryway width, but it could be achieved in several ways by messing with the fridge wall and the end of the range set of cabinets.) Looking from the DR, people would see the peninsula and either the end of the cabinets flanking the range or, if you prefer, a counterdepth wall. I too took down the wall between my modest kitchen and the DR. My kitchen is very different (yes, I would sell my soul for a lovely run of windows) but from the DR it does show the peninsula and the end of a run of cabinets, with no wall. Your peninsula would be longer and better looking; mine is truncated by a boxed-in chimney and shelves that were added to it to the depth of the countertop. Hope this stimulates the germ of an idea. Cheers. Here is a link that might be useful: laurainlincoln's windows to die for

Maybe, push peninsula even further back to give more space within. keep chairs with people out of walk way. need panel on right side of microwave hood. Keep same spacing on both sides of window to keep balanced symmetry around window. Stoves that close to corner is not ideal. make sure fillers in corner are wide enough so drawers don't hit handles

M, So great to hear your take on form following function. I think we share a practical streak. On the one hand, I'm not a preservationist, on the other I do want to be true to the spirit of the house. I'm not aiming to make it something its not, and I don't want to "over improve" either. I agree that its entirely possible to "design a modern functional home and have the original vintage design-spirit prevail". In fact, thats precisely the balance I'm striving to achieve. In my situation, honoring the vintage design spirit means keeping certain elements intact: --the cottage windows --the china cabinet --the built-ins in the living room flanking the fireplace I'm not as attached to keeping the kitchen and breakfast room spaces separate as my partner is. In the spirit of cooperation and domestic harmony ;-) I've solicited feedback on how we could fit everything in the footprint of the kitchen proper, and posters to this thread stepped up admirably (THANK YOU!!) Reading the comments here has allowed me to feel more comfortable with merging the kitchen and the breakfast room--that this might be the right place to "modernize". Considering the two spaces as one is beginning to feel…well…more practical to me. Your point about it being possible to botch both the form and the function strikes a cautionary note---Sheesh, that would be awful. Aiming to avoid this, on both counts! Thanks so much M, for your always incisive comments.