It's a house, not a museum, not even a historical landmark. Nothing you can (or would want to) do will turn it into a 1912 kitchen. Houses evolve over time or they get torn down. Those old European manors we all love look so great because they've had wings added on in different styles over generations and nobody's poopooing THEM.

Make it work for you.

You need a brain vacation. Go to the beach or the mall or the zoo or something and look at anything that has nothing to do with kitchens or decor. Don't talk kitchens to anyway. Even go volunteer to babysit an infant or take care of an invalid to give the caregiver a break.

The original house could have had a new kitchen any time this last century as times, appliances and functions change. What you have planned respects the house. A high gloss enamel Euro curvy Pogenpohl space ship style kitchen would work too in juxtaposition with the coved ceilings and all. What wouldn't work is something that doesn't look well crafted. Cheap and ill fitted cabinets disrespect a craftsman. Anything built with pride of workmanship should be fine.

I agree.
Do what you love and your house will thank you. I think your cabs sound tasteful and elegant. They are not over the top nor plastic. They will look wonderful and you will be glad you got what you wanted. The contractors with a different opinion can do their own houses their own way.

Thank you fori, plllog, and dianalo! Jeesh, I think I just needed a mental slap to get out of whatever trajectory I was headed off into. It's a big decision, but REALLY!!! Can't wait to get started, 3 more weeks... Dianalo - had to laugh about the plastic because I just fell in love with this great cabinet company out in Seattle that makes very modern frameless inset cabs that can have plastic laminate. Very cool, just not quite right this time.

Here is a link that might be useful: Very cool cabs

hi clueless... sounds like you found your brain, already.

fwiw, i changed from plain shaker-style doors at literally the last minute to a mitred door style, and went from white to ivory. so you are not alone.

i think we have it in our head what the kitchen "ought" to be for awhile, but then what we truly like/love sort of breaks through.

in your case, both sound wonderful. so do what will make you happy. good luck! :)

I like those cabinets and they'd be fine in your home I bet! People were really getting into sanitation at the time your house was built--white tile, sinks, that sort of thing. Clean clean clean. I think something modern and seamless would fit into the spirit of it just fine.

You're never going to get your brain back from this remodel so at least have some fun and a kitchen you enjoy.

Thanks again! Just went to see my youngest's kindergarten music recital - he was the itsy bitsy spider. As he "washed out the spout" he somehow managed to knock over the teachers ipod and the music - quite the deluge. Hilarious! Didn't think about cabinets once. Ironcook, you know when kitchen decisions take on a whole new level of meaning it's time to take a break. I am not my kitchen. I'll go and repeat that a few times as I look at pink formica and flowered tiles...

You're never going to get your brain back from this remodel...

lol, fori... i stand corrected!

There was a great article in Newsweek a couple of weeks ago about how the never ending stream of information is causing decision paralysis. It was fascinating and totally explained what I've been experiencing the past few years. It discusses how we end up making poor choices or no choice at all because we have too much information and not enough down time to absorb it all. If you have time read it. It was a real eye opener for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Newsweek article

fyi
the most recent This Old House is working with an interesting plaster situation, the restoration of an earlier 20th century look California house plus an expansion. The guy with the trowel is the hero of the story and the original vision is important to everybody. In your case why would you want to undo the Italian aesthetic, if it's got integrity and specialness?

My reason for saying this is that anyone can order cabs of any sort but having a real special house effect is something to respect and work with.

Cheri127 - I'll try to find that article, thank you.
Florantha - Your instinct is right on. I DON'T want to mess with the plaster at all, it just wasn't original when this little house was built. Our next door neighbor has the same house will all the original built-in bookcases that divided the LR/DR and the QS would have gone perfectly in there. They just felt heavy for what is going on here and I realized that as much as I love that style, it didn't feel right for the house. It's a very neat little space and I want to be true to it and myself. I think I am afraid of taking a chance and missing.

Cheri127, That article is eye opening. Everyone should read it! DH and I over think everything. Always looking for more information, a better deal, etc.

Kitchen cabinets are an example. We have a store, with a great KD, offering us a good cabinet at a reasonable price. Yet, I found my self constantly looking for a better deal...searching craigslist, other stores. The difference was never more than a few hundred dollars. I was spending huge amounts of time. Finally in talking to DH, I stopped. Could I miss out on a great deal? Yea, maybe, but probably not. If it was not for the internet I would never have gotten in to that state of constantly looking.

Clueless... You can't miss if you choose what you love.