Stocky said, "I've forgotten more than the two of you will ever know. " Apparently so, but that's not necessarily a good thing. GHUDAK: Can you include a picture? My search is complicated by the popular furniture chain "Harvest Furniture" of California. I'm having a hard time filtering them out. BUT: Harvest of Louisville goes back at least to 1948 because Berkey & Gay declared bankruptcy in 1948 and the rights to use the name were is purchased by Harvest Furniture Co. of Louisville, Kentucky. Their offices in the 1950s were 903 W. Main (helps if you are checking city directories) I saw one city directory listing from 1955-56 for them, and they are mentioned in the early 1950s trade magazines. One government stipulation mentioned them and Ashley-Rhodes Inc, and an Arthur J Rhodes. Someone else mentioned a sticker on their chairs: Harvest Furniture Manufacturers Ashley-Rhodes Inc Louisville, Kentucky If you are really serious about it, try searching the Louisville newspapers (online archives) and city directories from 1948 and back in time.

Welcome out of lurkdom Brenda. I would love to help, but a picture is worth a thousand words, so if you can post a pix that would really help.

I agree the best placement is the wall with the blue artwork and high windows. You could incorporate the windows into the mill work of whatever built-in style you decide to go with. If you want to have a shallow counter area and not just tower cabinets and shelving, I highly recommend going with some sort of granite or stone on the counter area (like in first inspiration pic) if you will use it as a buffet area to serve food or beverages from. Painted wood will not hold us as well, for food service. Do you plan to keep that same table? I think you should move it forward more, so it's centered in front of the wall with the bookcase, leaving a clear path from the doorway.You may also consider relocating the bookcase to another spot in your home once you add the built-ins. The walls will look too closed in with furnishings on both walls. If you look at both of your inspiration photos, the built-ins are the only 'furniture' aside from the dining table, in the room which makes the space look larger and more open.

newer, white oak is much better looking than that old 80's-90's oak Refacing does not cost as much as replacing. I just had my cabs painted and chose to reface the doors and drawer fronts. It was only 2K more. (on top of the painting. I got solid wood doors/drawers w/mdf center panels on the doors) I think your cabs would look great painted in a soft white . absolutely do the new doors. Here's what a nice white would look like w/shaker style doors and your granite: If you like the two tone, paint the granite in a black or a charcoal gray if you go w/the white. or, do the island in dark wood stain, and the other cabs in the white. Since you also have the granite up the back, I think the white would really help to lighten up the kitchen. (look into under cabinet lighting too) And of course once you remove that horrible florescent lighting, the new lighting will make a huge difference. Any way you could raise the ceiling while you're at it? there was a poster on here who had Cosmos granite and went w/Amish built quarter sawn white oak cabs. (I think all of her cabs were in the 10K range) they are beautiful and well made This is not the same oak that's on your cabs. if you want to reface them, go w/something like this and have the bases stained to match If you want to stay w/the wood, then do this. Do not do cherry. Cherry wood has a very red undertone and I don't think it will look good w/your granite. I'd stick w/the oak or even Hickory or Walnut. Yes, reface them. Do not go w/Lowes or HD, they will cost you double what you could procure on your own. contact a local cabinet maker. similar granite to yours. I like how they did glass in some of the uppers. also like the black subway tile w/the white grout. Notice the under cabinet lighting. your granite with more of a traditional style white cab If you want to paint them, you could get solid maple doors like I did and have those painted along w/your skeleton base cabinets. this wood is knotty alder w/a dark walnut stain and another one w/red oak cabs with a lighter stain. the doors are shaker and the drawers are a slab-front. The granite is leathered. if you did a cherry, it would look something like these.