My kitchen is pretty small and simple and my house has mostly straight lines and ninety degree angles so I thought I shouldn't do anything too ornate. I showed my contractor a little dresser I have in my bedroom that's from around the same period as the house (1913) after finding some 19-teens original kitchen photos showing old kitchen furniture. Of course I didn't have to go through the trouble (the ones with a curved side, more like '20's furniture, are gorgeous!) but I was feeling guilty about compromising the craftsman look it originally had which went straight to the floor with no toe kick. So I thought it was a fair compromise for an old house lover. ;) When we bought the house the lowers had already been replaced in the '70's (ack!) but I have a photo of the kitchen from back in the '40's and it clearly was original back then...but due to putting in a dishwasher and needing to bump it out, I decided to combine the looks to get at least some toe kick area where I mostly work in the kitchen.

I have been reading posts on this site for several days and blown away by the knowledge and helpfulness shared here -- you guys are great! Til now I have held off on posting because my questions were TOOOOOO many and cascade into each other so I tried to search as much as I could on my own. I have come up with lots of helpful direction but still need more so I am jumping in and posting for whoever may have time to share insight and take on these challenging questions this holiday weekend. I recognize that many of you have debated your decisions carefully for a while (our preference also) but we are coming by our remodel by accident so all our decisions need to be made very quickly. We recently bought our home knowing we were installing a brand new bathroom upstairs but thinking we were only going to replace the counter/backsplash in the kitchen before moving in (pink corian in both backsplash and counter...can't stand!). We have a 3 year old so don't want to live through kitchen remodel AFTER we move in but living outside of the house results in incurring LOTS of additional rent+mortgage so we want to limit the time before we move in. DRAMA! Have you read the children's book "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"? Contractor (rightly, I think) suggested that if we replace the counters with a material that is going to last, it will outlast the cabinets (we think the boxes are original to the 1926 tudor) and the cabinets cannot be replaced without tearing out the countertops (and there would go the investment we are making now). So, he suggested we replace the bottom cabinets as well. That would also allow us to put some fancy cabinet insides in like the "kitchen aid shelf" I have drooled over for years. We came to terms with that idea but...here are some tricky challenges/details: -Kitchen is not large (not small by my standards but narrow...ie, no room for island). -Kitchen has offwhite (nearly white but creamy) shaker cabinets now. -Floor is greenish/black ceramic tile that has a slate like look (12x12). When we bought the house the kitchen floor was one of the things I liked most. Now looking at it more closely and recognizing it needs to be accounted for in selecting counter etc...I see it is ODD! Looks black in sunlight if I recall (it is winter in Seattle/VERY limited sun and the electricity is currently off in the kitchen due to work on the bath upstairs). Although dark, it has sections of dark greeny/brown veiny pattern going through it. -Contractor noted that our range is a 40" Kitchenaid freestanding (a 30" micro above it that is illegally/dangerously close to range top and needs to be replaced and moved up higher). Rare to find a 40" range...so when that dies...we will have very reduced options so he has suggested we decide on a new range now that we are having new cabinets built that will flank it. Range and MW discussion: All appliances are currently stainless and we had stainless before and I am done with the look--especially for white kitchen think white appliances? Though we aren't changing more than MW and range now know that frig is smallish and DW old so will be replacing at some point. I have been reading lots on this site and others that stainless is likely on the way out so think we shouldn't get a stainless range. However, as many good range options in white! Prefer 30" so that I can use a GE Advantium MW Speedoven above range instead of needing to find a separate place for MW and buy a hood...(double duty saves space...etc). Prefer to spend less than $3K on range because the GE Advantium MW is pricey and DH is being so patient on aforementioned "mouse with cookie" analogy of a kitchen that "was fine except for countertop/backsplash"...and is quickly approaching $15K+ OUCH...especially with brand new bath install, other rennos thoroughout and painting entire inside of house etc...sigh. (Note...loved the posts about Miele speed oven but too narrow to vent 30" range and can't spare cabinet space for under counter mount.) Features we think important in range: 1) controls on the front not at the back behind burners; 2) prefer gas or dual fuel but too pricey so willing to go with smoothtop electric; 3) double oven with small on top...we will probably use it 90% of the time and don't use that storage drawer at all now...never have so it is wasted space!; 4) Induction range not of interest...I have used it before...not wowed and don't want all new pots; 5) Reliability - really this is number 1 on our list! Countertop discussion: We like Cambria (like what I heard here about Soapstone too but since we are in Seattle -and soapstone is quarried back east- think it is much pricier than Cambria?). Think we'd prefer a medium or dark counter since we are sticking with white cabinets (spraying the top to match the new bottom and will pick a white that will go with white appliances IF we do continue on that path) -- backsplash not being chosen til other decisions made. None of the cabinets have glass front now and to make the old ones glass front is pricey since the insides of the cabinets are rough old wood dull (looks like ply) -- will do without glass front. Color: DH and I like green and Cambria has some pretty greens but they have some contrast and I thought we should have a quieter counter since the floor is not silent...not sure. Oxwich Green, Kensington, and Caerphilly Green are three greens that look interesting but we need to go to the showroom to see them in bigger format. Did tons of searches on HOUZZ and didn't find any kitchen with strong greens that also DIDN'T have brown to balance it. We don't really have space for brown given the grey in the floor so not sure we can go with such green options???? Would like feedback or pics on that if you think green can work with white cabinets and a strange green/brown/dk grey floor. Also thinking Cambrian black may be a simple solution (too black????). The other option would be in the grey family "Devon". I had thought I wouldn't enjoy working on a grey counter (too much like hotel or office which I spend TOOO MUCH TIME IN) but now think it is a better option than others given the oddities of the floor? Hmmmmmmmmmmm Okay...I know there are other questions but throwing these out there for now. Regards, Cheryl

@Terri Wilson We did a pretty large order of axstad too. $13,000 which was available over several months. Definitely delayed during a pandemic. I posted my old kitchen and was advised to check out the axstad and after going to several cabinet/ kitchen companies and seeing what we could get it, it was an easy decision. Getting an experienced installer to do the customizing we wanted has been a challenge as well, but we are in the thick of it right now. I think we will love it when it's done. We are also replacing a large upstairs cabinet, 2 built in hutches and a laundry room, several with base cabinets that needed to be cut to fit the proper depth. Good luck with your project.

Kuyaariel - The only thing I have to add is that I noticed that on your drawers, the recessed area of the panel is very narrow, not much open space, I would hold your current handles up there and see what you think of them, if they look a bit big compared to the space available. (Did this make any sense?) Beth - So nice to see your own home and work! Looks great. I love your hood and how unobtrusive it is.