Your kitchen is darling! I think corian or Quartz or granite or marble, would just not look right. Personally, I'd probably go vintage looking laminate or butcher block, but I understand why those wouldn't work for you.

Have you looked at some of the new wood-look laminate counters? They're definitely no longer like the wood-look of the 80s and worth at least checking out. I saw some not long ago--I think it was a tour of a chefs home at the kitchn blog--and it looked like real butcher block.

Thanks for your suggestions! Yes, I have thought about just updating w new faux wood countertops, I'll have to research more. Another idea I had would be to put something more water-resistant around the sink, maybe one big stainless worktop? And then real butcher block for the rest of it. But is my little kitchen going to look strange w two different materials? Thanks...

How about a black laminate to tie into your range? I prefer black knobs/pulls with black counters.

This is Black Fabrique from Lab Designs as found on Retro Renovation

Ooh I like that one! Love the texture. Will order a sample, thanks!!

I was also thinking black laminate, soapstone, or granite. I would not want another wood-look, with the existing parquet floor and butcher block. Something black or near to it would look great :)

I like the idea of replacing the laminate with a darker laminate--vintage kitchens, especially farm kitchens, had different counter tops for different tasks. Save your money and get soapstone or granite when you can remodel in 5 years. I, too, think that your kitchen is adorable--love the open shelves at the window.

Cute kitchen! I think I would do a black laminate. I kinda like your idea of butchers block with stainless around the sink too. If you're likely to replace cabinets soon down the road, it would be a shame to put money into expensive counters just to tear them out.

Just wanted to say I love your cabinets. You even have drawers.

I wouldn't splurge too much on the countertops if you plan on getting new cabinets any time soon. The new tops will not be reused when the kitchen is redone. So square edge formica might be the way to go if you are leaning that way.

Oh, please no granite or quartz or any of the other more modern looks. They just don't suit that charming vintage kitchen at all. If the cabinets are in good kitchen and the kitchen has a good, functional layout and adequate storage, why would you ever want to upgrade? It's so cute.

I think I'd go with a fun, retro laminate myself. Or stainless. Just doing stainless around the sink shouldn't be too expensive. Some folks have reported getting better prices by going to a sheet-metal fabricator directly instead of using a big box or kitchen store.

Or you could do DIY zinc counters very inexpensively (RotoMetals - Zinc). It would also be period and style appropriate. Zinc does create a patina so you do have to be cool with that.

From the photos, I don't see any visual clutter with the three different surfaces but I realize I might not be seeing things the way they look in real life.

Thanks all! Black is something I haven't thought of but would look great especially since I have since replaced the hardware to black. Every time someone mentions they love the kitchen I question whether or not I really want to get rid of these cabinets in 5-10 years. It might be heartbreaking, especially since, to me, it really is part of the charm of our house. Soapstone would definitely be a consideration of we decide to keep the kitchen cabinets.

Almost hate to say it, since I once had it and the grout lines in the previous owner's DYI installation drove me crazy, but how about tile? No worry about water, and hot stuff can land on it without a problem, which helps in a small kitchen. And it works in a period kitchen.

I actually like tile also but have heard it's hard to find someone to install it properly or to find the right edges since it's not popular any more. Any insight into that? Thanks again everyone!

I've done bathroom floors but not counters. But I'd think that picking a tile with lots of available trim pieces would work. I once had a slate tile counter done for me -- meant to be a quick, inexpensive job to tide me over until I could afford a full redo but remained until I sold the place -- we finished the edges with wood strips.
For reasons known only to him the previous owner here did two inch thick counters and trimmed with 1/2 mosaic tiles that began to fall off and came to sharp edges. My hips still remember.

I love me a good vintage kitchen! Thanks for sharing yours - it's lovely! You might consider not changing out those lovely cabinets when you remodel. Our house is from 1939 and our cabinetry is old - unsure if original or from the 60s. We started out thinking about a complete renovation but the cost to get something quality equivalent was steep, and we kind of liked the vintage feel which is already dated and looks cute IMHO. So, we stuck with the cabinetry, kept the old laminate countertops and butcher block the previous owners put in and updated the backsplash, lighting, and put in kick ass appliances. We also retrofit some of the cabinets so the shelves pull out which is great.

I really like our vintage laminate and butcher block combination. I don't think granite, quartz, marble or anything contemporary would look good in your kitchen. Tile could work, or a vintage laminate. Our vintage laminate has thin black lines along the edges where there is no laminate which I think makes it more vintage looking. A subway tile backsplash would also look nice and classic, but of course that's what we thought! :)

Like your kitchen, we have low hanging cabinetry which I really didn't like. We put in low profile under cabinet lighting (1/4 tall, white) when we added the backsplash and it's made a world of difference. (I also got a shorter coffee pot to fit underneath the low cabinetry which made me feel better too.) The countertops are much more usable because there is no shadow. You can barely see it on the picture with the butcher block below. Now I really don't mind the sink side cabinets being low. I also love the 1/2 round shelves you and I have! Good luck!

Our Updated 1950s Kitchen with French Inspiration · More Info

Our Updated 1950s Kitchen with French Inspiration · More Info

Huruta thanks so much for your post - I remember your kitchen and thinking how awesome it was that you kept the cabinets and countertops! I absolutely love your stove - maybe that's what I'll get in 5-10 years instead of new cabinets :)

And yes, our upper cabinets are really low and kind of drive me nuts. I've been holding off on buying a Kitchenaid mixer because I can't fit it on my counter!!!

How about one of these? If you have a cabinet you can spare, this is an easy solution!

Amazon.com: Rev-A-Shelf RAS-ML-HDCR Heavy Duty Mixer Lift - Wire-Chrome: Home Im · More Info

By Rev a Shelf, only $95 at Amazon (sorry I didn't save the link to share with you).

Ooh that's pretty cool Funkycamper! I will have to think about where I put that. Thanks for the suggestion...

Another vote for tile on the counter, with a contrasting color edge. It's one of my favorite looks for vintage kitchens. While I got rid of tile when I remodeled, it was charmless 6-inch 1991 builder's grade. I love creamy yellow tile with black edge.

Your kitchen is totally adorable, I could just eat it up.

If you were interested in wood look laminate, here are a few shots of the counter that just got installed in my MIL quarters. My mom picked it out and she likes it.

She wanted something dark to contrast with her light cabinets.

Your kitchen just makes me smile! :) You need to stand back and appreciate what you have and be thankful no one in the '70s-'80s got hold of it when bad taste was epidemic!

I would approach it as a restoration, rather than a remodel or update. Almost everything about is period correct. I still think soapstone in place of the formica would be perfect, leaving the stainless and the butcher block, (if good quality, in decent shape) Or as others have said ceramic tile with the the proper contrasting trim.

I'll bet that kitchen has cooked up so many wonderful meals, and provided good times... if only the walls could talk ;)

Aw, thanks, Cookncarpenter. It is a lovely kitchen and suits the rest of the house - we really lucked out when we found it, it is a great house. I think I just see the conveniences of other people's more modern kitchens and get a little jealous :) I am getting pretty excited about soapstone. The butcher block is unfortunately not in great shape so will either replace that w soapstone also or new butcher block.

So replace the butcher block! FWIW I have a section of 1.5" thick maple butcher block I installed in 1986, looks beautiful with daily (hard) use and nothing but a little oil now and then. My Soapstone is a little over two years old, and the best counter top material I have ever worked on,,, and I'm old

I love the kitchen! Once you cook in it for a while, you will figure out what you really want to change. You may find you just love being in such a charming place. I wanted to keep my vintage kitchen, but desperately needed counter space. I spent a lot of time figuring how to have both. Give yourself some time to decide your priorities for your kitchen.

Soapstone is period for your home and gorgeous.

My mom has a circa 1950s kitchen that reminds me of this. I'm from a rural area, so they were a little behind on the times. The original floor ( bright green and white checkerboard) isn't in these pics. Hardware was changed, but the original ( bad condition ) laminate and counters are there. The original wood windows are in the pics but unfortunately my parents ripped them out Last year. :(

If you are trying to watch the budget you could always use soapstone on the sink wall (and hopefully find a remnant that will work) and put new butcherblock where it is now and on the back wall. Stainless on the sink wall to match the other side of the stove would look good too.

@Amber- what an adorably chunky baby in that last pic!!!

I love real pics, ones that show a true house/kitchen with people living in it.

None of us need the latest and greatest, we only need a space to prepare meals for our loved ones.

I love that this board exists for us to find the best way to make our space functional, but I also love seeing real pics like the ones you posted.

I'd shy away from tile because of grout and bacteria. Laminate scares me because sitting water will cause it to come I glued. They took the good stuff out of the adhesive several years ago. Even a leaking coffee maker can cause it. I'm talking at seams.

Wow I love seeing all of these kitchens!! Fishcow, yes, love the idea of soapstone for the sink surround and butcher block for the rest of it. Thinking either that or fully soapstone.

Can't believe I'm cheerleading for tile on the counter. The tile I used to have was 22 years old and there was no problem with bacteria or even the appearance of dirt or grime. Don't what they sealed it with originally, because I never sealed it in the 13 years I lived with it, but it never ever got funky. My biggest problem with it was 6" white tile with dark gray grout. It was very dated looking in my particular kitchen but it was extremely functional.

Eplumeng, either would work beautifully.