I can echo ebse: our 1930 house has its original glass doorknobs backed by polished silver/chrome. But the little knobs on the hall closets wouldn't work in our kitchen--too small, and I don't want to push a tiny button to get out the plates. Our KD keeps saying: think classic, think simple: so I'm looking through Schoolhouse Electric and Rejuvenation and RH catalogs, and we're trying to reproduce the look of our shaker cabinets (but updated: slides and depth added). Our home, according to previous owners, had linoleum, and I love the Marmorette I've chosen. The finish carpenter wants to duplicate some of the woodwork, since we're taking out a wall and the kitchen will open into the former formal dining room. But the sticking point is this: I want SS appliances. I want those two lovely SS sinks and faucets. I had Traci's double-oven for 15 years (it finally died---it's from the 60's. It was the first GE to make a self-cleaning oven, according to the old appliance store where we purchased it back in the early 80's). So, we all make those decisions to try and reproduce the elements that remind us of "days gone by." Ellen Goodman wrote years ago about our generation building huge homes to act as perfect stages where we perform our lives...except, nobody's home, because we're all working hard to be able to pay for those big stages. Sigh. The most hospitable home I've ever been in was a tiny, nondescript ranch in So. Cal. where a tiny Japanese-American woman cooked over a gas range, in a non-A/C kitchen. The food was amazing, and always prepared with love. Best kitchen I knew. I want a prettier "stage," but I want her essence in that room. I'm working on it.

hate to not have to say anything new lol..but yes of course, it's the backsplash. nice suggestions above. will make tons of difference hardware can be changed or not..i think it's pretty versatile a rug will help to set a tone..but if you're hesitant about rugs-I'd look into changing the lighting fixture for something that'd reflect your taste more it's all easy fixes, relatively speaking. you're not miles from what you envision..you're couple feet away:) yes, paint creams white color..or not a neutral, but a version of some color you love, so it won't fight with the cabinets you can use creams and whites together a lot in decor, but with cabinetry it's harder to swing it; so I'd paint. Brick-up to you. Will look ok whether painted or not, or so I feel. Maybe start with the build ins then decide about brick. You also will probably have your backsplash by then..will help you decide if the backsplash is patterned for example-I'd be tempted to paint the brick more It's not a lot of brick too, so whatever you decide-easier.

The white isn't helping, that's for sure. You should never compare colors on a white background because white will make the color look more muted and darker than it really is. Rules of Color #1: A color chip will appear brighter or less gray if the background color is relatively dark or black. The same chip will look dimmer or more gray if the background color is relatively bright or white.

It maybe worth asking yourself what you hope for, from just one colour? I don’t think it’s always the easier option that some might imagine. I think if you recognise that some colours change significantly, depending upon light quality, that’s more realistic. And it’s near neutrals such as these, that are far more impacted by varying light than more colourful colours. Personally I think that colour shift can add mood and atmosphere as you walk through connecting spaces. But sometimes it can come as an unwelcome shock. The only way to have a real understanding of how a colour is likely to render in each room is to view it in each room. Card x 2 coats so you may see it against different walls and this can be important too, at different heights. Less chance of surprises at least! And it may help to think of paint colour not as another ’thing’ to install, like a fridge or a rug, but something to partner with both the available light and context in which you place it. As that’s what decides how it will render for you. 🌈