I can't decide if I am just obsessed with recreating a similar house or if I am truly inspired by the old house to get new ideas.
At any rate the old kitchen got me thinking about wood cabinets (rather than an all-white kitchen), light countertop to contrast with the wood cabinets (and brighten up the kitchen) and white appliances (rather than stainless steel).
The old kitchen:
OK, so not exactly inspiring.
Here's my playing around with these ideas-
I like minimalist cabinets without all of the hoopla (of fancy edges, curved molding, added framing, or too many details).
There is a cabinet company in Greenfield, MA near us named Boxco, https://boxco.studio/
that makes simple cabinets that I think would help make a new kitchen look older (surprising, since minimalist usually means modern).
Compare these Boxco cabinets below to the original 60's cabinets above. Try to picture just these cabinets in a lighter color (not the green backsplash, not the black handles, not the black countertop).
I could even try to replicate those 60s silver handles-
One way to create an older impression (in a new kitchen) is to use upper shelving rather than upper cabinets.
I love the wood cabinets above (simple lines, no extra framing) but too dark, grainy/oaky. I think I like Maple. I do like the countertop. But I would choose different handles (though these do look old.)
Here's a kitchen with wood cabinets and white appliances:
I like this wood of the cabinets above (but do not like the 'holes' substituting for cabinet handles).
Instead of the half-wall separating the kitchen and dining room, I would just use more lower kitchen cabinets to create sort of an island like this (except picture wood cabinets and light countertop):
You'd have to make sure the back side of it (towards the dining room) has a nice finished appearance, like this:
I have thought about using white wooden shiplap or white wainscoting as a backsplash. Less modern than subway tiles. Still bright and light with a contrast to darker wooden cabinets below.
And I do want the 3 windows over the kitchen sink.
Should I do this?
Or this?
Thank you for letting me have fun here and thank you for your input!