What could be more modern than white? Change the curtains, add some colorful accessories, and save up for the reno.

^ listen to this person.

White is great --- I would pain the walls, replace the curtains and probably replace the nobs for the drawers and cupboards as well.

I agree with the first commenter, although I'm not even sure you need a full-out renovation. How about just changing the floors and countertops?

I LOVE the kitchen! The cabinets and counters are terrific. If the cabinets are dingy they could use a fresh coat of white paint (Swiss Coffee is a good choice usually depending on how bright your trim is.)

Pick a great neutral for the walls (a light gray would go well with the counters.)

Have fun with accessories in whatever color you like (Red and Turquoise is what I picture...but any will do!!!)- a KitchenAid mixer on the counter, FiestaWare displayed, McCoy pottery, a Kit Cat clock.

Please post after - I can't wait to see it.

p.s. If you have any $ - get a brightly colored enamel stove from Blue Star
http://www.bluestarcooking.com/about-bluestar-color-chart.html

Your kitchen looks like mine, except for orange-ish colored wood cabinets. I actually just primed them and am going to paint them white. I also am going to insert some glass on a few cabinets, either frosted or just clear. Change the hardware to more modern ones. I have nasty cheap linoleum on the floor, which I'm going to get rid of and paint the subfloors. I have to do everything cheap too while, waiting for money for reno. Good luck and post your final pics!

I agree. The cabinets here you can totally keep. Martha Stewart has some cute new cupboard hardware at Home Depot that you can use for an update. And I think new floors, new backsplash, new countertop. And obviously those curtains have to go. I would also remove the table pushed up to the window on the right if you don't really need it.

Sorry, when I said insert glass, I meant for the doors of course. Much more modern effect I do believe. ;)

Listen to the first comment - except do not save up for a kitchen reno as I feel the kitchen is perfect the way it is. What a gem!

I agree... white cabinets with the sleek hardware are already modern... the 1920's was very modern in their clean lines... Pain the walls maybe a grey color... get a bright colored rug for the floor infront of the sink.... get some different bright curtains.... Maybe redo the backsplash... I'd leave the cabinets entirely, I think that they are lovely. But if you don't want to keep them in the reno, donate them somewhere because I'd love to own cabinets like that. Check out this AT post of old design photos from the 40's... it might offer you some inspiration of how to reuse your cabinets. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/american-style/american-style-through-the-decades-the-forties-151058

Here is my low budget reno on a similar kitchen - though ours was in pretty bad shape when we moved in... take a look:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/kitchen/before-after-kitchen-reno-on-a-near-zero-budget-137096

I think you are very lucky to get a classic white kitchen! If there is nothing really wrong with the cabinets, then I would seriously considering to not remodel at all. I mean, those cabinets stayed good for 80 years- what could top that? In 80 more years they will be museum worthy:-) You could have fun with the backsplash instead and maybe add some new hardware (but if the hardware is original then I wouldn't throw it away).
Of course, if the white kitchen is too boring for your taste and you don't want classic modern but more fun, trendy modern, then you could go uber retro with colourfull cabinets and matching accesoires, maybe add some cute retro wallpaper. Or you could go towards sophisticated trendy, which means grey, maybe combine it with that wood wallpaper http://www.decorpad.com/bookmark.htm?bookmarkId=5869.
Anyway, my point is you could just keep them like this or paint them in some colour- but really carefully think before you decide to just replace them!

Why do you want to rip out those 1927 cabinets? They looks pretty cool to me. What I do have problems with is that prominent microwave & the greige flooring. Why not repaint the cabinets a glossy white; install black & white linoleum; buy some red dishtowels for a pop of color; & put that microwave somewhere else.

I love those as is! I would just redo the floor and add pops of color.

keep the cabinets! it's amazing that you have the original cabinetry-- it saves it from looking like every other home depot cookie cutter kitchen. Maybe give them a fresh coat of white paint and, like everyone else said, choose a wall color that will make the cabinets pop. As for renovating, I would focus on the floor and maybe any outdated appliances like the fridge or stove.

Embrace what you have! Redo the floor for sure. New countertop and backsplash (with a pop of color on the counter and a neutral backsplash so it doesn't stick out so much) would make a big difference. Save your money for appliances, not cabinetry. Upgrade the lighting over the sink.

I agree, I love how those cabinets look and that they go all the way to the ceiling! I would suggest changing the window treatments to add more color.

I would keep the cabinets if they are the original. Have them painted a high gloss Lacquer. Have the doors routed so you can use hidden hinges. Then change the hardware. I think it's really the hinges showing and the hardware that make the cabinets seem dated instead of awesome. The floor on the other hand is terrible.

Take the doors off the uppers. I agree with everyone else who says leave the cabinets white - although you may have to give them a fresh coat, especially inside the uppers if you go that way. I'd paint the walls though. I'm going to bang this drum once again - find a fabric for curtains or some existing curtains that you really like that have gray as one of the colors, plus at least one other color besides white or black (and some people say no blue in a kitchen - I say blue is ok so long as it's a greeny blue, not icy). Paint the walls a lighter variation of that color.

Paint the top of that island and the tops of the stools black. The floor is the glaring thing. You could try some peel-and-stick tiles. But maybe a large indoor/outdoor rug would work just as well.

I totally agree with the above comments. The cabinets are GREAT! I even love the hardware. I think pops of colour are the answer. Do you have a shelf above the sink? If not, maybe add a small one where you can put a few little plants (herbs?). Changing the curtains will do wonders. A colorful framed poster or other art on the wall? I found some bright yellow retro porcelain food canisters at Value Village and put those on my counter; you could do something like that. And brightly coloured tea-towels, a rug...

I really love the 1920s look - keep it! :)

If anything, I would attempt a "restoration" here rather than a "renovation". It looks like the floors and countertops have been replaced, and I would try to re-do those back to what was probably tile originally. I know that tile countertops are controversial these days though, so perhaps something not-tile but at least truer to the original design aesthetic. And second what the others have said about re-accessorizing to jazz things up.

That kitchen is amazing! I agree with redoing the floor, but keep the cabinets and hardware. Is that countertop stainless steel?

It's got good bones and is similar to the "new" styles you see now. If you'd like to update it, I would consider maybe putting in a nice, deep, porcilien farm sink, and maybe changing the floors and work tops. A new stove, and maybe put glass in doors for upper cabinets, and you'll have a rockin' kitchen!

Seriously, if you remove those cabinents, I'll come through the Internet and break your fingers.

This looks almost exactly like the kitchen in my 1952 house! I'd like to do something to our cabinets as well. Not because I don't like the white, but because they've been painted so many times that they stick when opening and the paint looks gloppy and thick all over. Also, the drawers don't have slides which is maddening!

For now, I would paint and change the curtains. Just about any color would work for either, but I would go darker than normal since the cabinets are white.

I agree with @jeannemarie. I wouldn't renovate as much as restore. In houses from the late twenties tile countertops and wood floors were the norm. Those are the only major changes I would make (well, and hardware). Those are also the only things that make sense not to restore.

I would do another kind of counter: laminate, granite, silestone... whatever suits your fancy. It would give it a modern edge.
Wood floors are great, but they don't wear as well in kitchens, so I would do tile or laminate with the wood look (I know, this isn't normally preferred, but my mom's kitchen has had it for about 12 years, and barely shows any wear... in-laws have wood, and it looks destroyed after 5).

The last thing I'd do is shelve the microwave above the stove and remove the shelf above the window over the sink - then you can put a cool light there too!

i'd leave the cabinets as they are (clean & touch up paint & hardware, if necessary) and remove the curtains and the table and stools under the window. maybe paint the walls with some color, then add new window coverings, a rug and some accessories to complement.

Color on the walls would make it feel more vibrant and contemporary.

I'd just put in a checkerboard tile floor and change the curtains to play up the classic style.

If it were me, I would embrace the home I bought and work toward a restoration, not a renovation. I would concentrate on the floor and backsplash and bring in some cheerful color.

If you're working within a limited budget, chances are you won't be able to afford cabinets as well-built as the originals.

Frankly, why buy a house built in 1927 if you don't like what's original to the period?

I agree. The kitchen is darling, with the suggestions on new paint. In 15 years, what you put in today will be dated. You have a classic.

I'm glad everyone else found this question mysterious, especially when there's no mention of the cabinets being in poor condition. "More modern"? It's already white and gray, isn't it?

Please don't touch the cabinetry! The floor, new countertops, sure. Paint, window treatments, and some embellishments and you are golden!

In looking at the cabinets, I'd guess they were actually installed in the late 40s or early 50s; they have the set back on the base (for your toes to fit a bit under the cabinets) which cabinets from the 1920s don't have.

That said, if they are in good condition, I'd keep them, maybe repainting to fresh--but the white is period appropriate and always looks nice. As others have said, I'd suggest restore rather than renovate: new floor--maybe with real lino like Marmoleum (we have it in our 1929 kitchen (which does have original cabinetry that has more of a craftsman look--and no toe space) and it looks and wears great) or wood; new backsplash and counters. But the kitchen is a classic; nice find!

I'm with everyone else, pull up the floor, change the backsplash, Modernize the window treatments, but for goodness sake don't remove the beautiful cabinets. If you must make them more modern, just redo the doors.

I would, keep the white.
But I think it would be very nice to:

-Get some colored (orange, yellow or red) plexiglass between cabinents
-Buy some new cabinet handles
-Get new curtains in the sam colour/with a litle part of same colour as the plexiglass
-Get worklights under cabinents

I had this exact kitchen in a previous house, only I had bright pink counters! And yellow and black tile as backsplash and all around the kitchen to shoulder height. As is, your kitchen isn't terrible and you could add some bright accessories and art and stop there.

Everyone always goes on about the quality of old wooden cupboards. While it's true that mine had been top of the line in 1930, all the interiors were kind of sticky and not entirely clean-feeling after 80 years. I ended up painting all the insides of drawers and cabinets, just to make them feel cleaner.

Other than that, changing the counters /backsplash can be pretty inexpensive and would make a big difference.

It was a lot of work, but I took up several layers of linoleum and some terrible black sticky underlayment and had the fir subfloors refinished. It looked great (but was not as easy to care for as a vinyl floor.) Cheaper still, you can also paint over the existing vinyl - just ask at a paint store about the right paint to use.

New hardware faucets at the sink and lighting would all make a big difference without being too expensive.

And, if it were my kitchen, I'd have one cupboard adapted to house the microwave to get it off the counter. You don't have that much counterspace. Or get one that goes over the stove.

There's a great little kitchen posted right now on Kitchn's Small, Cool Kitchen Contest: Jane's Red Floored Kitchen. Her cabinetry is very much like yours--shows how a little tweaking, a fab red floor, and colorful accessories can restore the beauty of these old kitchens. Also, solid color floor linoleum is cheap, period-accurate, and (I <think>) environmentally friendly.

I updated our 1926 kitchen with just paint, light fixture, and hardware! Though I enhanced the vintage, rather than modernized it. But you can do the same in the other temporal direction.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blastmilk/5747761863/

I can't tell from the photo for sure: Is the area between the sink and cabinets tiled or painted? If painted, you could temporarily paint that a lighter, happier color to tide you over til a reno -- How about turquoise? It's an attractive color and would go well with the white cabinets and the gray countertops.

You could also replace the cabinet hardware now with some updated hardware. It'd be more logical to wait til you paint to do all that (removing the old hardware, puttying in and sanding the holes, drilling new ones ... if you're not using the same configuration), but if the reno won't be for a very long time, the new hardware would help til then.

What's the floor made of? That seems to be dragging the space down and making it look kind of dreary. Could you temporarily cover it with Flor stick-on carpet pieces or a giant rug (until you reno the floor)?

And I totally agree with everyone about the curtains -- they have a granny look to them. You could put up some inexpensive blinds from Cost Plus or Pier One ... something colorful ...

After you've decided on colors of paint, curtains and floor, get some pretty, colorful dishtowels to go with them. Ditto on the "pops of color" suggestion/s above.

Colors are highly subjective - What looks good & modern to me may not look that way to someone else...

What I would do is investigate having a dishwasher installed - It appears that your cabinets could possibly accommodate an 18" wide unit in place of a drawer and a door with very little modification?

Our house's kitchen is very similar in age and style. We painted the walls a light green. We installed new light fixtures over the sink and overhead. The cabinets were left white, and we even decided to scrape some of the many layers paint off of the inside of the drawers and doors so they close more easily.
Embrace the charm of the kitchen that you have instead of doing a complete overhaul. That kitchen is wonderful. I'd even consider replacing the appliances with some retro reproductions appropriate to the period. Some are available in awesome bright colors like red or mint green.

I think it's looks great in white already. All you need is to change out the curtains and add some accessories and you've got the look.

I would only change the floor and the counter/backsplash. Those are cool cabinets!

I agree with those who say keep the cabinets, but the steel-gray countertops and sink make the kitchen look drab. So I'd replace the faucet with a vintage-inspired model and the sink with one that's white enamel over cast iron.

That kitchen looks perfect. Maybe it just needs a fresh coat of white paint? Paint the top of the island and the seats grey to match the counter tops so it blends a little better. Oh, and take down those lace curtains. White, sheer roller shades would probably be perfect.

Oh, and the floor! Cool colors instead of warm tones.

I agree with keeping the cabinets and updating the hardware and adding color. One thing I don't think anyone's mentioned is that light above the sink - it's gotta go!

Found this link on 1920's to present kitchens http://www.atticmag.com/2010/11/kitchen-contrasts-1920-2010/
We are currently looking for at an old house that unfortunately does not come w/ as nice a kitchen as you have... It needs major work all over!

Well...in direct contrast to what everyone else is saying... these look very much like my cabinets (sans the white and silver "firecracker" countertops that we have!) I didn't paint them white because I love colour. Long winters, what can I say. I really love the soft sage green that I painted them with and I painted the inside of the cupboard a two shades lighter for effect. Even with the visible hinges and silver handles it looks beautiful. I have to repaint again and I am considering painting the top cupboards white and leaving the bottoms sage, just to change things up. So, if you're not keen on white there's another option that might work, although with all the gray in your backsplash I would go towards a gray-green or even a nice gray, just on the bottom cabinets. Think of how beautiful it would look! I would change the curtains too to something more tailored, doesn't have to be expensive though!

Keep the cabinets, but change out the curtains, the floor and the backsplash. It looks like the counter is original as well? I would keep it too, just make the changes a cool, complimentary color.

I agree with koolfind - a sage green would look great - especially if you have a tone that is a little muddy and doesn't contrast with the counter and floor too much.

You may also want to research doing some kind of glass backsplash tile over the lino that's there now. This may be do-able without ripping out the current.

Finally I'd suggest leaving your floor as it is if it's in good condition. A cheap quick-fix floor is going to be difficult to clean and look both cheap and quick-fix in a short time. Ditto for the countertop.

Definitely new hardware, curtains and light fixtures will make a world of difference as well.

Finally, when the time comes you're ready to re-do your kitchen, do what makes your heart happy. With respect to the folks who adore 1920s kitchens, they're not everyone's style and they're not always well planned or easy to work in.

Please don't change anything original that is in good condition or can be revived. It will save you money, and you will have something unique instead of all those cheapo Made in China kitchen makeovers from Home Depot. I think adding some color - like yellow, orange or light turquoise - would look great with the white cabinetry and gray countertops.

I agree with everyone else, those cabinets are to die for! If they're a little icky, just sand them down and repaint them a nice fresh white. Other than that, I say change your wall color to something vibrant and fun. I'm seeing a nice ice blue or turquoise color.

If you have the money, change the flooring to a cute checkerboard pattern and maybe use some apricot colored accents here and there to really make things pop.

As you get more money, start to replace your appliances. I'm thinking that with some old spice racks, hanging a few pan lids on the walls and maybe placing a few pots of herbs here and there your kitchen would be cute as a button.

Good luck, can't wait to see the after photos!

I love the cabinets too. I would take those any day over my honey oak ones with the wooden scallop over the windows. Blah! If they are in good shape a new coat of white will do just fine. Or you could do them in a colour or paint the lower ones black. I would also look into a historical colour palette and pick out something for the walls.

As a vintage kitchen lover and modern kitchen hater, I wish people with opposite tastes of mine would quit ruining all the vintage kitchens! Buy a house with an 80s or 90s kitchen and wreck IT, don't wreck my 50s or older kitchens! It's your house to do with as you please, but please leave it!

If you want it to look more modern, update the flooring and hardware and take down those hidonkulous lace curtains.

Another thought - the Benjamin Moore website has a personal color viewer tool. I've never used it - but supposedly you can upload your own photo and test various colors. That might be a good experiment to see if any particular color really works for you.

We had a similar kitchen that didn't look retro or vintage (which I happen to love!), it just looked dated. Some things we did to the cabinets. We added crown moulding to the top of our cabinets, which helped in itself (I can't tell if yours go all the way to the ceiling). We also repainted everything a fresh coat of white paint (they were already white, but you'd be amazed at what a fresh coat can do!). Finally, the biggest project (time but not money) was adding trim to the door (we did this before/during painting). We had similar slab doors with two hole handles. We filled in the holes from the handles using a two part wood filler (two substances mix together). We added trim to the door so that they look like shaker cabinet doors and then drilled a new hole for a simple one-hole pull. We added wood the same thickness as the door trim to the drawer fronts so they would all be at the same depth. We left a little edge around the drawer front so it looked like a mini shaker, but reverse. We added cup pulls to the drawers, instead of handles. With all of that, our kitchen looked soooo much better, but it still had that dated air to it. The icing on the cake was that we took the trim that we added on the door fronts and attached (with velcro!) a piece of it to the grooves below our sink. We made it the same height and width as the grooves so it would just cover it. We added cup pulls to it so it looks like a faux drawer. I was worried about it not being the same depth as the drawers, but it looks soooooooo much better than those grooves. And with the velcro, its removable if you change your mind later.

something about this layout reminds me of the kitchen in the movie, Tree of Life. That kitchen was full of beams of sun and light. Go see the movie and then do your kitchen exactly like that. You will not regret it.

Exactly what I inherited with my apartment. Sand down cabinets to a smooth finish, repaint with a glossy white using a sponge roller. Paint walls a light grey or stone. Remove/glass doors top cabinet doors to open the space up.

First: Get rid of those curtains!!

Then:
Install a new light fixture above the sink. Leave the white cabinets and get a cute rug. Paint the walls & replace the flooring - use cool shades that compliment the counter and back splash.

We own a 1920's house and if we'd had that originalish kitchen instead of the 1980's cheapo nightmare the previous owners installed, we'd have been happy happy campers and not have had to live through a 3 month reno. The only thing I'd be tempted to change about your kitchen is the floor, which could be a really simple marmoleum/linoleum. And then paint the walls something mellow (I like sage green with the white and gray, but that's just me) and put up some new curtains, call it a day.

we have a vintage 1930's kitchen - original everything including bright yellow tile! i would go establish a very neutral but vintage inspired base: replace the floor, replace the hardware with stainless vintage look hardware. lose the curtains and replace them with bamboo blinds. i would keep the look clean and fresh - well painted white cabinets (you may need to sand the heck out of them to give them a clean look) and a soft gray for the walls - and choose stainless when buying even your small appliances. then you can add flavor - choose artwork in sleek white or black frames for a more modern edge, or hang vintage artwork, colorful plates etc. if you want to make it more kitschy.

Looks great. Aqua for the wall and some red accessories and you are good to go. Lucky you.

Kitchens in the 1920's generally did not have this type of built n cabinetry. What you have looks more like 1940's-50's. That being said, it is pretty cute and especially more modern with the existing color scheme. I would simply bring in modern accessories (crate & barrel or IKEA) and some bright accents ( I would choose orange) to give it 21st century appeal. I can how the layout would be less than ideal, but many folks would be jealous of that kind of vintage charm!