I'd try and save the corner bench and I'd definitely get all the cabinet hardware removed. If you don't need the hardware, including that which is painted, you can list it on eBay. The painted hinges will come clean of paint if you boil them with baking soda in the water. The paint will fall off them.

What are you doing with your flooring? If it's wood, I sure hope you are keeping it.

Thanks kec01. We're actually installing hardwood floors. The kitchen was previously redone and we now have lovely vinyl floors. Unfortunately,very little of the original kitchen remains. We are trying to stay true to the period with the remodel but it's not quite the same.

I learned a long time ago if something has the least bit of life left in it and you put it out to the curb with a free sign chances are darn good somebody will take it.....and then you not only help recycle something BUT you get out of paying to have it hauled away!
Like someone else said save the hinges, any hardware. Take pics before the demo...so you can look back at what was, it will make the somewhat painful trip forward less painful if you can see you are making progress.

If you have a salvage place near you, consider donating your cabinets, too. If the cabinets are metal, there is definitely a market for them. If what you have is wood, can they be reused in your basement/garage? I'm with Carol on recycling anything that can be reused and take pictures.

We're in a 1918 bungalow and were preparing for a true to the spirit of the house kitchen reno last year at this time. I know what you are going through.

Saved the cabinet door hardware and the Westwind exhaust fan. I couldn't get the bench out but the demo guy said he'll try to save it. The cabinets are wood and I doubt they'll come out intact. The hinges and inner hardware don't look like anything special. They were most likely installed when the cabinets were re-faced sometime in the 50's. I still tried to get them off but digging through all the paint to get at the screws was a little too much for me late last night.

I feel terrible letting any of this stuff go, but the kitchen just wasn't working for us. I did take some "before" pictures so I can remember where we started.

kec01, we too are trying to do a "true to the spirit of the house" kitchen so we'll be going back to inset cabinets, installing hardwood floors, using vintage-style hardware, lights, etc. I'd love to see how your kitchen turned out but I don't see you listed on the finished kitchens blog. Are there any pics out there for me to see?

Saved the bench but not the cabinets. Thanks again for the input.

Tito, I've never gotten around to posting it on the finished kitchens but here you go...
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/kec01/DSC00584.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/kec01/DSC00585.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g58/kec01/DSC00586.jpg

I hope I'm not too late...

Or, maybe this would be of interest to other people....

You should save the wood of the cabinets IF they are vintage early 1900s or original to the house. If so they would be made out of old growth fir (which is very nice wood) have value, possibly several hundred $$$ per cabinet.

Of course they can be removed without destroying them! Just requires a bit of care and not the sledge hammer approach. Generally these were built on site w/ hammers and nails and a good nail remover & crowbar is all that's needed. If they don't come off easily in one piece, then remove doors and face framing first, then disassemble the shelves and sides (to be rebuilt later).

Or maybe you can let someone else do the work of removing them - give away to someone, or salvage co. would prob. like to get their hands on them as they are worth some money.

If they are more recent 1950s/60s flat panel type cabinet, then NEVER MIND! Probably not so critical although even those would probably be appreciated by someone!

kec01, your kitchen is beautiful. It looks like you did a great job of keeping true to the period. You really should post those pictures on the finished kitchen blog or over in the kitchen forum. I've found it really helpful to see what others have done. For example, your subway tile looks more authentic than most I've seen. Were you able to find tiles with squared edges? If so, do you remember who the name of manufacturer?

kasha kat, unfortunately, you were too late. I hadn't thought that the wood itself might be valuable. The cabinets were no longer inset and a cabinet person once told me the cabinets were from the 50's. I suspect, however, that the old boxes were simply re-faced. They certainly didn't appear to be anything someone would want, but I now realize my lack of vision. I feel terrible as I really should have posted this question long ago.

Tito, dont feel bad, sounds like they were just the old plywood flat panel 1950s door-- those are not particularly valuable-- and not the old fashioned pine cupboards from earlier in the century which wouldve had the panel doors and been made of the old growth pine (beautiful stuff, no knots & tight grain). Whew! I'm relieved to hear that! I woulda had to come over and pick thru your dumpster and now I won't have to do that ;-)

Anyhow, best wishes on your new kitchen - now you'll be able to create something even better than what was there. I put together a pretty nice kitchen out of Ikea -- not 100% authentic but close enough.

For other people contemplating kitchen reno-- if you do have cabinets that are all worth saving, get a professional salvage person in to remove them - they know how to do it. The average contractor just wants to get on with the job and may not be aware if its valuable. If you have a Habitat Re-Store in your area they can remove & sell them and the profits go to Habitat for Humanity

For example, your subway tile looks more authentic than most I've seen. Were you able to find tiles with squared edges? If so, do you remember who the name of manufacturer?

I don't know what kec01 used, but I've been researching subway tile and I got a sample from Subway Ceramics. They make subway tiles without the pillow top, and they are standard thickness, so you get a nice, flat surface.

Here is a link that might be useful: Subway Ceramics

Sorry for the delay in responding - work today got in the way. Thanks, tito, for your compliments. Our tile is Meredith Art Tile. It doesn't have perfectly square edges, though, but it's more square than alot we looked at. And it's not pillow top either. It is a bit thicker than Daltile subway tile, though. Even though we ordered 1 color of tile, there is slight variation from one tile to the next but we like it this way.

You'll have fun and frustration during your project! Just think, in a few months it'll be done!