I think 1905 predates continuous cabinets/countertops and backsplash, a kitchen of that vintage would have used freestanding tables and cabinets. Pretty much none of what you describe would be period appropriate, so you're free to do pretty much whatever you like. Kitchens have changed dramatically over the last century and almost no one today really wants to live with a period correct kitchen in an old house. Most folks choose to compromise authenticity for livability in the kitchen (just as we tend to do with lighting), which seems a sensible compromise.

There is beadboard in my circa 1900 kitchen.

@rwiegand: thanks for your input. True, many houses of this period used freestanding tables and cabinets, but not all. The original kitchens done in our home and two others around the corner actually had an entire wall of built in cabinetry with a full length slab of oak. Sadly, that wall of cabinets was badly modified in our home, although I've seen one kitchen that wasn't really messed with much. They certainly didn't have an island, like we are considering, so your point about authenticity vs. livability is well taken. I'm not going for a restoration by any stretch--I'd just like to use materials that don't look out of place (plus, I just LOVE soapstone if I can swing the budget!). Here's a cool old photo from a 1911 Ladies Home Journal that is somewhat similar to what was once here.

It's going to be quite an adventure bringing our current space into 2016! Thanks for your thoughts!

graywings123--we have beadboard in a bathroom behind our sink. Have you had any issues with water damaging the beadboard?

Not that I know of. My kitchen sink is not against a wall.

Ah, got it. I'm leaning toward something that will handle water well, probably subway tile.

Totally agree with you about functionality and beauty. I'm pretty serious about my cooking, so everything has to work hard. Like you, I know it can be beautiful too without looking out of place in this 1905 house. I'm looking forward to making this kitchen what I know it can be.

Someday we'll get around to putting the bathroom back to period-friendly tile. :)

Jane Powell's book, Bungalow Kitchens, is a classic on old home kitchens. She has individual sections to her chapters on "obsessive restoration" (ie hard core "purists") versus modern updates. Her books are all wonderful resources. I had the privilege of meeting Jane several times before her untimely death: she was a character and really knew her stuff.

Jane's book is online now in Google Books. I prefer the print version which I have in my collection but you can read it on line as well.

https://books.google.com/books/about/Bungalow_Kitchens.html?id=s5Qb2NPZXMAC

I had the privilege of meeting her as well and she visited my bungalow during a local holiday party. I have quite a few of her books in my library.

A simple subway or square would be appropriate.

Go plain on the backsplash and save $$ for the soapstone.

I have a 1928 registered historical house and I am so, so torn on the kitchen. It's a good thing that it's not happening for several years!

My initial thought was something like this one. Maybe using those varigated green tiles (usually found on fireplaces) instead of white. I love this kitchen. http://www.houzz.com/projects/4299/ravenswood-manor

Right now we have it in the unfitted style (budget!) and just paint for the backsplash. The sink is original from 1928, but the metal cab is from the 50's, and our stove is a Chambers from the 50s

I have to say, we DID save and splurge on square-edge tiles for the bathroom and I am SO, SO happy that we did. We did the work ourselves and saved in other areas.

I echo what lazy gardens says. In my last kitchen I did inexpensive off white subways from Home Depot with soapstone countertops. It looked fabulous. For simple subways there's no reason to pay more than prices from a Big Box store. Put your money elsewhere.

If you have something like egg and dart molding, then it will have to be some rare and costly cabinet wood to keep up the same level of elegance. Rosewood?

Or does "transitional" mean mix-n-match eclectic in this case?

Fortunately, the egg and dart molding in our house is not anything rare and costly. The woodwork and molding in the house is pine and oak. When we added onto the house in 2005, we were able to source a pretty inexpensive egg and dart to carry the same details on windows and doors into the addition. Lucky us!

By "transitional" I'm referring to a house somewhere between Victorian and Craftsman. Maybe "Simple Victorian" would be a better term. Not so much eclectic as something between two styles--but thanks!

Back in the early part of the century people were all about cleanliness so white subway tile would have been their choice. Here's a picture from that era:

Hotel Kitchen

If you don't want to use subway tile, you could bring the soapstone up to create the backsplash.

My house is a 1908 vintage. I have a full bank of cabinets about 10" wide, which were built in later, I'd say in the 1920s. I know this because if I look in the lower cabinets, I can see the original base moldings all along the back wall. They built the cabinets right over the base moldings!

To answer your question, I would put in subway tile or plain white square tile. I would also rethink the granite and instead look at a walnut island top.

Diane