White cabinets were very popular in the 20s due to the flu epidemic after WW1 that killed thousands of people. White was associated with cleanliness. I guess they didn't understand how viruses were spread and that white can hold as many viruses as any other color.

For some reason houzz isn't letting me attach the samples I had:

The wood-stained sample matches the original doors in our house (they are partial overlay). Our doors have the glass octagonal knobs, so I was thinking of the same for the cabinets, but every picture I've seen of a 20s kitchen has Shaker cabinets, usually inset. I am only looking at the off-white subway tile, not the decorative tile.

These are my favorite "looks":

White: https://www.houzz.com/photos/delightful-lure-traditional-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~11825568

Wood-stain: https://www.houzz.com/photos/1910-foursquare-kitchen-craftsman-kitchen-portland-phvw-vp~11720120

Gray: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/116145147/list/gray-kitchen

They are all pretty. All are quite modern, not in any way period-ish, so I just wouldn't sweat it. Going to an open floorplan is already a significant departure from a 20s kitchen, so I just wouldn't worry about it.

Here's the Ladies Home Journal's ideal kitchen for 1924:

and a real kitchen from the late 20s, which does have inset and crown, but much simpler than your inspiration photo:

And a very pretty kitchen designed to look like an update of what was there all along:

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/finished-1923-kitchen-with-breakfast-nook-dsvw-vd~4506819?n=57[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/finished-1923-kitchen-with-breakfast-nook-dsvw-vd~4506819?n=57)

But if you prefer more of a modern traditional look, it's a kitchen, not a museum. Some people like to stay very close to what was, most don't really care.

IN my area 1920 kitchens were orginally wood most often. If there were white units they were often metal. If painted the kitchens here were that green of yore, which I think works better than white in a four square.

here are some of my inspirations for my upcoming 1920 kitchen remodel.

roarah I love those! I lean toward the wood stained myself. Are you going with soapstone/ish countertops and inset Shaker cabinets?

writersblock, I like that second photo with the woman standing in it with the breakfast nook behind her. I am going for a modern kitchen but want to add elements to make it fit the rest of the house - moldings, a breakfast nook, and hoping for finishes that are in harmony.

Looks like roarah found my pinterest full of butler pantries and Craftsman kitchens...

I think you could go either wood or white for the cabinets. I do think soapstone or marble will make the look, though. There's something about the softer, fluid veining in those stones that completes the old kitchen look that granite can't match.

I'm in the process of designing a new kitchen for my Victorian, and I've found that an important aspect of nailing a period kitchen (that's functionally modern) is to pay close attention to the small details. For example, I've been studying the proportions and panel trim style of old cabinet doors, looking at period hardware, and how they did stuff like backsplash (the answer is beadboard), observing toe kicks (of lack of toe kicks), light fixtures (they did not do can lights back then), stuff like that. I'm also fighting hard for marble (I do love soapstone, but am worried about the kitchen being too dark).

I would do an Shaker door, full-inset. You can do white paint or natural wood, just be sure not to choose a dark, glossy "cherry" for your wood - that would never have been used in the 1920's.

I know a couple of people with soapstone countertops and they love theirs. It would be very appropriate for the era. I'd use white subway tile with either - no bevel. One friend who used the soapstone countertops, used a 4" square handmade English tile for her backsplash as her house is about 125 years old.

Just found an example of a foursquare with raised panel: https://www.oldhouseonline.com/house-tours/tailoring-foursquare

They made an addition like we want to, but replicated features they found in the original house.

Here are the doors and stairway railing, which were my inspiration for going for wood-stained and raised panel cabinets.

I do not think there is anything wrong with making use of some of the newer kitchen surfaces carefully blended with an older look. There are quartz counters that can work in an "old fashion" looking kitchen. A friend of mine did a lovely job on a new kitchen in her old victorian. One old thing she did use was a washboard sink. On one hand, it looks great - I remember my grandmother's in her 1920 home. However, I love my Whitehaven for its size and depth - more practical for my life.

I was watching a BBC show on Netflex - took place in the 1930's or so and the kitchen had a big "butler sink" - what we call an "apron front" sink.

I love your wood work. I have yet to finalize my kitchen plans and I had a series of strokes three weeks ago that lead to a hole in my heart being closed two weeks ago and have lots of rehab ahead of me and so have delayed the project for a few months but I am leaning towards a natural to medium stain quarter sawn oak with marble tops. I have had marble for over twelve years in the kitchen with young kids and know I am ok with its etching caused patina but I will be looking into Quartz as well. Good luck with your beautiful new house!

Oh really? My husband and I love the real marble look but our KD steered us away from it. The good marble-like quartzes are still really expensive.

I’m sorry to hear about your health troubles. I was in recovery for heart trouble a few months ago. Good luck with rehab and your kitchen!

Roarah - I hope you feel better soon! Take your time and spend your days relaxing and handing out advice here:)

I do not have a true vintage kitchen, but when I refreshed my older kitchen I went for a vintage feel. My countertops are not listed as a "marble look" quartz, though I do get asked if they are marble. I like them with my warm wood cabinets. You might look at similar and also look at some of the light granites.

My older kitchen:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854052

This refresh used Glacier White granite:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/finally-finished-with-kitchen-updating-dsvw-vd~4512247

I like this one too - but it is real marble:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/victorian-house-remodel-alameda-victorian-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~90766608

Jhmarie I like the glacier white a lot. I’ll have to ask the KD how the cost compares to the quartz. I think your new kitchen looks warm and inviting.

Also love that other kitchen. Wow that hood and range are so pretty!

Oh my goodness, well here is inspiration from the heavens for a 1915 addition: https://www.houzz.com/projects/277191/1915-colonial-revival-addition

Oh be still my heart! What a lovely colonial revival home!!!

That is lovely! However, once the sink and range were in my kitchen, there would not be room for anything else:)

Was looking at real estate in my town and the only kitchen that stood out was this one:

Why is the table missing from the second picture?? This is going to confound/bother me for the next hour or so.

I think you can get a generally retro feeling into a kitchen by using simple cabinetry like shaker or mission styles and going for a less "built in" look. Shelving and not having upper cabinets across all the walls helps with that. Some tile, wainscoting, soapstone or honed granite countertops, and a farmhouse sink also help. When I bought my house it had a white 1970's kitchen that I lived with for a couple of years, but then replaced. I did not go for any islands, just a cutting block table and a round table in a breakfast area with a couple of benches and chairs. The fridge is freestanding and I arranged some cabinets next to it to look like an old dresser. If I had it to do again I would just put a large dresser there as a stand alone bit of furniture...something like this.

https://www.chiltons.com/collections/dining-room-furniture/products/shaker-hutch-and-buffet

Hardwood floors also help with the retro feel. Here is how my kitchen turned out...the shelves next to the stove are simple restaurant stainless steel and are really convenient for plates and cups and necessary things like oil, salt, pepper, and spices etc. I purposely didn't try to cram in as many upper cabinets or as much counter space as I could into the space.

Anglophilia, it's certainly a nice home, but having to cook on an Aga is an acquired taste.

I just found out about quarry tile in this thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/3178165-What-would-the-original-flooring-look-like-in-a-1920s-or-1930s-house

i love it ans devolkitchens features it on a lot of their instagram posts. In fact I think I’m going for a devolkitchen style if I could put a name to it.