There are definitely ways to update that kitchen and improve functionality while still keeping the charm and style of the era. People do it all the time.

BUT you're going to have to be realistic about what can and can't stay. For example, those cabinets will probably have to go. I think opening up that wall and doing a nice U shape (depends on the space size hard to tell) would be fine even if it wasn't era appropriate as long as you keep the finishes in line with the era of the home.

I grew up with those exact same kitchen cabinets, with the same pulls. I love the pulls. You could paint the kitchen over and over again with any color you like, so I wouldn't tear those out. You could put in a pass through to the living room but I would want to hide the sink with my dirty dishes, lol! I've seen ones with folding stained glass doors . . . You could get a carpenter to build a replica corner unit and carry the upper or lower cabinets around to the fridge. How about opening up the top of the wall next to the fridge and putting some groovy glass shelves to display some of your pretty dishes? More storage and artistic display at the same time! Plus more light into both rooms. I'd give it a curved top to mirror the opening to the dining room. If there was a space there between the supports.

What says "modern kitchen" to you? Do you have kids? How big of a dishwasher are you going to need? I lived in an apt. with a small one, loved it because with just my husband and me, we end up running our half empty full size dishwasher a lot when we don't want to have things sitting in ours too long.

I would get a kitchen designer design a kitchen floor plan you like. If you wanted to keep your cabinets, see if they can design within existing layout but eliminate the wasted space (not sure if possible). Is it possible to use the cabinet you eliminate when putting in the DW? It would save a lot of $$ if your cabinets are in good shape and you can keep them. Any additional cabinets needed could be a repurposed pie keeper, hutch or similar piece to complement your cabinets.
But if you have $$ to burn you could have brand new everything.
One thing I would keep is the wall separating living room and kitchen. I don't want to see my kitchen mess from the living room, and losing walls isn't always a good thing.

Your floors may need to be refinished, but you're lucky to have hardwoods...

Dishwashers can be installed in the corner.

I would use that wall to put a small between the studs pantry.

I would refinish the cabinets...

So, I'm one who can't get rid of a perfectly decent kitchen. I know we all have gotten a bit HGTV-d and want newer! bigger! better!....but do you really need it? I don't think so.

But, I'm one who loves older things and hates waste.

Ultimately, you're the only one who knows what you'll tolerate and what you need to make you "happy"...

The pantry idea is brilliant!

I had a U-shaped kitchen in my last house and loved it. It eliminated wasted space. However, to do that in your house, would likely require removal of that wall. I love open floor plans (purchased one and now building another), but know they aren't for everyone. Maybe talk with a designer and see what is possible within your budget. If you really like the 1957 touches, then keep them! I love the hood!

Good luck to you.

PennyDesign - the floors in the kitchen are NOT wood. They are a laminate fake wood that needs to be replaced. I have beautiful hardwoods throughout the entire first floor, except for in this kitchen. I'm not sure if I should put hardwood in the kitchen too, or do some sort of tile. I definitely like to waste as little as possible, and would like to re-use anything I can, while still making the space work for us. What a BRILLIANT idea with the stud pantry!

Bear in mind that this is a tiny house so that opening up that wall will put the kitchen and living room right on top of each other. If you do a
lot of entertaining with food, that might be a good thing. I might be
tempted to put in a doorway with those saloon doors . . . very "period appropriate!" Or maybe a beaded curtain, since I'm more boho. In my last tiny house I had full length curtains along the doorway between my kitchen and dining area. It didn't look bad actually. I could tie them
back . . . or not.

The floors look so good in the photo, I could not tell they were laminate. It's a nice cohesive look for the whole area. Maybe it doesn't look so hot in person, but on the photo it does.

OPEN that sucker up! There is way too much dead space in both rooms. Its a small house so the more open, the more large it will feel. And I fully believe, (i grew up in 18th century farm country)that you can keep charm while moving into the new millennium.

Having a dishwasher is so important. and that would hide the dishes. I would keep the cabinets too, and try to find some demo'd ones you might use to lengthen the kitchen.

Would you be ok with moving the back door?

I hate open floor plans so I would keep that kitchen as a separate space. And then I'd hire a KD to get me the best plan possible in that space. I would carry the wood floors into the kitchen, too.

Keep the walls up! Personally, I like to be in the kitchen alone because I can concentrate on what I am cooking and no one is in my way. I would also recommend a KD to get the most out of a remodel and add value to your home. I might suggest a rectangular table with two chairs on each of the long sides, and the shorter side up against that window.

Okay, so I would tile the kitchen in a classic black and white tile...

To me, it looked like hardwood, too...

I really feel as if you're leaning toward a re-do? As I said, you're the only one who knows what will make you happy...

Y'all are awesome! Here are the measurements, in case it helps anyone. :)

Since you live in a cape I know exac how you feel. I would do the open floor plan but the side yo have the dinette I would build a pony wall you can float your sofa on that side. What is behind your kitchen...a closet, bat or bedroo?

Claire, it is a bathroom behind the wall of cabinets, and the living room is behind the refrigerator.

I am not a fan of open concept in vintage homes. If a house is designed as a open plan, great but trying to make it something different just doesn't look right.

Kitchens need space to put cupboards and islands need to have 3 feet all around. Trying to put an island in the middle of a small space doesn't work as all the floor space ends up in clearances, not work space. The best use of an 8 foot wide space is a galley kitchen but that is a one person kitchen or two good humored and cooperative users. Only you know your family's needs and usage so what makes a great kitchen in one situation might not work for you.

I was on Claire page about flipping the opening. but maybe center to the room...

Depending on what your venting options are - I might be tempted to go with a galley style kitchen:

- 40" aisle between counters & range

- DW to the right of the sink

- 108" of counter space (!!) + sooooo many drawers =)

- ideally would rather the fridge less buried in the back, but its visual mass feels like a lot when it's on the other end of the kitchen (closest to the dining table)

If the funds are there, I would put new full overlay cabs in without looking back....new hinges, glides, more efficient use of cab space, etc. You need to determine if the wall is a bearing wall (I susoect it is,), but you need to figure out what it would cost and take to remove it to have a realistic plan that fits your budget.

You can have the kitchen area done this once open.

I am also of the opinion that I don't like to see a vintage bungalow made into open concept. I would keep the kitchen wall intact.

On the other hand, I don't find the vintage cabinets either practical or attractive (believe me when I tell you that I am a sucker for most vintage design details, but not this one!) They waste space and restrict function.

So you will have to remove a lower to install a dishwasher -- 18" instead of 24". Or get a portable one that you can stow in the space between the frig and cabinets.

You could do as someone suggested and find a cabinetmaker to build "matching" cabinets to wrap into the wasted space. You could also build a wooden counter that bridges the space (and would be a cubby for a portable dishwasher and a rollout cart.) Or the between the stud pantry.

If it were mine, I would replace the cabinets with vintage/classic looking, frameless new ones, in a layout that maximizes the space, in a vintage-y color. A new counter to go with as well.

A thought -- do you need the back door? or perhaps, could close it up where it is and change one of the windows into a door? In order to give you more room to add a dishwasher and still have the storage.

I have a wood floor in my kitchen and like it. No problems -- it is 70 years old and was hidden under original linoleum.

I would do hardwood floors in the kitchen so that you have hardwood floors throughout (it creates nice flow) and then get a kitchen designer to help you maximize the functionality of your eat-in kitchen. You definitely need a dishwasher, and I agree with getting the refrigerator to the back of the kitchen away from the opening to the living room (too much mass in that spot makes it feel more closed in). I think a rectangular table with an upholstered bench on the wall side of the table would be a cute, comfy, and fun place to sit.

I also wrote on your other thread- I just love your house. You don’t find a lot of solid brick construction anymore, and I think your eat-in kitchen is large enough to redo without tearing down a wall. I would only spend money tearing down the wall if it would increase your enjoyment of your home. The separate rooms are charming and look large enough on their own. I would spend money on redesigning and adding nice touches like drawer banks, a nice run of counter workspace, and updated appliances.

OMG--love the kitchen as is!

I'd put a dishwasher where the diagonal corner cabinet is. Or keep a portable one next to the fridge and wheel it over once a day. The former would require some electrical work as well as carpentry and plumbing; the latter would probably not require any work if it can be plugged into one of the existing outlets with enough power. Some portable dishwashers can be converted later to built-in, so it's not a waste of several hundred dollars. Check ajmadison.com for quick look- they show two 24-inch portables and two 18-inch portables. https://www.ajmadison.com/b.php/Portable%3BDishwashers/N~64+4294966330

Either choice will give you what you need while you live with the kitchen for a year to decide what changes will work for your family.