You’ve got storage and even drawers. I’d live there and use space . If fridge is older and ventilation at cooktop is absent you will have plenty w those updates . Let function issues surface as I don’t see any form / style points demanding a disruption.

That kitchen fits better than painted would. I would change the fridge and warming drawer to non paneled they aren’t fooling anyone and actually downgrade the look of the whole. I am not familiar with the architect, what year is the home?

I also wonder about your painted white brick floors. They seem off to me.

You want change for changes sake or do you have specific complaints? My first to change would be the cook top on the island. No one wants to sit where cooking/splattering/grease is!! That and sinks in islands make no sense if you need/plan to use as a kitchen table or real work space. While you are at it you could re-orientate so people aren't staring at a 'fridge while they sit. Perhaps that is your compromise. New island. Make it something painted--but I would rethink cold/drab gray. It's seriously OUT. Painting the WALLS a tish warmer color--even if you stay with white would also be on my to do list. It reads very cold and harsh right now. Of course furniture and window treatments will help that.

I like the cabinets, but would remove the upper cabinets and install open shelving, which I know isn’t for everyone but I happen to love them and I think it would lighten up that area. I also agree that the stovetop in the island without a vent is problematic, but live with the space for a while before making any major changes is great advice. It is a wonderful space, congratulations on your new home!

It's a gorgeous kitchen. I agree with living with it for a while. The only change I can see is getting the cooktop off the island, but that might well be impossible to do without major changes. Wait at least a year before doing *anything* that could compromise your lovely space.

I agree with those that say wait. If that floor was painted recently for sale purposes you will want to see how it’s wearing. That fix alone would create a lot of mess so no need doing something that may need to be redone or fixed because of that domino.

Update fridge and warming drawer to get rid of odd panels. Change light fixture over island and change out cooktop to one with downdraft venting.

Unless the appliances are worn out I would keep this beautiful kitchen as is. I love A. Hays Town homes. I wonder if the Kitchen floor had been replaced at one time? A lot of his homes have a brick or concrete floors. Beautiful!!

I love the bright space and would also live in it for a while. Love the counter tops.

I am usually the one who always says rip it out but honestly that is one very nice kitchen and I bet the walnut is far superior to anyother choice you could make. I think you will need to live there to really get a feel for how the space functions for you.I do not love island cooking spaces but I think a lot will depend on the age of the appliances and how they work for you. No matter what please no gray cabinets if you must a nice crisp white .

Leave it for now. It does look high end and you need to live in the house before doing anything else. I would be more concerned about a freshly painted brick floor starting to peel. If you subscribe to historic home magazines, you will get a sense of what would be appropriate if you ever decide to tackle this expense. But since it looks functional and attractive, save your money for other (potential) projects you can’t see right now. Owning an historic home is a big responsibility. Congratulations! Can we see more photos?

If the house was built in an earlier time period (say before the 1950's) I can imagine what is there now is original. Kitchen island didn't begin to appear until the 1970's. So, am not sure how disrespectful it would be to renovate your kitchen. That being said it's not a bad kitchen at all. Does it fit your family's needs? Does it function well?

I was puzzled to hear the kitchen described as “original” to an historic home given that it contains a great number of modern features/conveniences (island overhang for seating, under mount sink, warming drawer, paneled appliances).....then looked up the architect and saw he had a very long career so assume this was one of the later homes he did. I would not remove or paint those cabinets unless the functionality isn’t there. Concur with others to wait and see how it feels/functions before making changes....and would then try and work with cabinetmaker to integrate old and new.

I would focus in furnishing all the other rooms first, adding window treatments, freshening up the landscaping etc and give the kitchen a little more time.

I’d leave, but make some updates eventually, which could be a good compromise.

I‘d change island (and lighting) so you have seating. This could also improve functionality (recycle bins, wine fridge) and from a visual perspective changing kitchen big time.

Then add stove top to counter near wall ovens. Remove cupboards and add a lovely backsplash on that wall or entire kitchen - to create warmth and interest. Suggest an induction (with vent which will be a bonus as you don’t have) and you also won’t have to worry about moving gas line.

It would help to see if I enlarge picture. Yes, Now I see the brick floor has been painted. A. Hays Town can usually be dark. I'm sure they painted the floors and replaced the countertops to lighten up the place. It really is a shame.

I looked up Town and likely your house was built after the thirties and originally had raw brick and wood cabinets. Here is a picture of a Town original kitchen very similar to yours. If anything I would see about stripping the painted brick and if you want lighter go with a lighter wood species if you wish to respect the architecture.

Please don’t paint the cabinets — gray or any other color. Agree with others’ suggestions to eventually move the cooktop off the island, as it can be disconcerting to attempt to sit and socialize next to a hot stove. Wonder why they painted the brick floor; it looks too bright white and shiny. The Southern Living article that Diana Bier shared shows that those floors might have looked amazing and easily could have been lightened/warmed up with area rugs.

I just read some bits about A. Hayes Town, who died at 101 years old in 2005. He was truly a visionary ahead of his time! A partial list of 18 design features found in the 1,000 homes he designed includes “antique brick floors sealed with a special beeswax”. What a terrible shame if your kitchen floors have been painted! Can you just see that space with the original brick color showing instead of cold white? I read that he also used many recycled materials in his homes, such as the brick, and including many the wood features. You asked for input from Pros which I am certainly not, but I think a person fortunate enough to own such a valuable historical treasure would or should have a goal of preserving its history. Any changes made should be limited to necessary repairs and those should be made with original look in mind. I think Pro Diana Biers response is spot on and changes should be approached with research and care to avoid devaluation of your home! It appears, from the “likes“ count to her reply, many do agree with her. I sure do!

Thanks so much for all the comments. These are great and definitely help steer my thinking. Let me give a little more info. The home was built in 1941 by different architect. In 1982 the home was sold and the new owner hired Hays Town to do a complete house overhaul. Roughly 80% of the house was replaced. This kitchen/keeping room was a new addition (it was originally a solarium). So this entire space was Town from the ground up. All cabinets are original but countertops and backsplash has been replaced. I like the idea of a newer, more functional island and moving the range near the oven stack.

Also a few people asked for more pictures of the house so I have attached a few. I will be looking for a lot more advice ;)

Keep it all and move in. That kitchen is nicer than most of the new kitchens I have seen and the wood is beautiful. If you find that the layout doesn’t work for your lifestyle, you can redo it sometime down the road. The adjacent space would a great family dining space or sitting room.

You have a rare opportunity to be a caretaker to a spectacular piece of architecture. Resist the urge to personalize it via any permanent changes. You can do that personalization with furnishings or wall paint. The home has good bones, that really need to be highlighted, not radically changed.

That’s an After kitchen for many homes. Including yours! It may need some tweaking after you‘ve lived with it for 6 months or so to find its strengths and weaknesses. But no painting of those walnut cabinets would ever be on the table for anyone who finds the home appealing. The kitchen style and fittings suits the home perfectly! Hire a good Kitchen Designer, who loves old homes, and who doesn’t immediately want to change anything. Any changes that are eventually made, like adding a hood, etc, should fit the home’s bones. Good luck!

Wow, it looks absolutely fantastic! You are very lucky that the house selected you as its caretaker ;)

At the risk of drawing ire ... if I had just purchased this beautiful house, I would absolutely paint the cabinets and wood beams a white shade. I would change out the light fixtures and the cabinet pulls. I would also update the warming drawer and put in a new fridge (just personal taste, it’s a lot of wood). I think a fresh white canvas, with all those fabulous windows would be breathtaking. And speaking of windows, if possible to do a “major” change, black windows (inside and out) would be killer. Your house is gorgeous, do what you think will make you love it the most. Congrats on your new home!

I'm not sure he was noted for his kitchen designs so much as his overall sense of style and materials. If you want to be inspired by kitchens that are modern but look more historic, take a look at those by McApline.

What a knockout house! It’s stunning. I agree with Diana and Cook’s Kitchen - preserve the architect’s original ideas as much as possible. Live there for a while and research everything you can. Seeing a house with the original brick floors unpainted and possibly historic makes me think getting the white paint off your floors might be the first (and only) pre-move-in project. The house would look more authentic with the bricks. You have a highly unique home - and responsibility to nurture it for future generations. What a joy.

Love those countertops. They look beautiful.

I'm with PP in saying you should live with it for now, esp to see what happens with the flooring. make a few easy cosmetic changes if you want (such as the light fixture or faucet), but don't do anything drastic. it's important to live with and use a space before making major redesign plans. you don't know what kinds of new issues will crop up, or what kinds of details might actually grow on you.

this kitchen is already beautiful. overall the style is classic and simple, in the sense that it could work with many different design styles.

honestly, don't even change out the fridge or warming drawer just for looks alone. if it's still working fine, you can have the panels redone in stainless or whatever color you want.

Could totally see your house done similar to this.

Kimberkc, I walked through that house a few years ago when it was part of the Parade of Homes. It's just as impressive in person! Absolutely huge!!!

I l love the white floor, but wish they wouldn't have used glossy latex paint! any way to get that redone? If they're real brick, maybe they can strip off most of the paint and just seal the original? with the splashes of the old white paint, it may look cool.

as for the kitchen, I'd prob refinish all of the lowers (looks like they need it) get new hardware, and do diff uppers. Or have a carpenter come in and modify them. they seem too short for the window area. if he can match the wood, great, if not, maybe go for the two-tone effect.

If the wood isn't all that great, according to your carpenter, then you could have them painted or refaced, depending on their condition.

I hate stove tops in islands, but that's up to you.

i also think a diff backsplash is warranted. that white tile is lost in that room.

Wow, lucky998877, I’ll bet that was a cool house to see. It looks like a fun tour. I think this house would look great done like it, but maybe on a smaller scale 😉.

I doubt the cabinets are original to the house-1941. I bet they were done when Hays helped remodel it in the 80s. The kitchens in the 1940s were so much different than this. But maybe he was ahead of his time? Any other designers out there question if they are original or not? Slab lipped doors were all the rage back then! btw, I would never paint that. Clean them up and find a furniture restoration to come out and touch up any worn areas, possibly.

Yes the cabinets were done in the 80s rebuild by Hays Town

I think the cabinets are gorgeous and I would be sad to see them painted. To me the kitchen is well done and I love the cabinets with the countertops. If it were my space, I wouldn't change it. The only reason would think about changing it would be to improve the functionality / layout if you find it doesn't work well for you.

The cabinets are beautiful and to get a similar quality would cost a bundle! Also with the newer quartz tops (I'm assuming), you're running the risk of breakage to have them reinstalled. To have them removed and reinstalled is about 50% cost of new, plus most fabricators will make you sign a waiver. If they damage or break it, too bad. Keep what you have...they go with your house. Don't paint them either!

Are they cherry cabinets? Your house is spectacular! Would leave it as is and do some cosmetic changes only. No white cabinets :)

I love walnut, and it’s quite expensive.

I would take the cabinets all the way to the ceiling and hopefully be able to match the stain. If that that’s your answer in redoing the cabinets. HOWEVER , I would not paint them. Restain them. I would also restain the island to a lighter wood. Add two pendants by the window. And remove the linear light over the island. ( don’t throw it out. It’s a beautiful light. Use it over a table tho) the backsplash is fine. It’s superrrr neutral tho. I would consider taking it up to the ceiling and through the way in area as well. Where is the pantry? This is such a magnificent home. Seriously one of the prettiest I’ve seen on Houzz soooo much character and potential. I absolutely LOVE it.