personally I’d use the kitchen for at least 6 mo. before anything. Lift up cabs are great . Perhaps a pantry cab could be used in non kitchen ways and in an urban kitchen don’t underestimate that. You mention Undoing the fridge side pantry cab and fridge to get the fridge on the other side which would mean undoing that side??? For a bistro table in front of a dumb waiter???? I don’t think So. Find another quaint spot for the bistro set up and let the dumb waiter be. It’s a good cohesive kitchen not worth the immediate rush/ impulse of carving it up. There may be something to address and that may morph to a couple things but that will emerge. ... 100% certain about that.

Thanks, herbflavor! Appreciate the honest take, solid advice.

Looking at the photos, I'd be spending all of my time/money/energy on stripping that woodwork back to original before bothering with the kitchen personally.

Leave it be. It’s well done. Change for change’s sake that makes something worse is not a good approach.Apply that you the whole home.

kitchen woodwork is the tip of the proverbial iceberg, @wiscokid. See DR photo. Lead positive throughout, so have been so far deterred from thinking about stripping. Still an interesting thought...

That's a bummer - I bet that dining room wainscoting was stunning in its original finish! I would still do nothing in the kitchen and start saving/planning for something more "historically appropriate" than what's there.