Wow, kind of a treasure! I guess my first thought is, this kitchen is already not really "intact" with the cut down wall, so don't feel like you need to leave everything for the sake of the spirit of the place.

My next thought is, you're going to replace the tile countertop, right? Right??? Maybe you don't mind them but I think they are the worst :)

And if you do that you're probably looking at a new backsplash -- which you can do in a period-appropriate tile. And that gives you the chance to take it behind the range, a big plus (and why is there an outlet there one wonders?).

Since the adjoining room is visible, colors depend on what you will do with that space. I like the idea of choosing a bright bold color with those black and white hex tiles on the floor!

I would KEEP THE FLOOR!! Love it. Replace the cabinets, countertop and backsplash in something period appropriate. I too have a 1940s kitchen and we painted the cabinets and they did not last at all. It took a month of weekends and evenings and they still got scratched up really quickly. I did all the right things. Washed with with TSP, sanded, primed, sanded, primed, 2 coats of SW cabinet paint (sanding between each coat) and they still didn’t dry correctly. Maybe if we lived in Arizona! 😂 What I’ve come to understand/believe is that our cabinets were so old and so impenetrated with stuff and over 80 years the wood was not really dry so paint could never cure correctly. I think if we had taken them somewhere where they could be “baked” the high temperature may have dried them out enough so that new paint could cure but that’s not a DIY job at all.

My recommendation is to keep the layout but get new stuff (except that awesome floor).

I think painting the bottom cabs (doors and frame) that cream yellow to blend with counter, and top cabs same as wall, perhaps white, light grey or light green, would be awesome.

I would paint the doors & drawers to match frame of cab. I would like to see blak iron hardware on cabs.

Countertops are not original. Likely 70s-80s, replacing original stainless steel or formacia. Have no hesitation replacing them.

I suspect there's not much you can do with the cabinets. Try painting it all a single color and new hardware. It will somewhat improve the appearance but it will always still look older and a bit beat due to the slight warping over the years. But I'm sure they're still durable and maybe that's all that matters.

I'd look at warm, sagey greens to go with the counter and backsplash. Paint the cabs and the doors the same color.

I'd paint the cabs and doors a warm sagey green that goes with the yellow.

The floor if in good cond is worth consideration. it looks to extend inder cabs w no damage disruption or gaps. remove the cabs and get white ikea / some glass dors on walls and drawer bases . period hardware and soapstone counters. the old yellow and white stuff isnt worth tinkering with . the floor - yes. is it in good condition ?

I agree with the consensus - keep the floor and maybe the layout, but new cabinets (with drawers in all the base cabinets) and counter will be much more practical.

Whatever you do, please get some ventilation for that large gas range. There has been a lot of recent research on the air quality threats from cooking on unvented or under-vented ranges, especially gas ones.

Countertops are not original. Likely 70s-80s, replacing original stainless steel or formacia. Have no hesitation replacing them.

Wrong. Most likely are original.

I would consider painting the cabinets a blue to work with the tile.