My floor tiles are a neutral color and can't afford to replace them right now, so would the backsplash tiles that I picked out look ok?

Without seeing the rest of the kitchen, it's hard to say. The backsplash tile you posted is pretty busy, so I would recommend a simple grey-toned countertop, probably quartz due to the color consistency. If you post a few pictures of the style you like, we can be of more specific assistance.

The stove and refrigerator are on the left side and there are two windows on the right by the table

Something with a little texture to replicate a more aged feel would look great. I would recommend "Sirius" by Dekton. http://www.dekton.com/usa/colors/

Is that a countertop suggestion for texture and would the backsplash I picked out look good with that?

How about just a few rows of that tile u picked out with a plainer tile to finish off above it, charcoal countertop and brushed nickel door pulls?

I need a good recommendation for the best 36 inch, state of the art gas stove. Is there such a stove?

The backsplash should look fine with "Sirius". You would get an interesting textural play between the white cabinets, and the shiny/smooth glass backsplash.

I like the backsplash tiles u have in pic 3. Honed absolute black granite with um ss sink. Switch hinges and hardware out to brushed chrome. Paint wall very light grey.

I like the color of countertops that you suggested, what color would you paint the kitchen? bottom half is white paneling and top is wallpaper that will be taken down

The floor tile looks to be "Maui" from HomeDepot. As I recall, that is pretty heavy on the pink tones. I would keep the panelling white and replace the wallpaper with the grey tone from the tile.
The thing to remember about greys is that they can be either warm toned or cool toned, so picking the right one can be tricky. I don't have any of that tile around anymore, so I can't help with specifics. My recommendation would be to take an extra tile (if you have one) to the store and ask to see a paint "fan deck" and match the color. If you don't have an extra tile, see if you can borrow a "fan deck" from the paint store and do it that way.

I agree with Designed Ecology. It would be super if groveraxle or others talented at using Photoshop would post a set up. I personally am tech-challenged, so I can't help her. :)

Is there any way you could replace all the hardware on your cabinets? You might use hardware with less contrast to the cabinets especially the hinges. That would really help in modernizing your kitchen..or maybe you could replace the doors with ones that have hidden hinges.

I agree. What about some straight brushed nickel pulls?

Yes I plan to change all the pulls

Great, however the hinges are also a problem...

I moved into a 1960 bungalow earlier this year and was faced with a very outdated (and ugly) kitchen. Habitat for Humanity actually gutted it for me the day we moved in, and I then started renovations immediately. Your kitchen and mine have a lot of similarities. What would I do with yours? Strip the walls of all wallpaper and then paint. Take down the curtains and replace with a shade that fits inside the window such as a roman shade of some great fabric or bamboo shade. Replace the countertops and backsplash with something classic. If you are willing to reconfigure the cabinets a touch...turn the corner and build in your range and refrigerator. Update the hardware on your cabinets. New sink and faucet. Pendant light over the sink. It sounds like a lot, but doesn't have to cost you a fortune.

I have used Silestone quartz countertops is two houses and absolutely love it. It's beautiful, durable, maintenance free, and environmentally sound. You can see pics of my renovation on a blog post at www.southernwilddesign.com.

Best of luck!

First thing you have to change without a Doubt is the wall paper.. Maybe the handles too, depending on what style you're going for, modern? Traditional? Ect. I'm not really liking the floor too much. Are those jars on top of the backsplash? Maybe you can use that areas for simple decor..

Beautiful, stick built, inset vintage cabinets. A treasure!

I would also change the curtains for some wood curtains.. Darker woods preferably too add an accent to the white cabinets.

Please explain what you mean by "modern." From what I can see unless you are willing to blow it up--which does not appear to be your plan--you are not going to get modern (as I understand that ambiguous term) by any means. This kitchen has a great deal of character, which will come through no matter what "modern" cabinet hardware you stick on.

It would be helpful to know what the style your house is as well. Remodeling to make a somewhat more modern kitchen in a not so modern house to me looks like re-muddling. I like the character of this kitchen. I would "refresh" this kitchen rather than modernize it. It also appears that you have a suspended ceiling that may be easily removed to good effect. Also, does the lighting work for you? From the photos it appears less than optimal. Under cabinet task lighting may help. Is the dinette essential? That may be a way to find room for functional additions, like an island.

Built in 1910, the dinette will be leaving and an island was already a thought, the ceiling is suspended with 12 inches of insulation on top of it, I've only been able to see it twice to get ideas, it is vacant and no utilities are on right now, the whole house will undergo some type of update, paint, flooring, lights, etc. so everything I do needs to be inexpensive since we are going to be working a bit in every room!

The cabinets kinda make me think Tuscan :3

You could do white marble with grey streaks or white or grey quartz as the counter top and with backsplash with black diamonds

I've been following this thread from the beginning, and I know she has said she is on a tight budget, and her tile flooring, she said, is neutral, but looks like a rosey tan to me. So those things have to b taken into consideration. I imagine she would love to have beautiful quartz or granite counters, but probably not with her budget. Anything else she could consider? I'm definitely not a pro at this, but would love to help her:)

Brenda, I would have guessed early 20th century. I spied some nice door trim in one photo. Let me respectfully suggest that you consider my suggestion to "refresh" even to the point of renovating that original kitchen. As one houzzer above said, it is a gem. Such a look would be not only economical but respectful to the original architecture. I would start by making a list of desires that would make your kitchen "function" better, e.g., task lighting, better counter surface, and those features that might have been incorporated in the kitchen by an architect in 1910, e.g., remove the suspended ceiling and (for example) install of a new (old looking) "tin" ceiling. That is, make your list then you can ask yourself: now how would the original architect have designed that feature. I suggest that might make you happier than an anachronistic and expensive "quartz" countertop that really looks better in a contemporary kitchen.

Brenda, a wood countertop would be economical and within the original style. Example:

I thought the same thing, Dan.

several inspiration pictures
black soho espresso cabinets
light green tile backsplash
colonial cream countertop

add some pictures

I have a Bertazzoni gas range with 6 burners it is 36" wide and I love it.It has a nice big oven and a wok burner too. As for the kitchen moderization I think you need new cabinets this will always look not modern until you do that. You can maybe keep the floor if it is in good shape and you like the color , then start with that, keep the same layout so you can keep the floor.

You have great original inset cabinets and hardware--don't change that. If you do, there are lots of people who will pay you for the real thing, and include the original slotted screws if you can. And people pay big bucks to recreate that look. But please, educate yourself on the style of your house and work with its unique features rather than going blindly into "updating it."

A more modern look would be to just strip the wallpaper, paint the walls a brighter color (the pinky tones in the floor are hard to work with though--maybe add a rug and ignore) and get rid of that curtain and a lot of the knickknacks. Backsplashes don't have to be tiled, and normally were not until fairly recently, and two different tiles on wall and on floor can clash and just look dated quickly, unless you go with something classic that goes with the cabinets, like white subway tile with grey grout. Back in the 20s-40s when the cabinets were installed, it might have had a bright color with black liner, which can be a great look. Beadboard is an affordable option too.. Done right they can look bright and airy and cheerful and not too fussy. For example, the kitchen in the bottom example dates from 1912, and is decorated 1940s.

Authentic 1910 kitchens were very utilitarian, but became cozier and more colorful in the 20s-50s. Islands require a lot of clearance room to work well, so look up the design guidelines before investing in one, especially one that is permanently installed. The old fashioned kitchen table has many advantages, including moveability! You will get some guidance if you include a floor plan and some measurements. Perhaps a kitchen cart could be an alternative.
Built-in dinettes were popular space savers in a period kitchen, and offered some storage too.

Insulation on top of a suspended ceiling is a safety hazard and a disaster waiting to happen. Just imagine what even a small kitchen fire would do! Get rid of that as soon as possible!

Here are some more pics of old/new kitchens:

victorianbungalowranch--ditto, ditto, ditto!

How about this, Brenda? Black or dark charcoal counter top, a few rows of that small glass tiles, white subway tile with gray grout the rest of the way up to the base of the upper cabinets, switch out the handles for another style black handle for a little more updated look (I think those bother me a little), take down curtain, paint the wall above the white paneling a fresh gray, and throw down a natural-colored area rug that has a black edging. I'm not an expert but I think this might be enough to update the kitchen but still stay somewhat true to the original kitchen.

Do a grey granite with black backsplash then add some stainless steel appliances

Tlparks, I like the ideas that you have suggested, do you have an idea for handles that will cover the same area so that I don't have to repaint? Is the back splash area large enough to mix subway tiles and glass tiles?

I would have to research black handles. I think there would b enough space for both tiles. Maybe just a few rows of small tiles. If I knew how much space there is from counter too to base of upper cabinets would b helpful. Maybe u can get that info soon and let us know.

Brenda, I've just come across your project, and reading through I am really liking tlparks ideas. But even mor economically, your floor tile zoom looked to have substantial grey tones, so if you went with the(please get rid of the wall paper) gray tones, and black and seriously I like the cabinets as they are, hardware and all and I would be working around that, just me, looking forward to see the progress

Brenda, if your budget allows, maybe you could install one of those white sinks that look like they came from that time period. Seems like they round off and overlap the front a bit. I don't know what the style is called.

I like the tile you found on Home Depot, its looks modern and clean.

I love the look of your cabinets, and look to be in really good shape. Are you going to be keeping the shelves that are under the top cabinets? I like white cabinets with dark counters and something like this laminate would look nice.

Sorry, here's the link.
http://houzz.com/photos/8016458

I agree with laminate

This picture reminded me of your kitchen. If you can/want to remove the shelves, you could install corbels like in the picture. http://houzz.com/photos/210669

Thank you to everyone for all the research and help, I can't wait to get started on my new adventure and will post pics when it's finished!!

I'm looking at the pics again, and you definitely have room for an apron-front sink (get a top mounted one so you can use Formica to save quite a bit of money--some can be mounted both ways--IKEA and Kohler have some options). And I think you can retrofit some drawers--something was definitely taken out at some point, or the whole works was raised. And it is possible to retrofit drawer slides on old drawers if they are hard to open and close.

I don't think the hardware is that bad or that big of a priority at the moment--could be changed later if you still don't like it. I would have to see it closer, but I'm wondering if they themselves were an "update" to the original cabinets. It can be a challenge to find hardware that fits old holes, and sometimes a plate can be used, which these have.

Might be fun to upgrade that jelly jar light fixture to a small schoolhouse light or maybe a pendant. Lots of choices these days that have a bit of modern retro flair. I think that little shelf will be perfect for teacups and spices--love it. The pendant is Casa Verde Design looks like this really cool glass one they have at Pottery Barn.

It may be cost effective to get a carpenter to rework the corner cabinet for you and make the stove wall work better for you and you can install some nice shelves above for more storage, with enough clearance for the stove of course.. Even stock cabinets are fairly expensive, and probably the floors aren't level and would have to be fiddled around with. You can buy Lazy Susan type inserts for the corner which are quite a bit less than a corner cabinet with a Lazy Susan. I would recommend a narrow French Door or side by side refrigerator (30" is about as narrow as they come--I got a 28 inch 2-door) to give you more clearance and some work space around the stove.

The space looks tight and I don't think you really have room for an island with adequate clearance around it. A sketch of the room with dimensions would help. and plans for adjacent rooms if you plan on opening it up a bit. I personally think a semi-open kitchen might work, although you might need to alter the windows to make it work.

Houzz has lots of small kitchen ideabooks and check out the ones for a semi-open kitchen and about kitchen tables and dinettes.

We agree, laminate would be a great choice! The laminate options have come along way. Take a look at some of our VT Dimensions options; the premium edge profiles and color options take the look of granite or natural stone, at a much smaller cost. Your remodeling dollars will go a lot further if you go with a laminate countertop. http://vtindustries.com/dimensions-countertops Let us know if we can help answer any questions!

Such fun reading this thread. We'd suggest using a big farmhouse sink only if you can afford the space.
Would you consider using wood for your counter tops? It's so warm and pretty, and we're seeing it come back in a big way. Our Grothouse counters from 14 years ago have held up marvelously -- and are guaranteed for life, which is a big plus.
Good luck!