Are you looking for a cabinet maker to do a custom job? If you are willing to go with semi-custom made-to-order, you should look into EcoHome in Berkeley. They do kitchen design and sell eco-friendly products, and they carry the Executive line of cabinets that has a number of period appropriate styles.

Ohmega Salvage and their sister store Omega Too has a lot of period stuff, and could probably give advice on the icebox.

Here is a link that might be useful: EcoHome

I love the bin tale. Nice find! If you are in east bay, look up M&M cabinets in union city.

Have you looked for a restoration contractor? They might be the best of both worlds...able to advise you on a kitchen that would fit the age of your home while still allowing for a dishwasher, provide a cabinet maker for appropriate cabinets, and know a good deal of what will happen when you open up the walls.

I'm in love with your range!

What a fun remodel. Your comment about the converted "ice-box" sent me on a search. These ideas always intrigue me.

Here is a link of a man who figured out how to do the opposite. Convert a modern RF to old. Move down on his page, he has the instructions and resources available.

Here is a link that might be useful: Convert a modern RF to old icebox.

Oh my, emagineer, that link is completely awesome and right up the husband's alley. I have seen it going both ways online, but never a DIY option. Wow! Even if we screwed it up, we're only out a couple hundred for a cheap fridge and some money for materials. I even know exactly where to source the hardware, yipee.

Ohmega is my BFF :) Well, I might like Urban Ore a little better for hardware. Ohmega's definitely better for salvaging doors. But I think I want new (old looking) cabinets. I might source the hardware there if I can find enough that coordinates.

I assumed we'd have to have custom work done, but I'll check out the suggested shops. Thanks for the direction. Out GC does great work, but he mostly shakes his head in wonderment that I insist on things like used antique bath fixtures, single-paned wood windows and stained trims; he doesn't get it. I've never heard of a restoration contractor; I thought you just always had to beat them over the head to get anything period appropriate :) Maybe I'll Google around on that for a bit, but I'm hesitant to give up a GC who does good work if I can work out the historical stuff myself and argue the GC into compliance.

Have you ever worked in an area with no-toekick cabs? I find it very awkward, but maybe that's just me, LOL. I'm also wondering about inset cabs - much less storage space than a frameless full overlay set of cabs.

Beadboard or shaker-style cabs in white would look very nice in the typical small BArea cottage, and many DWs accept panels (Euro mfgs are better for not sticking out after including the panel depth, BTW).

I'm also interested in cabs with no toe kicks. I've asked people, including Celineike here, whether there are any issues with stubbed toes, back problems or scuffing - no issues from all whom I've asked. The only rec is to either do a toe kick for the sink, or bring the sink out (or lower sink cabinet in) to accommodate standing close to the sink.

Juno2008 - what part of the bay area are you in (North, South, East, Pen) - that may help with recs on cabinet makers.

jkom51, you sound like my GC, haha, trying to talk me out of my period details. Not having it!

Besides, I hate cleaning under toe kicks a lot worse that I hate working without them. I also think it looks so much cleaner without. I would like to use a wall-hung sink with exposed plumbing underneath, opening that up for the feet, but I'm not sure I can sacrifice quite that much cabinet space. Setting it in a bit sounds promising (and gives it less space for gross things to spill/get lost in the back).

I'm in the East Bay; the south bay is a really long haul from here, but the city, North Bay and all of the East bay are pretty easily do-able.

Check out the FAQ for asking about layout help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Layout FAQ