How can I make this kitchen more modern?

We are planning a kitchen renovation in a NYC apt and I keep coming back to this picture. How can I make it a little more modern without losing the warmness of it? We haven't picked anything out yet but need to do so soon! Thank you.

http://www.crown-point.com/styles/victorian/victorian5-1.html

Change the hardware and take the crown molding off the top.

You should also replace the subway tile backsplash - there have been a couple of threads about backsplashes here. Skip the mirror. Don't install beadboard. There are probably a number of ways to acheive a more modern looking pot rack too. Look in the products threads here.

What everyone said above. How modern do you want to go. The cabinent style should probably go as well, but then that would probably take away from the warmth. Good luck, and keep us updated.

Consider frosting the glass depending on if you change your cabinet color
Square off the molding on bottom of cabinets near kick plate
Some nice big sheets of stainless would look great as a backsplash

Good Luck...please post the after pics

Continue the counter material up the backsplash (if it was black granite for instance, you could use one that had some rust or khaki inclusions in it), use legs sort of like the ones on the sofa below, except in lacquered raw steel (which is warmer than stainless)or even in a rusted finish. Do push click doors but keep the trim molding around the door frames. And use a cream color, not white. You could use a coordinating raw steel rail above the first island. Lose all the bumpouts and overhangs and the molding on both the tops of cabinets and the back of the islands. Don't frost the glass, use glass shelves instead so the upper cabinets don't look multi-pane. And remember to bring color into the room with accessories, don't get stuck on neutrals exclusively. Sometimes we modernists forget there is color out there. :grin:

Jonii

PS I hope that didn't sound too pushy...
[url href=http://www.bebitalia.it/catalogo/prodotti/gallery/down.asp?lingua=uksezione=prodottisubsezione=prodottoidprodotto=84idcollezione=1scheda=d#]sofa pic[/url]

I think the suggestions above are good and I agree that these cabinets could swing modern if you are careful about the details.

- I like the pulls - these surface mounted chrome pulls are very functional and non-ornamental if not a bit nostalgic. I think they work if the rest can be fixed!

- Stay away from the traditionally shaped legs at the toe kick. Do contemporary style with continuous toe kicks, or if you want to use legs get the cabinet bottoms higher off the floor and use chrome legs - pick up on the metal hardware used elsewhere.

- echo droping the cove molding.

- use either frosted glass, or wire glass, or pebble finished art glass, ribbed obscure glass would look great.

- drop the bead board - use more panels if need be, or run the counter material down one face just as suggested it go up the back splash - play with that.

Ummm, ditto to all the above.

Personally, I'd sheet the islands with a dark hardwood veneered plywood; walnut or wenge. Give them that solid block look. This will cover up the traditional looking wainscoting as well.
With the toe kicks being white, you could even give them the floating illusion by bringing the sides out flush with the countertop, then stopping the plywood a few inches from the ground. Rope lighting could go in behind, but that may be overkill.
Pull off anything fancy or victorian--crown moldings, ornate toekicks etc.
Make some counterspace and decorate with a more monochromatic color scheme, with one accent color.
Change the curtain rod.
I'd find another place for pots, clear out that lovely high ceiling and give the space some....space.
Thicken the sink-islands' near shelves to twice, or 2 1/2 times the current thickness.
Change the backsplash, and hang the mirror above the range eleswhere.

I'd play on the black, white and stainless already present in the space, and bring in a wood and a color.

...but don't get me wrong...that's still a pretty damn nice kitchen if you ask me!!!!

This kitchen photo came from a Crown Point Cabinetry advertisement, so there won't be an after photo. I've been in this kitchen and it is huge. It's probably the size of a NYC apartment. It works very well aesthetically in it's building, which is an old church in New England. The simplicity and clean lines of the shaker cabinetry is what you seem to be responding to, along with a certain retro, early twentieth century feel. I guess what I'm thinking is that you start with simple shaker cabinetry and do everything else differently.