..is modernizing without destroying the old charm. Curious to see what you're going to do with the bottom of the stairway. What did you use for a counter top material? We recently redid the kitchen in our 'apartment' and went with Corian - after considering quartz, granite, etc. I think what made up our mind was having the white corian sink bonded to the countertop with no seam. Other materials were all overlays to a stainless sink.
Love the shell/rock strip! Looks like that's an overlay to ceramic tile - how was that done?