Well I know you want to be true to the house & reuse what you can but I would probably go with a more modern style like the stainless wire and timber top rail rather than dowels or timber for the infill. Be mindful of building code for the infill as horizontal is climbable and has to be very close together. There is so much upkeep in timber & if you go with the vertical metal rod look with the timber top plate maybe...? I am not an expert on any era or style though I know you will have a preference in mind & I would go with that. Look at the big picture of how your house will look with a change of paint (are you painting the house?) & for me it was about making the 25 year old house more contemporary. We love it!

Maybe you could consider a bar fridge that may fit where shelving for microwave is... this could hold your daily used foods and then have your larger fridge in a garage area to hold things less used? http://www.google.com.au/shopping/product/879529927670433319?lsf=seller:9455133,store:5516113429362448143&prds=oid:5429649432223856483&q=bar+fridge&hl=en-au&ei=67UVWMGnIYKR8wWl0ZHQBA&lsft=gclid:CMHmgr2UgtACFdWWvQodHk4MvQ

Can you extend the porch to 2.9m wide to fit a table. It does not need to be for the full 14m perhaps just 4m and not near a door. Also consider metal supports and tensioned wire which can look lovely and also is low maintenance. I'll try and find some photos of what I mean if you are interested in this concept.

Avoid the horizontal tensioned wire if you have small kids as they'll climb it like a ladder.... The installers will just use the balustrade between each column. Probably add a post to each end fastened to each column and one in the middle otherwise it'll have too much sag and not meet the NCC.