2nd pic shows where pantry will live (along the wall by dog) and where I could park a mobile island if you think it would work.

I understand you have your heart set on an island but your kitchen isn't wide enough for one, not even a movable one. It will rarely, possibly never, not be in the way, expect for when it's shoved up against a wall somewhere. I know it's only two of you but unless you are really rail thin, it's hard to move about in 20" to 24" of aisle width.

Are you able to make any other changes beyond the new pantry? If so, post your floor plan and perhaps we can help you find other ways to add counter space to your kitchen.

In case your photos display upside down for others, as they do for me (I'm PC, are you Apple? Maybe that's why):

Love the puppy! I agree that there isn't room for a fixed island. Maybe a small one on wheels that you could move, maybe find a place where you could "park" it out of the way, except when needed? Like where dog is standing?

36" is the smallest code acceptible aisle. Sorry, not even room for a movable one without getting rid of cabinets on one side. Which, if you're willing to do a more extensive remodel could possibly happen. Or it might be possible to do a small peninsula on one end on one side, but we'd need to see the layout and you might need to do a bit of carpentry.

You might be able to do a peninsula out from the wall where you show the trash can. That would get you extra counter space and maybe a place for a stool on the other side. But an island in a galley kitchen? NO way. You don't have the architecture to allow for that to happen.

I appreciate this. I sent the photos from my ipad so yes, they are sometimes upside down. Sorry about that. I know I cant do a fixed island. I was asking about a movable island, knowing myself that the space was wasnt wide enough for fixed one. I guess the moveable island is now at bottom of priority list as well. I'll spend the money on an Amish pantry, with book shelves for those cookbooks and a wine rack, somehow if its all in the same wall unit, it would look better than a pantry standing alone with a bookshelf/wine rack next to it on floor. It would go along the blank 75" wall. I need pantry space and that's the first priority in this makeover/remodel. We arent replacing the cabinets because they are solid wood and its just not in the budget. The cabinets are in pretty good shape for 25 yrs old. Any comments are always welcome. Thanks again.

Maybe something custom made with drop leaves on 2 sides.

What's at the end of the counter run across from where the new pantry will go? Could you add a stand-alone peninsula there? Think of it as an island that isn't an island. ;-)

Thanks for the photo of the tiny movable island. I'd rather go without than have a small thing like that but I get your drift, a small one could work. The hubs suggested a real narrow. long one, I said why even go through the expense for a narrow one that you cant even fit anything into.

Across from where the new pantry will go, is a pantry (LOL) in a cabinet but it is too small and overloaded. I have all my jars and things in a coat closet in the entry. I'm trying to make my kitchen work for me by adding a real large pantry across from the existing one, to free up the entry closet.

I posted a photo of the opposite side of the 75" blank wall. I'm open to all suggestions for updating and addressing my pantry storage/book storage and wine rack needs, without any permanent cabinet work because I'm sure we'll rip everything out eventually and put in a brand new kitchen. It's not the only room to renovate/update on the list so budget is a consideration. We've made alot of progress through the years but there is still alot to do in the house.

I am realizing I can do more work on a budget then trying to do it all on a luxury level.

I know the Amish wood workers can do peninsulas and match my existing cabinetry perhaps, so I will ask them, just in case I am making a mistake of buying the freestanding oak pantry from them. We were going to stain it the same color as refinished kitchen cabinets. That's another thing. WE start stripping the stain off these cabinets Monday and I'm not sure how long that will take nor what stain to choose once they are ready. I think to go darker a notch or two.

Again, I read and think about all your comments and advice. XOXO

OH yeah! I am also going to install new sink and would love a really chic looking one. Any ideas, post em! This is a contemporary A-Frame home FYI. Right now it's stainless with a vegetable sink on left side that I use regularly. Another faucet is not out of the question but I just got this one two (2) years ago. It has a pullout and is useful.

THX and XOXO!!

Here's the oak pantry I think to buy to put against long empty wall where the book case is. 36" wide with pullout drawers. I sure like the idea of the peninsula with some cabinetry. I hope the Amish have ideas because I sure do not. Budgets stink.

Just so you know - we have two peninsulas: one that is 62" wide and one that is 53" wide - both are very useful. We easily have seats for two on the 62" peninsula (if that's a "want") and could have had 2 on the other as well if it wasn't next to a doorway. Both add very useful counterspace b/c of their location.

If you have a 73" aisle b/w the two counters, you have room for a similar sized peninsula.

Assuming a 42" aisle b/w the peninsula & cabs on other side

73" - 42" = 31" for cabinet space to stick into the aisle

Then, add in the depth from the current counters (usually 25.5")...
25.5" + 31" = 56.5" total width of peninsula

(In our case, we have a corner prep sink in the 62" peninsula so it takes up a few inches from the workspace on that peninsula - but it's well-worth it for us.)

However, before I did something like that in your kitchen, I'd ask myself what I would gain. Would it be useful counterspace or would it sit all by itself too far away from the major work zones & appliances/fixtures to be useful for anything? (except maybe a "drop zone")

A layout with the whole thing marked or at least a pic showing it all in one would give us a better idea of whether it would be worth it - a pic looking "down the length of the kitchen" that shows the entire kitchen, not just part of it - including the doorways (do two, one from each end). The overall pics would help bring it all together - the other pictures then add detail - but the overall pics would give us context and show how it all fits together.

As to a movable island, one that would fit in the corner where the trash can is and still allow you around 42" of aisle space would work. BUT, it would be in the way every time you pulled it out and used it unless you stuck it on the end of a cabinet run as sort of a peninsula while working on it (yes, it would block cabinet access, but that might be OK for temporary use.)

And I agree with others, 20" and 24" aisles are not workable at all - especially when fixed/permanent.

What was your reason for wanting an island? It looks to me like you have good counter space, but of course we don't see the whole space or know the dimensions.

I like the pantry seems like it would provide much useful storage.

Buehl, A peninsula was in the cards but I dont see how it would face the TV which is mounted under cabinet left of sink.

Lyfia, I wanted an island for more prep space. I am hugely into nutritional science and I prep tons of vegetables from the store and from my 1000 sq foot garden. I cook alot and entertain.

I am going to post some more photos. The blank wall is where the peninsula would go but I dont see how it would be shaped, to face TV which would be straight across from it on opposite row of cabinets, left to sink.

This pic shows the entry to dining room which is draped in plastic because its being painted in there. The entry separates the blank wall from the row of cabs/frig.

Looking down toward the blank wall, on far left.

If you need measurements, I can do that but I need to know exactly what points to measure. I am new at this. THX again.

There are 2 pics at the very top (the ones that are right side up) that got mirrored in the upload. (ipad) Ignore them. They are backwards and even upside down.

The rest of the more recent photos are taken with regular camera and are proper so I would use them and NOT the very first 3 or 4 that are posted.

You can edit and remove any photos from your posts.

Pic showing opposite view.

How much do you have on the wall where you now have the fridge and cabs? Maybe you can move the fridge to the other side (or would it stick out too much?), turn the cabs 90 degrees and have seats in front of the wall. I'm no expert, but since it's just the 2 of you it may work if you have somewhere around 40-44" from the edge of the counter overhang to the wall. If you're not tall and the bar would be just for snacks/occasional TV watching 12" can be enough, but 15" would be better and the recommended knee space for 36" high counters. If those cabs measure more than 56,5" then you may have to discard the extra.

On the 75" wall' you may consider a taller pantry, maybe 24-27' wide, and assuming the fridge as 36' wide, you can have bookshelves b/w the fringe and DR entry.

No landing next to the fridge, but this is best I came up with, with the existing cabs. If you measure both the long and the short walls, openings and what you have on each side of the openings experts can come up with much better ideas.

Wow! You are talented! We could never give up the top and bottom cabs by the frig. This house has very little storage, I don't know why they built it like that.

FYI, a side by side frig was setting in the blank wall space for 10 yrs because it didnt fit the frig space (it was half inch too wide) by the stone wall, I just bought a new Kenmore Elite to properly fit the space which was an improvement in itself. That's why I am trying to do something with the blank wall now, like a pantry, which I can order any dimension I like. I might opt for 24 or 30 inch wide x I'm not sure if I should try to match height of existing cabs which is 6 foot high. Maybe thats too tall? Remember i have very little storage in this house and i do alot of international cuisine requiring many different jars and bottles and gadgets. I want the pullout shelves/drawers too.

That used to be a desk by the frig, we stuck Home Depot prefab double oak cabinet in there and miraculously the stain matched. Only an expert can tell the difference. We pulled out ugly trash compacter (right side sink) and stuck a single HD prefab oak can in there and only an expert can tell the difference. I'm bad but choose to save rather than spend on new kitchen. Cost to do that was less than 100. Hubs out of work 8 yrs! We are frugal. We can do some stuff, not just a whole kitchen. And for larger project we do, it has to be broken down into smaller projects to spread the cost over multiple years we don't feel it.

I'm planning on refinishing those prefab cabs to match the new stain. God I hope they can be restrained, HD cabinet expert said they could be. I have a cabinet class today, refinishing using a stripping liquid. It's called Zip or something. It's at HD. What if I do the stripping and staining job and they look worse than now. I'll die.

Wouldn't it be nice if the pantry could be a unit attached to a book shelf/wine rack some how. Still trying to improve what I got. The granite sales guy comes tomorrow, he got that baked on stuff that needs no maintenance. It goes right over existing counter so no demo needed. I hope it's not a crappy thing to do. It's prolly going to cost and arm and leg. I have to check out solid surfaces yet too. I'm not married to granite--I married to my pocketbook. I will spend money for a pretty look though.

For the record, it is 97 inches from stone wall where the frig is, to the dining room entry/end of cabinets.

instead of a pantry in that large space, how about a long counter with as many uppers and lower as you can fit? you can put drawers in the lowers and use this as your pantry, and use the uppers for boxed cereals, pasta, flours and sugar - the rectangular bulk pantry items. A pantry does not need to be tall. this will give you lots of pantry space and a nice long counter stretch that can serve as prep space. you can have a bar with stools under part of this stretch.