My completed NYC galley kitchen

laurap_2007

15 years ago

before photo:

after photos:

The after photo doesn't show the new fridge, but it is SS and where the old one was. Plus, I was able to get rid of the old microwave cart. I created more counterspace by replacing the separate wall oven and cooktop with a stove. It's only a bit more space, but what a difference it makes, and the light colors are far more cheerful than the 70's era browns and mustards.

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Comments (34)

Jean Farrell
15 years ago
Looks great! What a change!
Laurie
15 years ago
Wow! What a dramatic difference! I especially like the cabinets, backsplash & new floor. Nice new ss appliances, too.
Enjoy your beautiful kitchen : )
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Thanks for all the kind words! GW was a great resource all the way through the planning and then the "doing"! Just a couple examples - until I posted a question about which mullions I should choose for glass front cabinets, it never had occurred to me that I had far more choices than plain glass. Now every time I open my cabinets, I smile - I do love the river ice! And because I had always had them, I started my plan with lower cabinets but thanks to GW I changed to all drawers. I love having all my pots, pans, mixing bowls, and small appliances in deep drawers. No more pulling everything out to get the one thing in the back. When we were house hunting, I dreamed of a huge eat-in kitchen with an antique butcher block, but I'm really enjoying cooking in this cozy space with everything so close at hand. mabeldingeldine: We're not Mainers, we just wish we were! We take a trip to the mid-coast area every summer. We got married there and got the Common Ground poster that year - it was also the perfect addition to my kitchen chicken collection! t-bird: Getting the Scherr's doors didn't save any money but I was able to get exactly what I wanted - I just didn't love the finish/materials on any of the white Ikea doors. I posted a breakdown of my costs on the "Under $20k Kitchens thread". I've still got some little paint touch-ups to do, and I need to put some trim where the backsplash ends but it's so nice to have a kitchen that really works. Here is a link that might be useful: Under $20k Kitchen Remodels
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Great job! Love the floor! I recognized the grain as mahogany because we just had mahogany flooring installed too. I am trying to decide how to have it finished. Was your floor pre-finished or did you stain and/or poly it? If you stained it, what brand and color did you use? Enjoy your new space! It looks so much more functional.
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Wine storage over a fridge is not really recommended because of heat and vibration. Unless you go through it fast, I have heard you will be making wine vinegar. I think the doorstyle is perfect. I have the Sub-Zero 27" and you will get a ton of storage in it in a small space. I don't think the cabinets really look too tall in the elevation, and elevation drawings tend to "stretch" the verticals a bit. You could shorten the cabinets and increase the crown a bit, if that's your preference. Since this is a tight NYC kitchen, it has a great window, and it is not eat in, I think you need to allow storage to trump esthetics, at least a little. You will be looking Through the room to the window. Have you thought of doing drawers instead of doors on some of the bases? Its a trade off in a narrow kitchen, but it would probably be easier to stand to one side and open the drawer than bend over and hit your tailbone on the opposite cabinets. Just something to think about.
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yes, i see several - but it looks to be expensive - and it's such a beautiful home as is... the 'built in' room would probably be the easiest - that would be a good room while they are young. lots of storage for games, books etc. that could be their area for the time you are in the kitchen. you could move the fridge and lower/take out that end wall which would open it up a bit to the LR. Still other doorways would need gates to contain child at certain ages. or knock out that little bathroom and the 'neck' entrance into the DR and make that the play area/FR. Change FR to LR and LR to DR. then the back room could be your 'sanity' room - lol! to run and hide w/ door closed when needed. or DH's office/den/quiet space.
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tofu_dog
15 years ago
With some smart planning, it looks like you were able to almost triple your counter space and create a much more efficient, larger work area! Well done!
marthavila
15 years ago
Congratulations on that huge transformation in a small space! Please share the details, e.g. area dimensions, cab, appliance, countertop, backsplash choices, etc. Is it possible to get a single picture of the entire space? It really does look great!
laurap_2007
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks.

The cabinets are by Kraftmaid in maple, Honey Spice

Countertop - Silestone in Blanco Maple

backsplash - Adex ceramic subway tiles in light green

floor - Wilsonart laminate in Hawaiian Bamboo

Faucet is forte model by Kohler

Sink is Blanco

Finding the biggest sink I could fit into the 24" cabinet I chose was something of a challenge, but I did manage to get a 22" x 20" D shaped sink that fit. It also took me quite a while to decide on the backsplash, there are so many choices out there. All in all, it took about a year of planning to decide on how I wanted to arrange things (decided to move d/w from tight corner on the left of the sink to the right of the sink, as well as replacing separate cooktop and wall oven with range) and what materials I wanted to use. I'm really happy with the way everything turned out, the experience was actually less stressful that I thought it would be (I bet that's a first!)
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
Looks great! I like the green tiles and the interesting curved pulls. I hope Charlikins (NYC tiny kitchen) sees this.
morton5
15 years ago
Wow, it was really time to change that old kitchen, and what a beautiful, functional new space you have created. Great job!
PRO
modern life interiors
15 years ago
I am so happy to see a nyc galley kitchen.
It looks great and easy to use.
Did you do the work yourself or did you use a contractor?
Please share the contractors info. (name,etc.)

I am in a nyc condo and need to do similar work.

Good luck in your new kitchen.
PRO
modern life interiors
15 years ago
I am so happy to see a nyc galley kitchen.
It looks great and easy to use.
Did you do the work yourself or did you use a contractor?
Please share the contractors info. (name,etc.)

I am in a nyc condo and need to do similar work.

Good luck in your new kitchen.
rhome410
15 years ago
Great job! Very nice change and so much nicer to work in, I'm sure.
charlikin
15 years ago
I *love* *love* *LOVE* your new kitchen! Oh, it's beautiful, and so inspirational for me!! I'm also doing a small galley kitchen, so it's wonderful to see someone else who's done such a beautiful job!!

And wow, I think yours might be even smaller than mine! What are your dimensions? Mine is 117" x 84" (just under 10' by 7'). Really tough photographing such a small space. :-)

Love the Kraftmaid Honey Spice - was considering that for mine, but decided to spring for Ginger Glaze since that's the color that draws me in every time I visit a Home Depot. (Ordering the cabinets this afternoon - aaaaaaaahhhhhhh! Er, sorry, that was a nervous gasp. ;-))

LOVE the backslash. It is so tranquil - what a great shade of green. Very soothing.

Tough fitting a sink into a 24" sink base, isn't it? I totally sympathize with your lack of choices. It seems like so many sinks *almost* fit, but not quite!!!

Laura, you've done a fabulous job. You should be very proud and happy!
laxsupermom
15 years ago
Wow! What an amazing transformation! I love the color of your backsplash. Great job!
User
15 years ago
Your kitchen looks wonderful. I love the serene feel to it. I am glad Tracie saw it. I hope all the NYC'ers will come to our next get together....I am going to be in NYC again Aug. 5-12. Hope to see you then !! c
talley_sue_nyc
15 years ago
Is the wall w/ the microwave cart now empty? Or did you find some other storage solution to go there?

It looks SO nice. (but, I hate to say it, almost anything would have been an improvement, wouldn't you say?)

You must feel so happy.

Do you like your faucet? I've been looking at that high-rise style, w/ the handle on the back instead of on the front. Not that I'm going to replace mine, but if I ever moved...

Smart dishwasher move!!!
crnaskater
15 years ago
What a marvelous transformation!! I wish more people would post these very small spaces, before & after!!!

Just a couple of questions, if you don't mind.....what is on the 'blue' end wall? My first thought was it would have looked beautiful if the lovely green tile was brought around onto that wall. Second, the end cabinet that butts the microwave looks unfinished (not stained to match the cabs.) Is it just the way the photo was taken?

I especially love the faucet and the curved handles (sooo subtly different!) Good job!
Jean Popowitz
15 years ago
gee, why'd you get rid of that floor *wink*. Seriously, it's a lovely transformation. Love those glass tiles!
piesnob
15 years ago
What a great kitchen! Your planning really paid off. It looks so beautiful and efficient!
rosie
15 years ago
Terrific! Congratulations on making such a great transformation. Is that your pantry in the end wall?
mominthedubc
15 years ago
What a wonderful kitchen, so clean, tranquil, modern...just great! It just goes to show you that you don't need to have a HUGE kitchen to have a beautiful kitchen. What a transformation. Would love to see a picture from the same angle as the "before" shot.
beccamj
15 years ago
I'm doing a NYC galley kitchen too and LOVED seeing this. Wonderful job and such smart choices!
revans1
15 years ago
Very nice! Congrats on a beautiful job.
imrainey
15 years ago
I have a galley kitchen too. They're soooo hard to photograph because you can't get far enough away to get anything in frame.

What I can see is great. And I bet the whole thing feels wonderful. Nice choices!
rgillman
15 years ago
What an inspiration! Tracey - aren't you encouraged by seeing Laura's beautiful redo?? I look at this and feel rather like a spoiled brat with all the counter space I have in my new kitchen. You NY galley kitchen people are amazing!
susanlynn2012
15 years ago
Laurap, I just love the transformation and your floor is perfect for the room in terms of color and style. I had a Galley kitchen once and I wish I saw these inspiration pictures to have helped me make it wonderful like your kitchen.
loves2cook4six
15 years ago
Love it! What a transformation.

Doe that old oven actually have a viewing window? It looks like a grown up version of an easy bake LOL
blondelle
15 years ago
You really did a beautiful job! What a difference. I would change that grille though to something nicer in brushed stainless. You can order one online. Here's a site that has them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grilles
annes_arbor
15 years ago
Gorgeous transformation. Congratulations on a great job. I especially love the tile.
mustbnuts zone 9 sunset 9
15 years ago
What a great job you did. Congrats on doing a great job on planning and creating more space for yourself. Very wise layout. Just beautiful!
laurap_2007
Original Author
15 years ago
Okay, here's a better photo in which I got as much of my new kitchen in one photo as I could:

It sure is hard to do that with a narrow space.

for those of you who wanted details, here they are:

Kitchen is 11' long by 6' wide

on the right wall, left to right:

24" cab with pull out shelves (love this for my pots and pans)

24" sink cabinet

18" d/w

30" stove

15" cabinet

The cabinets above correspond in width to the cabinets below

on the wall with the fridge:

30" cabinet above fridge

15"wide by 96" high utility cabinet

Thanks for the compliments re: the backsplash. They are not glass, but ceramic, and at the far less price of ceramic! One of the things I liked about it is how much it resembles glass. It's a light green cracked subway tile by Adex.
User
15 years ago
Again it is a terrific kitchen...prefect argument for "less is more". c
charlikin
15 years ago
Thank you for posting the new picture. It looks beautiful, and I can't believe how much functionality you squeezed into such a small space! (We New Yorkers have to be very creative about our tiny kitchens & bathrooms!!)

I'm feeling very inspired by your backsplash... It is just so serene. :-)

Congratulations!
Fori
15 years ago
I love it! Very inspirational--I love NYC kitchens. They have to be so sensible with space while reminding me I'm not so space-deprived after all. ;)

But don't you miss that funky old oven window? Not a bit, huh?
laurap_2007
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, all. No I don't miss that funky old wall oven, and I myself find the backsplash so serene I go and stare at it for a few moments when I'm stressed, LOL.

I hope I've helped anyone out there looking to redo a small kitchen. I spent a solid year trying to decide how to arrange things, and I'm very happy with the results.
polie
15 years ago
Someday I'll have enough money saved to get my NYC galley kitchen renovated. Thanks for the inspiration. Nice job.

My completed NYC galley kitchen

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