Thanks everyone for the feedback. I guess it just reinforces for me that the problem I have is how to configure the "breakfast room." I'm half tempted just to forget it, and focus my efforts and limited money on getting the most out of the galley. I hate this option, though, if only because it's probably not possible for me to squeeze sufficient food storage into the galley. Plus I really want to get better use out of the breakfast room space - with a small house it's particularly problematic to have wasted space. My last effort to make the room more user friendly involved putting in banquette style seating (a Home Decorators marked down version of the Ballard Designs corner benches)... it seems like it was never as convenient as it looked. Because of the proliferation of doors (entry door, closet door, staircase opening, opening to the playroom on the other side of the entry), it's hard to float a table in the center of the room without it basically feeling like you're sitting in the entryway or at the foot of the stairs. So after that long defense I've given a shot at a slightly different layout which satisfies my hopes for future Costco runs. Because of the stub wall on the fridge side, the high cabinets would be the slimmer depth models that Ikea has - only about 13 inches deep. I've stuck with what seems like an unpopular idea of a peninsula, which looks very strange because the Ikea software is quirky. I'd love any more critiques, feedback, ideas, whatever! I've tried to make it more symmetrical A couple of suggestions centered on eliminating the wall between the galley and the breakfast room - unfortunately it's just not an option. It would cost me about $5k to widen the opening so that the two rooms were better connected, and that's just not worth it to me - in part because it would create new problems (like the fact that you'd see all the appliances from the front door, which just seems wrong to everyone I ask.) @momtofour: is your kitchen on the FKB? If you have any pictures online, I'd love to see them. I think the idea of a super long run of base cabinets sounds great; in practice I'd worry that the countertops would just become a dumping ground for clutter. I currently have a 9 foot stretch of counterspace on the opposite side from the range, and I don't use it all that much, perhaps because I'm not a great cook. The other issue is simply that the wall stub is 19 inches (23 with molding) so I'd need to have reduced depth cabinets on either side of it. @doraville: Unfortunately I can't really move the stove without running a new gas line, which I ruled out at the start to keep costs and drama as low as possible. But maybe I'm overestimating what a big deal that would be? BTW I've almost settled on going with the lighter wood doors. What I like best about the darker wood model from Ikea is the glass door version, which has divided lites. But I don't need display space - I need storage space.

I have a similar kitchen... builder grade cabinets, the awful soffits (yes, I hate mine too), etc.... I painted my cabinets a little over 5 years ago, new counter, backsplash, and appliances, and new flooring - I love the updates but the soffits still haunt me. I hate them. No matter what, I hate them. My next plan is to remove them, buy new uppers, and get new doors for the bottoms. I wish I would have just saved up money and got all new cabinets 5 years ago but I was eager to paint mine after seeing everyone on Pinterest paint theirs. I think you have a great space to work with, but I feel your pain on the soffits. I do like your idea of open shelving in some areas. I've seen people remove their soffits, build boxes, and then get new door fronts - it looks nice, but I think I'd rather just get new cabinets after all that work.

This is about all I have. The layout that I provided originally was done by my architect cousin at no charge and I don't want to take advantage of her services. Please note that most of the dimensions shown are not accurate. You can refer to my original layout for the correct dimensions. The gray area is the carport. Starting at the far right that shows 10' is currently the laundry room. The space immediately to the left of that is the current galley kitchen. The current kitchen ends in line with the left edge of the carport. There is actually an entrance door at the top left of the carport. The orange space at the bottom is a front porch. The front entry is on the far left of the porch. As soon as you enter, there is a hall on the left about halfway up. That side of the house holds 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The guest bedrooms are on the entrance side of the house and the master is directly opposite. My husband will not extend the master bedroom into the dining area because of the window and fireplace. Same with the kids bedrooms. I wish I could because everything on the left side of the house is pretty small! Forgive my crude drawings!!

I agree you need some pro help IMO pass throughs are never good and I honestly cannot see how removing a wall will get you anything better and have no idea how that would help to see into the FR at all. I like galley kitchens they usually are very functional . I would get a KD to help with layout but there is no way to remove a wall at all to make this better unless you take out the whole wall in the entry and then you would have anopen kitchen and I don’t think that is agood idea.You need ana rchitect probably or at least a good interior designer Could you post the actual size of the kitchen width. I can’t see how closing the window end would be nice at all. I also do not see one drawer for your base cabinets which is amust IMO. As for a pantry you will be much better off with pull out pantries in this space .