I think the narrow broom closet is a good idea, although I cannot say I am nuts about how it looks there. Often, these are used to good effect to separate a fridge from a wall. I understand you don't have that problem... but perhaps it would look nicer to put it next to the pantry (either side)?

Help with galley kitchen layout #1

I am the original poster- don't know what happened, but my original garden web account seems to have gotten mixed in with my houzz account. Anyway... not trying to troll or anything here. This is really a fascinating thread, and definitely highlights the challenges of designing for a smaller space when every inch counts! I think the most compelling argument here is focused on what is needed for today vs. what MAY be needed of tomorrow. So, it's not really about functionality but risk and probability. It's too bad we don't have a nice little financial equation that will help us determine the "net present value" of the choices. I really just hate wasting money, and want to do every bit of planning possible to avoid the potential of having to rip something out in the future because it was a poor decision. I think my primary problem is that I really want a 30' x 40' kitchen with high end appliances and all of the bling I could possibly imagine. But, that is not my reality. And, it's really hard to figure out what is most important and how to choose when I can only afford about 35% of what I want. It's really hard on these forums to communicate a budget - I have no issue moving my fridge and range to opposite ends of the universe, but there is a cost involved in that, and I really need to be careful how I allocate my budget. So, I have chosen to leave my electrical and plumbing pieces where they are - and stay within the current footprint. I have to say - it can be pretty intimidating posting and asking for help when you are one of the "I have a small kitchen" folks. I really have no idea what I will end up with. But, I do know that I will post my updates as they occur as I want to ensure future "small galley kitchen" searches have something to reference! Thank you so very much to all of the wonderful comments and advice I have received. Funkycamper, benjesbride - you guys have been providing feedback and valuable input for the past 6 months as I have persevered to navigate the very rough waters of kitchen design. The end is so very near and this is the most stressful process I have EVER experienced!

Thanks so much, everyone! These are great ideas. I'm definitely not opposed to a 24-inch sink—that's the size of the sink in my current (rental) apartment and it suits me just fine. But would it be possible to squeeze a trash pull-out into a 24-inch cabinet? I'm less sure about a 24-inch range because I do cook a lot, and I tend to use the full width of my 30-inch oven for roasting big sheetpans of vegetables and things like that. I hadn't considered a built-in oven and cooktop because of the extra expense, but it would make a lot of sense given how narrow the space is. benjesbride, here's the full layout of the apartment: The entrance to the kitchen was originally a doorjam that was less than 30-inches wide, but we had the contractor take the doorjam out and raise the height of the entrance, which has already made a big visual difference, even though it's only widened the entrance by about six inches. I had thought about removing that wall next to the sink entirely, to open up the kitchen to the dining area a bit more, but I decided it might be a little odd to enter the apartment and immediately be confronted by a dishwasher.