Does the soffit have to stay? If you can lose that, you can take the cabinets to 42" to increase cabinet storage. If not, you'll have to work with what you have.

I assume you'll be replacing appliances. Be sure to get a counter depth fridge so you don't overwhelm the small space.

I wouldn't get rid of the breakfast bar-I don't think you can afford to lose the storage. I would turn the cabinets between the stove and sink into a super susan cabinet to increase storage. I would also make the cabinet to the left of the stove a blind cabinet with pullout. Change the cabinets in the breakfast bar to drawers for more efficient storage. Add an extended refrigerator cabinet over the fridge for things you need to store but don't often use. Consider adding 12 or 15" deep cabinets to the breakfast bar on the living/dining side for even more storage. The extra deep counter space would be great for serving and the cabinets on that side could act as a buffet.

Tile needs backer board under it and adding that would make the tiled floor higher than the wood floor. Consider adding hardwood throughout the space, including the kitchen. It makes the space more cohesive.

Are you using the breakfast area just for books right now?

I’d remove the bar which gives split entry from living zones to kitchen and area to the right going up the stairs . To the right of fridge wrap some cabs and counter along that wall under the window. maybe 18 in deep if full depth is too much. with a variety of storage . Maybe bookcase etc Three cabs each abt 36 in ,: bookcase and 2 stacks drawers . You can store holiday or formal dishes in drawers . With furniture feet and switch of counter or top material this can be a nice secondary flex storage spot, I do not think I’d want more seating than the nice table area: w the bar gone, The tab and chair zone will improve w openness behind it instead of competition w bar . Keep a little extra in your budget as kitchen will stretch out and feel more open so visuals of wood species and counter picks etc will matter. It’s hard to picture the change but visuals will give you a different feel completely and even (leaving the hvac ) but definitely banish the bar.

What’s your biggest pain? Storage or traffic flow? Where do you eat or entertain?

I agree with ripping out the soffit if possible.

I would rip out the breakfast bar, and extend the cabinets and counters on the stove wall until even with the utility wall. So your kitchen would be an L- shape. Perhaps the end of the kitchen closest to the living/dining could be used as a beverage station. Or your end cabinet could be open storage facing the living room.

The utility closet...tough layout! Is there room for narrow shelves? Or tile/paint as a feature?

Floors are tough in such a small space...have you thought about hardwoods throughout?

We offer free design consultation if you are interested you can reach us through our website at

www.aokitchenandbath.com Our design team could give you a few very good layouts for you to choose from. We are in the Hanover PA area

Thanks katinparadise, herbflavor and Alyssa for your suggestions and ideas; we really appreciate it! I just uploaded newer pictures of the kitchen and area adjacent to the kitchen since we have new appliances, we painted the walls and placed steel shelves for extra storage in the area adjacent to the kitchen (we also replaced the carpet of the stairs to the second level and the entire second level with hardwood floors). To address your points:

• Yes, we are getting rid of the soffit, though we'd like to replace the range hood with a steel chimney-style range hood.
• We already replaced our appliances and could not get a standard 36" fridge, so we were limited on the selection of narrower fridges available.
• We are thinking of putting a narrow counter and open shelving in the area adjacent to the kitchen for flexible storage.
• We'd like to have a long cabinet for storing brooms, vacuum, etc. since we have nowhere to store them (there is no room in the utility closet). We're thinking either the corner in front of the stairs to the second level or if getting rid of the breakfast bar, an end cabinet into the living area.
• We're not sure if this is possible, but hiding the garbage/recycling would be great so we can have more space in the kitchen; not under the kitchen sink though, because we want to replace with a deep sink.
• Other than storage, our pain point is traffic flow, because we do cook on a daily basis and it's hard for both of us to be in the kitchen at the same time. We don't use the breakfast bar at all (we use our dining table) and the only reason we'd keep the current layout is if it is visually better than removing it. I'm just afraid that the new opening might look too narrow or the utility closet would stand out as an eyesore. The way I see it, we have 3 options: remove the breakfast bar and extend the counter to be in line with the utility closet, leave the layout as is and install lazy susan and blind cabinets in the corners, or move the breakfast bar towards the living area to be in line with the outer edge of the utility close (extending the "U" shape inside the kitchen). It's hard to see from the pictures and the floor plan is not to scale, but the utility closet is in line with the counter in the kitchen, while there is a good 40" from the edge of the counter to the edge of the utility closet on the living area side.
• We've thought about hardwood floors throughout, but are afraid of leaking/flooding from the water heater, HVAC and dishwasher (though we don't have kids). We're still mulling on flooring options.

If you have any further ideas, we're all ears!

Hi Maria H. See photo - can you provide the dimension highlighted in red?

Hi Sharon, the space highlighted in red is about 68" (5'8).

Thanks, Maria: this is touch to significantly improve. I would eliminate the breakfast bar to try and ease the flow. For your broom/vacuum, you could add a small closet onto the HVAC closet. If possible, so it isn’t so tight between the sink and the stove, I’d try to nudge the stove down towards the dining room a few inches, but this will affect your range hood as it will affect the ducting - speak to your appliance and kitchen cabinet suppliers about this. On the attached, you now have a longer, straight run of counter space and at the end, I’d install full height pull out pantry cabinet. As other Houzzers have suggested, remove the bulk head and have taller upper cabinets. If you need more storage, then I d do a wall of combined narrow storage/built-in desk in the office area along the window wall, being careful not to cramp the stair landing.

Hi Marie “touch” not “touch” 😁

TOUGH

Hi Sharon, thank you so much for the rendering! Unfortunately, we can't add a small closet by the utility closet because the electrical panel and vent are on that side. Otherwise, it seems like getting rid of the breakfast bar is the way to go! Thanks again!