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Remodeling Design Dilemma Kitchens

Small kitchen - U shape or Galley? Help

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I have a small 9ft x 11ft kitchen that used to be a galley kitchen but after moving the pantry I gained about a foot and a half of space on one wall. My question is do I keep it a galley kitchen or do I convert it to a U shaped kitchen? Blue tape is at the 24 inch counter depth. Moving gas line and electric isnt an issue.

My concerns with galley is most galley kitchens have some door way, hallway or window on the end that makes it look it intentional. Yes I could put some shelves or something but still looks off to me.

My only concern with a u shaped kitchen is it might feel cramped seeing as the kitchen is small but I planned on white cabinets, white appliances and butcher block counter tops and the flooring is also a light wood so I was thinking that might help. I even thought of doing bottom cabinets on the back wall and then open shelving on top to make if feel more open?

So would you do a U shape or galley?

Would you do open shelving or regular cabinets up top if you did a U shaped kitchen?

Any thoughts input would be appreciated!

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Comments (13)

ShadyWillowFarm
3 years ago
We need a floor plan please.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I aslo need to see the whole space.
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The fridge location in the OP is exactly like mine, across from the peninsula. I find it extremely convenient as a drop zone. What is your aisle width there? I have 46.5" from fridge door to counter edge, and DH can open the doors to look for something and another family member can still get by. That is with a french door fridge. I think this plan is just fine if you moved the sink under the window, and kept the DW where you have it. It just seems that a corner sink (as the only sink, I have a corner prep sink) is not the most comfortable if not absolutely necessary. I also agree with the 90* angle in the upper cabinet in the corner to match the lower. But, that is just a looks preference - plus I'm short and never get to things in the backs of those deep uppers.
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I think I am definitely sold on getting rid of the pony walls, moving the DW to the end of the run and using an OTR microwave. I actually have new HVAC being installed this month so I'm going to ask the installers when they're here what the implications of moving the return vent over a couple of feet are. I'd lose an outlet that I never use anyway, but otherwise I don't think it'd cause any problems. I don't really want to go with nonstandard-sized appliances. They cost more than the bigger ones and there are lots of townhouses/condos in this area with similar-sized kitchens, and all of them have standard-sized appliances - I don't want to be "that weird house with the odd-sized fridge" or whatever, when it comes to resale. Plus my fridge is actually new and I like it very much. Here is my latest and greatest U-shaped variation: I'm trying to depict having the fridge built with the 2 full-height panels on either side and the fridge-depth cabinet up above, in case that isn't clear from the drawing. The sink isn't as off-center as I thought it would be, and as someone upthread pointed out, it was off-center in the original drawing anyway because my window placement was a bit off. It looks like the faucet would only be about 2" to the right of where it is now. I don't really care for the integrated drainboard sink, sorry. I actually wish I could get rid of the drainboard entirely but there always seems to be one random frying pan or knife or something that has to be hand-washed. I would do a small trash pullout in the sink cabinet, if I did one at all. I might not. Something about the idea of having a trash can in a cabinet skeeves me out a bit. Latest galley: The more I look at it the more I think I might prefer going with the galley version and nixing the corner issue entirely. Technically it gives me a bit more lower storage (including the pantry pullout in that), but a bit less upper storage. But like I said before my uppers aren't full now anyway. It has 15" less countertop frontage, but 10 sq ft less space overall... the extra sq ft loss mainly coming from corners.
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If you are putting your sink in the peninsula - especially a main/cleanup sink - then I strongly recommend an 18" overhang - but no less than 15". A 12" overhang will not allow someone to sit there when anything is going on at the sink - prepping, cleaning up, etc. If you don't have enough room in the DR, then consider either eliminating the seating (especially b/c it's right next to the DR table) or moving the peninsula into the kitchen 6" or so more than it is now. Even without a sink, you should have at least 15" of clear knee/leg space. To accommodate a 15" overhang, your peninsula should be 41.5" deep (1.5" overhang + 24" deep cabinet + 1" decorative door or finished panel on the back of the cabinets + 15" overhang). For an 18" overhang, it should be 44.5" deep. You want a deep enough overhang to: (1) Minimize splashing - you should have at least 18" from the faucet stem to the edge of the seating overhang (2) Keep dirty dishes out of the faces of those sitting at the counter. This is one of the disadvantages of sinks in islands and peninsulas - especially when the island or peninsula is not deep enough...dirty dishes are "in the face" of anyone sitting at the counter. (3) Allow comfortable seating - where you don't have to straddle the cabinets, sit sideways, or lean far over to reach the counter. If you're trying to "save space", be aware that people take up the same amount of space even if you skimp on overhang - they just have to sit farther away from the counter and lean farther in...unless, of course, they're sitting sideways - which means you need more than 24" of linear space per seat - or if they're straddling the cabinets - which again means more than 24" of linear space per seat. Oh, and speaking from real-life experience - sitting sideways and twisting around to face the counter is very uncomfortable for more than a couple of minutes. Ditto for straddling cabinets. If everyone in your family is very short and has short legs (and will always be very short), then 12" might work for leg space - but it does not fix the splashing issue. I can't imagine doing anything in a 12" space with water right there. I certainly would not want to do homework, crafts, read, eat, etc. unless the sink were empty and I didn't need any real space for what I was doing.
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I'm glad my idea was helpful to you! "my question is... the peninsula that gets extended towards the living room... how much space between the end of the counter and the wall/opening to living room do I need?" I did a rough estimate on aisles for you, based on the incomplete/inaccurate information you posted with your drawing. I estimated that the wall with pantry closet, fridge and desk at 115" based on where it ends in relationship to the peninsula. Your measurements list that as less than 8' but the desk ends beyond the peninsula - approx where the window starts? - so I'm guessing that wall is closer to the distance between top right corner and nook window. Anyhoo, here's an updated drawing based on that assumption. I recommend that you put a trash pull-out under your sink. You'll need to go with a single bowl, off-set drain sink and watch the overall depth but it can be done. Here's mine: I shifted the fridge towards the peninsula so that there's counter within 48" of the fridge. MW goes on a counter in the pantry: Hopefully the above amended drawing is enough to get you started. Tweak it as needed to suit your needs.
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btydrvn
3 years ago
Whatever you gain from the U shape is lost in the corner storage ...galley will feel roomier....and more likely allow room for more than one person in the kitchen when/if needed
btydrvn
3 years ago
If ( hopefully) the sink is under the window ...that will also be more comfortable to use as well
PRO
MDLN
3 years ago
Have a galley and DS has a U.

Like the extra counterspace in U shape, but have more functional cabinet space in galley.

Would not do open shelves in a kitchen; great for magazine photos, not real life.
herbflavor
3 years ago
you need 5 feet across to make a U work. Stick with a galley here. You'll get those nice drawers and no corners. Counter will be cheaper. One side or other can be done with deeper counters by a couple inches likely which will make a difference. You have abt 52 inches of aisle ? so w a deeper counter you can end up 49-50 in aisle?? Start plotting out your drawer sizes and know you will get good storage and some of the wall cabs can be glass doored to pretty it up.Good Luck.
btydrvn
3 years ago
The end wall with art or an interesting focal point ....really adds more appeal to a small galley kitchen...as demonstrated in above pics
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
Is it possible to put a wnadow in the end wall IMO that would be perfect in a galley kitchen which BTW I love and I think a better choice in this space too.
recordaras
3 years ago
We went from a U in our previous condo to a galley in our new home and really love the galley! When cooking everything is so easy to access, it’s really a very functional layout.
latifolia
3 years ago
Another vote for galley. You will get just as much storage, plus it should save you money. Those corner units are expensive, and not particularly efficient.
PRO
MDLN
3 years ago
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decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
I'm a galley fan for sure. Drawers in the lowers will give you much more accessible storage. Put the DW and your dish and silver drawers right of the sink so you can load the DW to your right, load the dish/silver drawers to the right of the DW, and easily set the table from that end of the galley.
theresa21
3 years ago
I have a small u-shaped kitchen. I prefer it over a galley, because I don't like the way the end wall looks in a galley and I like the proportions of a U better than the long hallway claustrophobic look of a galley. My kitchen has the window, sink and fridge on one leg of the U which is a longer run than the range wall on the opposite leg. I do all my prepping at the back of the U, which gives me lots of continuous counter space between the sink and the range. The advantage of a galley is that there are no corner cabinets to contend with, cheaper cabinet costs and likely no countertop seaming issues. I think small kitchens are cramped regardless if it is U-shaped or galley. Since I prep at the back of the kitchen, another person can utilize all the other parts of the kitchen.

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