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Remodeling Design Dilemma Kitchens

Galley kitchen layout help

Mariasole Leone

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hi! I recently purchased a home with a galley kitchen. It was a good investment in a quiet building, so I went ahead. As I try to select colors and materials for the renovation, I kept thinking, so I maximize the space. The breakfast bar would be eliminated to extend the countertops where the sink is. This would allow for seating.

The dilemma is where the stove is. Does anyone have ideas on how to gain counter space over where the stove would be. I thought about changing to a 24” refrigerator or swapping the pantry with the fridge. But before I downsize to a narrower fridge, wanted to see what the community thinks. Thanks in advance!

Comments (4)

decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
Is it just you, or are you cooking for a family in that kitchen? Galley's are my favorite kitchen, and I had one that small in D.C. If you're the lone occupant, you can downsize to an apartment sized DW and to a narrower fridge. However, appliances are often in short supply and on long waiting lists now. Unless you're planning a gut job, I would live with this for a while and see how it functions for you. Plan, shop and wait. If you need more work surface you can get a cover for the sink and one for the stove top too. I had a folding/rolling cart in mine. You could also do a wall mounted drop worktable on the wall at the end. Since it has an outlet, that might be the place to use any appliance like a mixer, blender, etc. Look at some tiny homes to glean ideas for small space efficiency and multi-tasking layouts.
Mariasole Leone
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for your advice on looking at tiny homes! I’m moving into the property soon, but those appliances are mine to keep until I decide what to do. For the reno I’m planning for it to be on the light side, keeping the plumbing and the lines for gas where there are.
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reading nook in the passage? well,whatever-you could convert it to storage later if you want. We have a rental and there is one closet that is locked for owner access only-critical.supplies and extras are kept there/etc. If you have family using this space in between corporate rental,or situations in the future that you are just not sure how they will evolve,think about secure storage. Do you really need a 36 in fridge for a rental? I'd get the standard 18 cfoot at most. You could reverse the couch so the walk in the door and to the left to bedroom suite is thru a zone with back of couch along there and people seated face the better placed table and sufficient kitchen. Don't think you need the full 2 c ft microwave over the range. A decent countertop unit will work also in a rental....let an electrician provide you with any problems about venting a hood. I can't imagine- a good hood will be a good investment[doesn't have to be the top o the line] and they have lites for the evening to help out illumination. don't get too large of a sink...is there nothing else to use the pantry space for...[it's so excessively large]...maybe a locked section in there/or partition a closet somehow for broom/mop/vacuum cleaner/etc-or are you using help?
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Here's a view of your current kitchen--sorry you didn't get any responses on the other thread. Firstly, I would make the counters deeper than standard, with custom cabinets if possible, and deeper drawers for more storage. If you keep the counter-top appliances out and also keep canisters for baking staples, having 30" deep counters will leave more space for work areas. Deeper upper cabinets on the range side can hold your copper pots and large vessels--maybe with glass doors, so that you can find them easily. If you have high ceilings, taking the cabinets to the ceiling will add storage space, too. I'd put the DW on the right side of the sink, and use the area to the left of the sink for prep, with secondary prep and baking on the right counter. Put the small appliances in the area where they'll be used. (I gave you a red KA :). You can have deep drawers to store the cast iron pans and the appliances that aren't used as often, and dishes can be stored in drawers under the baking counter, close to the DR entry. I'd put the trash pull-out under the sink, and have all drawers in base cabinets. I drew open shelves to the right the sink, but that could be an upper cabinet to match the one on the left. GW discussions--all drawer base cabinets.
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Yes, I have thought about that.. Ikea only has one depth wall cabinets which are the same depth as their shallow base.. (Previously that wall had the same thing (wall same depth as base.. But the previous cabinets were built in place.. 13" depth instead of 14 3/4.. ) That's why I designed it with the top 21" shorter than base so that the counter will be useable.. Also thinking of mounting the cabinets a bit higher than normal (19"-20") above counter so counter is more useable. If you have a suggestion of where I could get 12" wall frameless quickly w/o doors?? and maybe use ikea doors with them?
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herbflavor
3 years ago
if there will be a table beyond the bar I think I'd leave the bar as is. Two seating venues that close doesn't seem so wise. Sinks are not the greatest thing to be looking down at while seated. You'd have to extend the counter to make it feel worthy.....a setback from sink and secondly enough depth for legroom . And then you are moving back into the table zone it appears. I'd focus on the table .....get a nice new table chairs and decorate that area of the space ....maybe some color on the wall..a rug underneath..piece of art...light fixture...etc.....Does the kitchen in your condo really need a renovation......It is a condo..it is a small kitchen...which is fairly typical . the appliances look good...honestly I'd leave it and spend money on decor throughout your other spaces. Do you have apartment scaled furniture?......this is becoming available and you can do some wonderful things in your spaces.
decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
You might also check out Apartment Therapy's website. Lots of innovative ways to live in less space.
Mariasole Leone thanked decoenthusiaste

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