I think you need more shelving above the stove. There is a gap and looks like this area would benefit from having a storage option. Or you could add floating shelves and take the one shelf above the stove out.

A lot can be done to the space it really all just depends on your budget.
If you open up the wall between the kitchen and living room. You will have to rotate the stairs.
Regardless in the kitchen I’d start with the floors.
What are the floors in the rest of the home?
I’d want to do new uppers.
And new hardware.
New sink
Countertops and backsplash.
As well as lighting.
But it’s hard to give specifics or even general ideas without knowing what size project your ready to take on.

Sounds great😁 would it be possible to put it in a 3D format and have a rough estimate quoted?

Hard to make suggestions unless there is a budget - but to start, add some prep surfaces and storage are on either side of the stove, - some space to prep vegetables, with storage under for cookware, and shelving for storage of dishware and glassware above. New lighting is essential, and I would replace the little counter at the end with a banquet. Do you plan to install a vent hood above the stove - ? How about a microwave - ?

Sounds great… and yes I’m planing on having a extractor hood above the Stove. Seems like I’m on the right track with the ideas you have. When you say new lighting… are you referring to LED’s under the top shelving?

I agree about the budget and the wish list. You could enclose and/or build shelving under the stairs to smooth out the visual choppiness of the open space and maybe save money changing the stairs. Paint the stairs and rails the same color as the walls to make it blend in. From the picture, moving the staircase may be more trouble than it is worth because of the two floor levels. A picture taken from the back of the couch closest to the kitchen would be more helpful to see the existing floor plan. There are lots of gaps in the cabinetry and counter that could be closed with new cabinets and countertops. What is the electrical panel on the one wall? Send more pictures!

Your main problem is too many things showing. It makes it look chaotic. Open shelving does that. The second problem is too much white. It looks institutional and cold. Leave the ceiling white. You need a wall color. The eatting counter looks uninviting facing a wall and I’d get rid of it. It’s color doesn’t do anything for the space either. That wall where your eatting counter is could also be an accent color wall or use wallpaper. Great wall for a tv or artwork to make the space inviting.New cabinetry is expensive. You need it but in the meantime if money is an issue you could paint what you have and add new hardware. Upper and lower cabinets can be two different shades of one color. Very popular now. Your stove needs to be built in to cabinetry and counter tops to make it safe and useable. Right now it looks like an add on. We don’t need to see the cords. A microwave and range hood are a good idea. New counter top that meets your existing countertops and creates a ”U” shape will pull it all together with new cabinetry above that connects and further establishes that ”u” shape. Countertops next to it give you a place to set things as you cook. Don’t think about moving walls or staircases. Big money there and unecessary. I would remove that eatting counter and you could move the washer to the corner where the eatting counter is basically creating a Laundry area because it doesn’t ”belong” as a kitchen part. . Maybe put a tall cabinet around it that you can close when you arent using it. Can that tall cabinet next to your refrigerator be used for that ? Then you could move your refrigerator where the cabinet was and it will be part of the kitchen and look less like an add on. Get a pantry cabinet or an upper and lower cabinet with a counter to put where the refridgerator is now. The light fixture is not pretty. You just have to search to find something that you can replace it with. Even one that is the same but has a cover would be a big improvement. Maybe you can just purchase a cover for it. Looks like you have a curtain. Replace it with a pleated shade that matches the color of the walls when you change that or keep it white but removing the fluff of the curtain will be cleaner and less chaotic. Move that shelf above your stove next to the other shelving to the right or get rid of it.

There are a lot of things you can do step by step with this as finances are available and with the pieces you have if you don’t have a budget to do it all at once . Just start with what you can but have a vision for it so you aren’t doing things first that don’t work later and have to be redone.

Only the stove is eauropean. The advice I’m asking for is to point me in the right direction as building and construction is not my line of work.

Thanks a million Lee

OH! I forgot to mention flooring. I just installed vinyl laminate planking! Easy and waterproof! But you need to figure out your color scheme as your very first thing! big push for grays now but don’t let that stop you from picking a color. for ideas- watch some of the flipping and makover shows and check out Pinterest.

Hi there! I would gut the whole kitchen, take the uppers all the way to the ceiling. Add a hood over the stove, choose light colors to create an open and airy feeling. I would take out the light bar on your ceiling and put in can lights and a pendant light over the sink. Is there room to push the couch further into the living room to extend your kitchen counters? Is there room to push your washing machine/dry to the corner and create a cabient around them? Can the dining room go in place of the living room by switching the two rooms around? I would create storage under the steps and enclose in with doors. I would continue the counter tops and cabinets all around the kitchen enclosing in your stove which would create a "u" shaped kitchen. Enclose in your refrigerator by creating cabinets above it and around it for more storage. Maybe create a seating area on the other side of the refrigerator instead of in the corner or make the whole back wall a seating area intead of the corner seating you have right now. As for the counter tops, I would choose granite if the budget allows. You could also carry the granite up the wall as your backsplash as well. If you decide to just use paint and not tile or anything, choose a nice color and carry that color all the way through to the steps. If your budget is tight and uppers are not what you like, choose open shelving instead. Mabye rearrange the uppers that you have and add open shelving to the other areas that make sense. Is there an option of building out a window in the living room for more natural light? Maybe something to think about. Or add a ceiling fan in your living room with a light. Or if this all seems ovewhelming, can the cabinets be painted or maybe just add new hardware? The flooring looks like tile. Is it in good shape? Just clean it and make sure it's sealed. Or if you don't like it, have it torn up and choose high grade laminate or hardwood. Also, maybe adding a microwave above the stove with a vent would be nice. I hope this helps you!!!!

Norman, send us more pics of the kitchen space and let us know what your priorities are, we're here to help and support you through a project(s) that can be chaotic and stressful.