Eat in

Including an overhead plan with measurements for all walls, doors, and windows, will help us make suggestions. Also include anything which can't be moved--utilities, structural support, etc.

Ditto and make sure all measurements are clearly marked and if keeping your appliances the size of all of those

Give us more information -- we don't have much to go on here:

- Can you give us a blueprint type sketch of what you have now, including dimensions? Include the table area and identify the load-bearing wall.

- Why is the back door location a problem? I'm guessing that it invites traffic through the kitchen. Where does the door lead? Is the door necessary?

- You want to keep the table for homeschooling. Do you also want to keep the peninsula seating?

- You say storage is a goal. What are your other goals /needs?

You have a good footprint for a smaller space. Will you keep this basic layout? You mention the back door being in a bad location. Do you plan to move it or remove it completely, or is it just stuck there and will have to be worked around?

We recently also remodeled a small kitchen with the goal of keeping as much storage space as possible. Being empty nesters we did sacrifice a floor to ceiling pantry in favor of a new upper & lower configuration in that corner to increase counter space.

We made some minor changes to our cabinetry that resulted in slightly more and much better storage and use of space. Our 34 year old kitchen cabinets had frames that are up interior space and access, shallow drawers that did not go back the full depth of our cabinets. We also had lower cabinets that were black holes and blind corners that made seeing and accessing items further back difficult and painful.

Biggest game changer improvements in terms of cabinetry was all frameless cabinets….also, using all full access banks of deep drawers instead of cabinets with interior shelves and doors. Upper cabinets built custom 1” deeper than old cabinets. (You’d be surprised how much difference just an inch can make!) We had a cabinet built around the fridge which allowed for deeper cabinet above, which because a new home for large cutting boards, cooling racks, cookie sheets, griddles, sheet pans, etc. Our silverware drawer is deeper than the old drawer and has a second flatware tray beneath the main divided tray, which slides to access the lower tray.

There are a lot of little changes to cabinetry that can make giant improvements to how your space functions! Some are cheap, some are expensive. I recommend having a kitchen designer and/or cabinet company come and see your space, listen to your concerns and do some drawings for you.

I will try and do a blue print.

The load bearing wall is the one with the range along it.

The door leads to the back deck,so will need to work around it.I feel stuck on options to move things around because of the door. All appliances staying and would prefer to keep peninsula. I just don't see any other options of different kitchen set up with the amount of space I have to work with.

Will the fridge and range fit on the load-bearing wall? I'd get the fridge out of that corner, closer to the DR--and include a trash pull-out in the base cabinetry so there is more space at the end of the peninsula.

Definitely planning on doing a pull-out trash cam. Yes,the fridge could probably go on same wall as range,but you may not be able to see it well but there is a "pass through "into the LV. I am concerned if we close that wall the LV will seem even smaller/closed in than it does now.

Without a floor plan it’s hard to make suggestions. A few thoughts - what about a round dining table tucked closer to the bay window? You may be able to get a slightly longer run of cabinets and be able to bump the peninsula further into the dining area.

How old Are your kids? I see a step stool, but the rooms don’t scream “small children.” Any shot of relocating some of the school activities to another part of the house - if not now, a couple years into the future?

This probably isn't done right or done well but here is somewhat a floor plan

I feel like we just don't have alot of wiggle room to lose space in kitchen or dining room and not living room either. With 6 people and hosting things in our home often, I need to keep the space,maximize storage and have good efficiency. Moving to a bigger home is not an option. We know we want ceiling height uppers and likely deep drawers for lower cabinets. I am just to figure out is there any reasonable option for a different layout.

You’re smart to be really honest in on maximizing storage without compromising any one area. It’s challenging, but worth it! Could you possibly make your uppers a tad deeper?

That is one thing I thought about was deeper uppers!

I swear, the extra inch of depth coupled with newer frameless design has made our new uppers much roomier!