Thanks, all. I'll try to answer some questions. First, it is just the two of us adults with no youngsters in the house, so no need for a kid zone separate from the main cooking area. We do not do heavy cooking and only 2-3 times per year will there be more than two cooks working in the kitchen at once. Also, this is essentially a budget reno with Ikea cabs, stone/quartz, backsplash all coming in at $10-12K. The galley layout is staying the same, with appliances staying where they are (except for relocation of the counter-top MW). The layout works great as-is. The long bank of cabinets has an indoor garden on the other side, so is essentially an open galley wall rather than an "island." There will be no seating/access on the opposite side. The wall opposite the large bank in the photo has a 30" range (staying) with 30" of cabs on either side and the fridge. The uppers will be gone. Two reach-in pantries flank that wall. Here is a photo that sort of shows it, absent the pantries: 1) trash pullout. I know this is a great idea for most folks, but we tend to push the garbage to maximum density. Also, we don't mind just pulling the can over to the counter for heavy prep needs. (Yuck, I know, but its how we work!). 2) Warming drawer - there is one in the range. 3) Second sink - I don't think it would get much use, and it would be essentially "next to" the main sink, albeit several feet away - a little odd?. There is a bar sink in the living area for emergencies, although it never gets used. 4) Drink Fridge - this is a strong contender, and would remain useful even if we eventually upgrade to a fridge not manufactured during the Eisenhower administration. There is also the possibility of locating this at the wet bar across the room, but it would be less prominent in the kitchen. *The fridge drawers are nifty, but I don't think the benefits would outweigh the cost for us. 5) Pet feeding center -- I hadn't thought of this. Dog food is now in a tub in a closet near the door (they eat outside). Cat food stays in the room where cat's dish and litter box are. A good idea, but I don't know that it would give us any real increased utility. 6) Cleaning product pullout -- all of this will be in the sink base and should fit there. 7) Extra 4-drawer stack. I've got one planned at the "junk" end of the kitchen, and there will be a lot of "top" drawers elsewhere, so I shouldn't need this. 8) Micro drawer -- this is probably the top contender if we decide to expand the budget a bit, It will get the MW off the counter and out of the pantry. _______________ Thanks so much for the input, fellow kitchen folk!

Thanks Green Designs. I suspected that it may not look quite so fabulous in person. I probably will use barn board in our cottage. And *I think* I want to go with a rustic blonde/Scandi look, so dark petrified wood likely wouldn't be a good fit. But, I think the laminate is kind of neat regardless. I wondered us it could be used as a door somehow. Annkh, the wood you saw sounds incredible. I would see this used more as a backsplash than a counter I think. Coffee table is a good idea.

With a long narrow space, it is usually easier to think about it as two smaller functional areas. You've got the sofa/TV area. You could have a second conversation area, library/reading area, craft area, yoga studio, etc. What do you want or need space for in your home? Smaller apartments or condos often have a long main living area with the kitchen at one end, where you would presumably divide the rest of the room into dining and living areas. Is your space all living area?

I love the light and I can see why you fell in love with it. It has vaguely Art Deco style to it with its ziggurat motif. I actually have a single pendant lamp that reminds me of this although mine is a glass globe and is actually vintage from the 1930's. I recently remodeled and have it hung on one side of my sofa over an end table. It isn't matchy matchy but I wouldn't want it to be. I don't need it particularly for lighting so it is just a decorative element. My mother bought it for me years ago as a present for my first adult apartment and it has traveled with me ever since. Coincidentally I just had it rehung this week and had the electrician install it as part of my Lutron system so that I can turn it on and off through my iphone and also dim it. I have this feature on a number of lights in my home and I love it. It started with my getting it for the sconces in my bedroom since it was crazy to have to get out of bed to operate them but then I found them so functional that the Lutron system expanded to included other lights - especially the ones I realize I had left on after settling cozily in bed like the hall light. Here is a photo of the chandelier I just hung above one end table. The living room isn't finished as I am waiting for the two occasional chairs and coffee table to be arrive. The chairs will be placed under the window. Also excuse the poor quality of the photo as I just snapped it on iphoto and obviously the contrast between exterior lighting and interior lighting didn't make for the greatest photo but you can see how the chandelier works in that position - or at least I think it works. I might add a decorative lamp on the end table on the other side depending as I don't really need strong lighting in the living room. The end tables are also being replaced ETA By saying I don’t need strong lighting what I meant is that I don’t use the area for reading or embroidery or other stuff that needs strong lighting so I only need light for ambient purposes and not for task lighting. That is why I am not sure about adding a table lamp on the other end as I have a chandelier in the dining area which is contiguous and wouid supply strong lighting if i ever needed bright lighting. A table lamp is not a functional necessity that living living area and wouid basically be just a tchotchke. I have two table lamps which I haven’t found a place for yet 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ or I may rehome them as they are lovely or find the perfect lamp for the other side.