We have a very small cottage kitchen and I'd love some ideas about cabinet design to get the most storage space. Our L-shape counter is only 8 ft. on the side where the dishwasher and double sink are (under a window) -- by 7 ft., where the range is. The floor space is about 5 ft. across to an 11 ft. wall which contains a doorway, a recessed refrigerator, and a door to the basement. There's also a door to the backyard on the opposite (window) side, and another doorway to a parlor at the end of the kitchen (where I took the picture from). So there's virtually no space for additional cabinets, but I wonder if updated ones might offer something more than I have now.

The whole kitchen thing started out really with a desire for a bigger range. The current one is only 24" wide, and it needs to be moved away from the doorway. I'd like to replace it with a standard-size 30" (and keep our 30" microwave over it). Moving it over, however, will mean eliminating a base cabinet with wide drawers where I store pots and pans.

The corner of the L now has upper and lower angled corner cabinets (with lazy susans), and an angled counter. I'm thinking of squaring off the counter and using one of the new "blind corner" cabinet systems on the bottom -- perhaps even a system with three shelving units in it, if there is such a thing? -- to utilize the under-counter space better. I'd also love ideas about how best to arrange the top cabinets. It would be great to add a pull-out trash bin somewhere on the bottom and a shelf for the toaster oven somewhere up above. But as you can see, space is at a premium.

We'll probably end up replacing the cabinets, the tile backsplash, counter, and flooring, in addition to the range and refrigerator. (Think I can do that for $15,000?)

I'd appreciate any suggestions and have posted a drawing of the layout and a photo to the link below. (I don't see a way to embed them in this message.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Photobucket