You're dedicating incredibly valuable counter space to a much much more than is needed sink. A 24" or even 18" interior width sink would give you all the practicality you need for cleanup/prep. You can help with 28 or 30" deep counters on at least the sink side run for more task square inches. Induction slide-in range from Frigidaire or Bosch.

I think your choices are great. except for the cherry. I'd do a natural walnut or natural white oak. or even a bamboo

I would however, remove the plantation shutters. they're nice, but totally cut off the light.

I'd do a simple roman shade.

will you be keeping the trash bin outside or can you fit that under the sink somewhere? any chance of moving the sink under the window and getting a U shape kitchen?

Hi dan1888, thanks for your input. The beauty of this sink is that it also functions as prep area, which I think will work well for me to keep water and prep debris off the countertop. I really need improved functionality , which I think this sink will afford.

Do you have a photo of the cabinets your considering?

I think removing the plantation shutters and a good lighting plan will help with your concerns about darkness.

Bosch offers more than stainless.

I could be wrong, but I thought they only offered stainless in the 30 inch induction slide-in...

This is one of my favorite kitchen reveals. Brooklyn Galley. In case you want additional inspiration. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/brooklyn-galley-kitchen-finished-not-white-dsvw-vd~2626772

Thanks for the comments about the shutters...that’s a north window and with the shutters in open position I get just about as much light as I can get from that window. I’m posting another pic that shows the side opposite the sink is a pass through to the living/dining area. So I do get some light from there also.

BethH. I think you’re right. When I look at the wood samples next to the countertop samples, the darker wood really makes the Taj Mahal and Lusso pop, but installed in my kitchen the lighter wood may work better overall.

Here's your cherry.

natural walnut

Rift Sawn white oak

I love this combo, or just the wood on the lowers.

White Oak.

BethH, I can’t change my white tile floors now, and really want whiteish countertops...can I do these light cabs with white floor and white counter? And will the copper sink pop? Thanks

Bethh, I’m probably going to put the trash in a pull out in the cabinet left of the sink, under where the dish drainer is.

so you want your sink to be the star? I have a copper sink too. remember, the copper will darken and patina within a month. (oh, and make sure you get a 14 gauge copper, not the 16 or 18 gauge junk)

you have a tiny space. If you want to do the cherry, I'd do a white quartz, your sink, and pick a cool backsplash.

if you want the Taj, I'd do the white oak, or something less dark than the cherry.

I Love the rift sawn white oak

I agree with Beth, no need to totally cut off the window unless you have your coffee in your skivvies and even then, you can always put in a roller shade behind whatever curtain treatment.

And speaking of curtain treatments, are you one of those people who never come to the kitchen unless you have your robe on?

Because if so, maybe you only need a valance that is attractive and you don't need to block the light at all. I don't know what is on the other side and if you feel you need privacy.

I would keep a large sink, small sinks are worthless to me as far as prep and clean up. As is I get water all over the place anyway!

Now, I am going to say something that is not what you asked about at all, and it is from one small kitchen owner to another.

It looks like you cook a lot, and you have a lot of paraphernalia to do it.

I can't see your entire kitchen, but I am wondering if you mightn't benefit from extending your cabinets all the way to the ceiling.

Can you build a cabinet over your refrigerator?

A shelf over the window? (If there is a clock there, you can stick the clock onto a cabinet front, or buy a much smaller one and affix a magnet to the back and put it on the front of the refrigerator.

Instead of using valuable real estate in your cabinets for your pots and pans, can you get a hanging pot rack for them, so that some of the things that are out can go in cabinets?

Can you build a cabinet or shelf over your doors for more storage?

More efficiently use the wall on which you have put the bakers rack for storage that fgoes right up to the ceiling, and have a place in it to hold your step ladder.

Over your counters on both sides you can put up wall units such as IKEA's for storage of all sorts of things to leave more space on your counters and in your drawers.

Can you utilize the inside of your cupboard doors for more storage?

https://cutediyprojects.com/organizing-ideas/36-dollar-store-kitchen-organization-hacks-you-can-pull-off-like-a-childs-play/

https://www.thekitchn.com/the-21-best-storage-ideas-for-small-kitchens-250395

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/small-kitchen-storage-organization-213495

that's why I asked if OP could put the sink under the window and gain more space. Can you do a U shape?

Isn't this a condo or a co-op?

Can all that plumbing be redone?

I've heard they make you dance on your head for permission for every little thing and they still say no.

Thank you for all your ideas! I so much appreciate you taking the time to do this! And you have fabulous ideas!

We have no privacy, our homes are so close together. (Live on Oahu where land is scarce and neighborhoods are dense). DH doesn’t like curtains open at all, so we have only shutters and blinds.

Vaulted ceiling ...I don’t know if you can hang a pot rack, but it would need to house a light too, but most of my cookware is Le Creuset...not sure the would want to hang those. They’re heavy.

Fridge is under a staircase, so can‘t put a cab over it. Nowhere to move the fridge, either. I could possibly put a cabinet where the bakers rack is, but it would have to be no bigger than the rack because there’s an exterior door on the left (it’s the entrance from the carport) and a small pantry closet door on the right.

I’m going to add 9 inches to the cab height, but can’t do all the way to ceiling because the ceiling is vaulted.

I could put put a cab or shelf over the window...good idea.

I’ll look into racks on wall between counter and wall cabs. That might help a bit. Also, inside of cab doors. That’s a great Idea.

You have given me more things to think about, Thanks!

Can you sketch out the floor plan and show how this all fits together? I'm wondering if you can eliminate the pass through and create an L shaped kitchen open to the living room instead. I doubt you sit there to eat, do you?

Beth, I thought about making a u shape and putting sink under window. I would have to remove the shutters because the faucet would prevent me from opening the shutters. That’s the street facing side and all the windows have shutters, so I’d also need to think about how removing them would change the looks of the house.

Loobab, it’s a single family home so no HOA.

Benjesbride, I would love to be able to change the interior, but this whole 3-bedroom, 2-bath house is only 1100 sf and a lot of that is taken up by the stairs to the upstairs bedroom. Our whole lot is 3300 sf, so there’s really no way to change the interior layout or expand. It’s the price of island living, LOL! The other side of the pass through is our small dining table, it’s a very small dining/living area. Nowhere else to put the table. I could eliminate The pass through, but I really need that cab and counter space, and nowhere to really make the L shape. The front door is literally right next to the dining table, so i have to leave that area open, which means no place to build the L.

DH and I have thought long and hard about just buying a bigger house, but we really don’t want to take on a mortgage and we love our neighborhood. It’s a little private dead end road and most of us have been here 20+ years. It’s just the two of us so we’re already living in the kind of house people downsize to!

My current house is 1200. I totally rearranged the floorplan to improve it. You’d be surprised what can be done! Please post a sketch of your floor plan.

I have personally never really liked dark cabinets in a kitchen. They just feel gloomy and sad and a kitchen should always be inviting and lighter cabinets give the appearance of a larger space. There are some very nice pictures and suggestions folks have shared, I like the bamboo cabinets. You might do a little research on bamboo. I know it has some very good qualities but not sure how costly it is and I think you can get varying shades. There are some really nice looks folks have shared, and great suggestions too.

This is an example of a Parisian type of kitchen with open glass shelving.

Perhaps you might consider this type of shelving to take the place of the upper cabinets between the kitchen and the dining room ?

Parisian glass shelving isn't the same kind of workhorse as the cabinets, but it still does add shelving for your plates, etc and it opens up the kitchen, brings in a lot of light and creates sight-lines into the dining room. I think your kitchen could really benefit from with open shelving.

This also has the benefit of adjusting to your vaulted ceiling. Something to consider.

Also- that kitchen window ? You could have your new cabinets wrap around under the window and you could also put a set of Parisian glass shelves to "block" the window (and remove the plantation shutters). The Parisian glass shelves could be another place where you could store/display fancy china, teapots and porcelain vases. It would still allow the window to function, letting the light in while adding valuable storage space.

Here is a layout similar to your current cabinet layout

Oh Annie....to live in Hawai’i again!! Grew up on Oahu (Waipahu, Ewa Beach,then lower Manoa area). Keep the kitchen as light as possible. Can you tear down those cabinets over the passthrough? We did that in our Florida condo (smaller than what you have) and have never missed that storage. Built-in a buffet on other side, so storage moved up high to down low. If its only the 2 of you, its manageable. I have found such freedom in downsizing, only wish we had done it sooner. Post pix when pau!

If you can afford it, replace the window with a larger, taller one.

If you can afford it, replace the window with a larger, taller one.

Beth H, hey, I just looked at your profile. Such a small world...I lived in Rowland Heights when I was 11 and 12, and lived in Hacienda Heights from 12 to 15. of course, that was in the 1960’s, long before you were born, I think. LOL!

I gave a lot of thought to what you said and I think something like this is the way I’ll go. Except mine is smaller of course, and I’ll have cabinet hardware.

FWIW, I have a small kitchen which is dark since it is at the back end of my condo with no window.

Personally I find the issue of light in a kitchen to be a non-issue since I spend quite a lot of time in my kitchen when there is no sun so adequate lighting for the kitchen is what matters to me.

My old gutted kitchen was light pink with gray counters which were relatively "light" choices and it had no impact on my needing artificial electric light for tasks. I didn't find the kitchen to be dark and depressing but I don't really like direct sunlight anyway as I prefer northern exposures or eastern exposures after the sun has risen enough so that I no longer need to block direct rays of sun.

That said in my current remodel I opted for caramel medium stained quarter sawn white oak cabinets with copper sink and copper ceiling and Black Galaxy counter. I installed loads of canned over head lights and also under the cabinet lights. I added up lights on my soffits to illuminate the copper coved ceiling for a bit of wow bling factor.

You could bring more light into your kitchen if you did all or part of the upper cabinets in your pass-through like these:

The above all show white painted cabinets but there's no reason that you couldn't do this with stained wood cabinets.

Laurie Tillet, Aloha! I’ve lived in Mililani, Pearlridge, Manoa, Kailua and Kaneohe. I‘ve lived in Kaneohe 23 years. Thanks for your suggestions. I thought about taking down the upper cabs over the pass through, but in order to build a buffet on the othher side, I would have to eliminate the dining table, LOL. The chair DH prefers is literally bumping up against the countertop on the pass through. This photo shows the room from the other side. I am standing right in front of the sofa, about 3-1/2 feet from the wall on the other side of the room. What is visible in this photo is about 65-70% of the dining/living room, so not really space to move the table very much.

Helen, would love to see pics of your kitchen!

Are you short on storage? Would creating a banquette bench against the pass-through cabinets solve that and the chair bumping issue at the same time?

Here are examples. Your table's orientation would stay the same, not turned 90 degrees like 2 of these examples show.

I recommend orienting the drawers to open out the front, not sides of the bench, like this:

Wow, I‘m so glad I queried this group! What a lot of really fabulous ideas and photos. I’m amazed at how willing you all are to help and offer suggestions!

I haven‘t really thought lighting in my kitchen is a problem. The photos I posted were taken with the overhead lights off. I think with what I have to work with in terms of budget and space, I will go with light stained cabs and light countertop/backsplash, but not change the footprint. I think I will add over-cabinet lighting though.

annie oakley,,,lol. small world. and yes, I'm that old! i remember the 60's well. I moved here in 85 from cerritos. I had a horse at my friends house in rowland heights and we used to ride all over the hills. now they're all homes and streets. you wouldn't recognize what they've done here. my DH is from Hacienda Heights though. he went to Wilson High.

since it's just the two of you, decide what you really want. if you can swing the sink around and take down that row of cabs into the dining area, it would open up the space quite a bit. as for window coverings, there are blinds that stay down but allow plenty of light to come through and still give you privacy. silhouette or pirouette blinds. (they come in white too)

Beth, yes, when I was 11-12 I used to run free up in those hills, it was safe in those days. There weren’t many homes around, we had moved into a new house on Carretta street. it was somewhat rural in those days. Took the school bus to Newton Jr High.

those are good ideas about the shades.

Lisa A, thanks for the bench suggestion. That’s a good idea.

annie,,how funny. I know that street. my friend lived on Pepperdale. (I still live about 2 miles from there) remember the very rural road that took you over into brea canyon near the 57? well all of that area was razed, hills were 'modified', and thousands of homes went in. the little stable they had on the corner went bye-bye, and 20K people moved in! lol. it's bad.

you should google earth it. your jaw will drop

or the countertops and backsplash I’m thinking of going with Sensa Taj Mahal granite or Silestone Lusso which are both white/cream/grey with coppery accents.

I think white countertops in a small space are exactly right ... and those are lovely choices with a warm feel.

My preference would be something related-but-not-more-countertop for the backsplash. A simple shaped tile in the same creamy-white as the countertop.

My question is, do you think the tall and dark cabinets cabinets will make the space too dark and claustrophobic?

I'd go with medium-tone instead of dark-dark, and -- yes -- definitely take them to the ceiling -- 1) in such a small space, you want a calm, overall cohesive look, and failing to take the cabinets to the ceiling will interrupt that look. 2) it'll give you more closed storage.

This is one of my favorite kitchen reveals. Brooklyn Galley. In case you want additional inspiration. [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/brooklyn-galley-kitchen-finished-not-white-dsvw-vd~2626772[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/brooklyn-galley-kitchen-finished-not-white-dsvw-vd~2626772)

WOW, they did a great job with a tiny kitchen! Love it, love it, love it.

Here's your cherry.

I'd prefer a step lighter, but this is a lovely wood tone.

I think I like the slab doors ... again, because it's such a small space, you need to stay simple.

This pix brings up another question: In such a small space, I think you might want smaller, less prominent door pulls.

And will the copper sink pop? Thanks

I don't see the copper sink fitting into this project. I'd say go with an off-white sink to blend with the countertop ... or stainless steel to match appliances. But no copper. In such a small space, you run the risk of being overwhelmed with "too much".

We have no privacy, our homes are so close together. (Live on Oahu where land is scarce and neighborhoods are dense). DH doesn’t like curtains open at all, so we have only shutters and blinds.

Instead of the plantation shutters, could you replace the glass with some sort of privacy glass -- something that would allow in light without sacrifice of privacy?

I would keep a large sink, small sinks are worthless to me as far as prep and clean up.

Totally agree. No item in your kitchen works harder than your sink, and a big one is worth the space it demands. You can always pop a cutting board on top of it to have more counterspace. Get the biggest sink you can -- at least 30", even though your kitchen is small.

You could bring more light into your kitchen if you did all or part of the upper cabinets in your pass-through like these:

Love this idea. More light = more better!

Taking it one more step ... I remember eating in my great-great-great aunt's house when I was a child. She had glass-front cabinets that opened on both sides; that is, she could put dishes in from the kitchen side ... and take them out on the dining room side. I always loved that.

I suspect such cabinets would be expensive, but you have the perfect spot for them.

I'm impressed that you can keep that white carpeting in such beautiful shape!

LOL, and believe it or not, this carpet is 15 years old, but no babies around for about 10 years. I can’t wait to get rid of it, maybe next year. First things first. When I do, it will be 20 inch square whitish porcelain tiles, with almost zero grout line. Can’t wait! Would like a new grand baby, though, LOL!

Just wanted to say that the uppers separating the kitchen from the dining room.....replacing them with some type of see-through cabinet or glass shelving would really make the space light and airy.

When you do change out your cabinets, give some thought about the wood tone and how its going to look with the wood on the stairs.....since they are so close together

that's actually a good idea. if you must keep those uppers, doing a see through (like the white ones above) or doing a type of that french shelving where it's open, would give you your storage, but keep it from feeling closed off from the dining area.

Here's another way to look at your kitchen. This is obviously more involved, removing a wall and changing electrical. It'll help increase natural light into the kitchen and increase openness between the kitchen and the rest of your living space. The space under the stairs becomes all storage.

Your dining set would need to scoot toward to the stair , probably with a banquette or upholstered bench against the stair wall.

following

Came here to say this:

if you must keep those uppers, doing a see through (like the white ones above) or doing a type of that french shelving where it's open, would give you your storage, but keep it from feeling closed off from the dining area.

Perfect opportunity for this, after seeing your POV into the kitchen from the dining area.

I'd even consider a double-stack of upper cabinets in that divider bar if they were white or another light finish that avoided seeming bulky. With glass doors on both sides - or even doors that mimic the look of your plantation shutters - and some dimmable LED inter-cabinet lighting, you'd have a beautiful, enclosed (and dust-free) display space that draws the eye up.

Fairway Style, very intriguing idea about doors that mimic the shutter...