organization in the newer bottom freezer style helps with food storage. In the cabinets...if they are going to stay you can get rollouts ...[chrome or wood look] ...to help the space organization for the pots/pans/dishes etc..... what else do you mean by space?? altho older the kitchen seems pretty decent ..new flooring might help ..replace the older carpet and kitchen floor ...I think I would......and of course the wallpaper and lighting are issues.

newer fridge will help store food more easily.....you can add the rollouts inside the cabinets shown below if you want better use of the cabinets.

Covetable Kitchen - Naperville, IL · More Info

Roll-Out Shelves · More Info

Roll-Out Shelves · More Info

Are you doing a renovation or reorganizing the current space? Do you need more storage space, more walking around space, more counterspace? What is your budget for the fix?

Agree with Buehl's ideas. That wallpaper strip really makes the kitchen look small by defining the area. The refrigerator sticks out too much. Removing the post (wrong color and style) and cabinets above peninsula will make your kitchen appear larger, and you will stop banging your head on them. The soffit should really be flush with the cabinets instead of jutting out, but that is a bigger issue than you might wish to tackle.

Is this a seller's photo? Are you just moving in? Or have you been there for a while?

Try uploading photos of the cabinet interiors with open doors, turning on all the lights.

I like @Buehl’s suggestions. Can the soffit above the peninsula be easily removed? Perhaps updated lighting?

Start with the budget that you can dedicate to this, right now. And the future potential budget, for a complete gut and redo. Then inventory your tools and skills, for sweat equity. Some people would have already removed those hanging cabinets above the peninsula and stripped the wallpaper and popcorn ceilings.

Some thoughts... Upgrade your lighting and add under cabinet lighting. That will give the room a more spacious feel. Consider upgrading your outdated double bowl sink with a drop in workstation single bowl sink. Consider removing the wallpaper on the soffits. If budget allows, remove the soffits and suspend the peninsula cabinets with a much smaller system.

OP hasn't returned -

If you're just looking for storage ideas rather than actually doing a renovation - go through your cabinets/drawers and purge all the stuff that are duplicates, seldom used (and store elsewhere if possible), way past due dates, gone stale, etc. And then reorganize for how you actually use the kitchen

IMO no response form the OP gets no help .

We are just moving in and we are still work out a budget.

My thoughts are removing the softit and the wall by the fridge also take the small peninsula and put the fridge there .

If you're just moving in.. I would wait and see how you use the space - after prepping/cooking etc. in the space for several months you will figure out if you need more prep space or more storage space or a different layout enitrely - congrats on the house!

taking out a wall...removing a peninsula....changing appliance locations ...You are talking about a renovation. You have to be careful with 1978 cabinets [45 yrs old...soon to be 50] With those kinds of adjustments which become involved , and somewhat costly you want to be sure you will get everything set for the next 20 years or more. the cabinets need to be replaced then. Get a kitchen designer or take your measurements to Ikea since you are listing the goals already.

Here is an up date on the house

Good luck with your remodel!

Best of luck! Can't wait to see it finished.

Are you doing it yourself?

Most of it we are doing it ourselves and friends

Most of it we are doing it ourselves and friends

Here is an update we are so close but so many small thing to finish up