it may be load bearing, but that doesn't mean you have to have full sheetrocked walls to hold up the beams/headers. You can have posts to support the load and can incorporate a design with a more open concept.

Have you discussed this with a contractor?

I would utilize the dining area for cabinets and storage.

So no walls can be removed??

I like small kitchens. They can be really great to work in.

Assuming the kitchen “wall” is actually load bearing, you could

1. remove the lower wall below the opening that faces the hallway. This would open the kitchen up, allow circulation, relieve the boxed in feeling.

2. also remove the lower wall below the opening that faces the dining area.

3. remove the excess drywall that is building up the two posts at the corner of the kitchen and at the passage by refrigerator, shrink those to just the structural posts, either expose and finish the wood post or sheath it in prettier wood. Less bulk, warmer look, leaning into the honest function. Make the structural member a statement.

4. while you’re at it, figure out if the post by the refrigerator is structural. If not, then remove it. I’m thinking only the corner post is load-bearing.

5. now expand the counter between the posts to extend beyond the kitchen wall, about a foot into the dining area. If budget constrains, don’t use granite; butcherblock would look great with the exposed wood posts. Use cabinets back to back to replace the storage lost in step 1. This expanded counter is effectively your island.

I had a similar situation at one point in my life and opened up the kitchen. You most likely need a column on the corner, cover the beam with wood and make it into a decorative style that coordinates with your kitchen (looks like it's shaker). I don't have dimensions but I think you'd be able to extend the counter on the hallway side.

like this

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. The problem is that these two walls that I marked in red can't be removed. And there is not enough space to make the left opening into an entrance.

What you are saying as "walls that cannot be removed", I suspect are probably only structural columns inside the walls that cannot be removed and beams across the top that cannot be moved. The drywall around them can likely be removed. Doing so would allow you to open up the "windows" so they are really large and the kitchen no longer feels like a puppet show theater. :)

On my drawing the green are columns that would stay and the white is the areas around the columns that could be removed. This includes removing the little granite ledges so they are level with your countertops inside the kitchen.

Are your appliances still functioning? If so, I'd not buy new appliances now, not change light fixtures, and not add height to be baseboard. Instead, I'd invest in ripping out all of the excess drywall and finishing the beams and columns to be as slender as possible. This will also require moving the light switch, and could have some other impacts on where what is left in your kitchen lands.

You will have a much more open kitchen and in time can save for new appliances, lighting, and baseboard rehab.

Sorry, I just saw this is exactly what @lisedv is recommending with a much better picture.

Have you talked to a structural engineer or a really good contractor? Ask them to tell what columns you would need and where if you removed the window openings and had the space open.

Again, walls don't support the beams on the ceiling. Posts inside the walls do.

with the limitations, I would focus on keeping it clean and clutter free, with nothing on those raised counters - you could add a fabulous wallpaper in the kitchen and dining room to connect the spaces - then I’d focus on making the dining area terrific

I would definitely ask the contractor for clarification on which of the walls are load bearing. It seems less likely that both are, but maybe they are. Looking at the image, it seems like there is a beam that runs along the counter and then into the dining area, which seems like that's the load bearing beam / wall that cannot be easily removed.

If it's just that one beam, I would ask if you can remove these posts and headers, but still keep the lower drywall and countertop. I think any more opening would be helpful.

Just remember, its a small kitchen, and by removing walls, you will be losing a lot of cabinet space, and storage and countertops. Personally, because of the counters and storage, I would leave it just like it is, even though, its not ideal.

It's a basic galley kitchen in an apartment, correct? why do you need any openings except the doorway? I'd drywall over those two "windows" and stop worrying about it not being spacious. I had a smaller galley kitchen in an apartment and it was perfectly functional with no openings except the doorway.

No cabinets hanging on the spots prickly marked, and you can have the same amount of countertop space.

Why do you want to change the baseboards? They look perfectly proportional to the small size of the rooms and the ceiling height. Won’t taller baseboards just make the ceiling look even lower then it already does with that deep header beam spanning across the entire space? I would not waste money on something that will make such a minimal difference and not for the better, imho. 😬 I would save the money to fix the function of the kitchen. Of course, with a limited budget right now, that might involve waiting a couple of years to save up more $.

Is this a condo? I was just wondering, since there are no windows on the right side wall or back wall. I assume the front entry is by the living room at the bottom of the photo?

What is the room/hallway behind the fridge wall? I see a doorway to the right of the fridge, before the dishwasher.

Before you do anything to the kitchen openings, I would ask your contractor whether or not it would be possible at some point to move the sink and DW under one of the openings and to center the range on the back wall. At least then you’ll know if that is something that could happen after you saved more money.

I cannot imaging being stuck with the Cleanup, Main Prep (usually next to the sink) and Cooking Zone all crammed together on that back wall. The dining room entryway is directly behind the person cooking at the stove. You will need to carefully side-step past the cook so as not to bump them. That is an accident waiting to happen. The other entry will be completely blocked anytime you have the dishwasher door open. How annoying is that!?

I realize that moving plumbing, gas line, etc, is not going to be a cheap fix. It might not even be possible if this is a condo with units above or below. However, I would still ask your contractor about it.

If the layout changes are possible, I would hold off doing anything more beside finishing up what looks to be the bathroom remodel. I would not even buy a new SS Fridge and Stove if the existing white ones are working fine. The white appliances look fine, even with the DW being stainless. They tie in nicely with the white cabinets, and the sink faucet and cabinet pulls match the stainless dw.

The place looks fresh and clean and move in ready. Once you decorate with your furniture, pictures on the walls, pretty things in the glass cabinets, plants, etc… it will look great! Live with the kitchen layout as is for at least 6 months. If it works fine for you, great, then look into making the improvements to the openings to make it feel more open. If the layout drives you crazy, like it would me, then I would wait until you have the money to redo the whole kitchen, including moving the sink and stove, new cabinets, countertops, etc… Just my two cents.

The walls marked in red can mostly be removed. There is either a single post behind the drywall, or a few studs that can be replaced with a single post and header.

What do you mean the opening is not large enough for a passage? It looks plenty wide enough. Granted, there are no measurements provided.

Ok... what is all of this drama about? I need Cliffs notes... because I just. can’t. read through all of it. :)

Personally, I am a closed concept fan. Also, I wish I had your intimate galley kitchen. In my current apt, I have to walk about a quarter of a mile from the sink to the refrigerator (and back).

Beautiful granite, btw.

I would just keep a beautiful flower arrangement on one of the “window/cut-out” counters and call it a day. If you like the idea but don’t want to buy flowers all the time, you could instead use a plant or some silk flowers. Any plant or flowers that you like. If you need more light for a plant, there are grow lights/grow bulbs.

https://petals.com/faux-orchids-heliconia-tropical-flower-arrangement/?sku=FLA799-MP&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22637581866&gbraid=0AAAAAD9Q8HFALwcgzq_ZL8yKGe3T0suTn&gclid=CjwKCAjwpMTCBhA-EiwA_-MsmaGGO7H79s-gzJ6XpXu3YIEWsN7FDdrBo82SKsQBq1HxYADyX8csMhoC54MQAvD_BwE