We need to have a to scale floor plan of the whole space as it is empty . Every window , doorway where those lead all marked Every measurement clearly marked I am not sure what the arches wil be there for for so maybe a x where you plan those .This is often easier to do on graph paper . The sizes of your appliances is always helpful and how many cooks will be in the kitchen most of the time . Post the plan in jpeg fromat here ina comment DONOT start another post on this spac e. Waht is in the bump out at the bottom right of the last pic .

so you either jog around the bump to the right of dishwasher w counter/ cabs ..maybe add a peninsula .....or restore the counter space you removed in that same middle area with a "work island" ....drawers of course.....The wall you removed defined the hallway where there are other openings to ? what rooms? ...its still a traffic lane....so that is no different....what is the area furthur down/ under the ceiling fan?? the fridge has been moved..one improvement anyway....what are the new opportunities for layout/ use of space? what do you want? you need to show all the measurements etc. and include adjacent areas.. Youll need a designer.....dont do any more "work" on the space until you have specefic plan mapped out. You will get general ideas on Houzz

Island for cooking on or island for seating too? Are you keeping the current appliances? Do you want a range hood that vents outside (maybe the current one does?)

You will get excellent feedback if you include a sketch and all measurements.

Get rid of the black hideous backsplash, and stainless and go with WHITE appliances and a light colored wall. Get rid of the plastic fake-wood floor and use real wood, or VCT tile. Remove the microwave over the stove and put on a counter - it is difficult to lift a large hot bowl or plate from that high up. Remove the ceiling fan - you do not want dust blowing around in the kitchen. Put the wall back in next to the hallway so you can put a counter on that wall.

As requested a measured floor plan is needed. Also pictures from father back so we can see where 'the kitchen ends' in relation to where you are standing in the pictures. Also pics from the othe angle so from fridge to where you are standing in pic two. From what we see now it certainly won't be a large island and won't be one you sit at. Do you have any inspiration pics of the kitchen you would like?

The other lesson to heed is wait before doing any major work on a new to you space . You will qickly start to see what makes you carzy so start there , Removing that wall gains you nothing in fact you have now lost counter space . This will be agalley kitchen unless you bump out that exterior wall so no island ever . Stop now before you really make a mess . FYI no white appliances sine every maker has a different white and you should not buy all appliances from one maker IMO. That is why plain old stainless is still the best choice . Galley kitchens are very functional but need good planning .

My bit of advice is to pause and slow down. Before you do anything else it is time to get a plan together. As a new homeowner I wouldn’t want to take this on alone and would want help to get it right. For us that was an Ike’s kitchen using their third party install team. A designer came to our house, which had a wall down like yours, because we knew we were going to do that no matter what. They then worked with us on a plan that fit the space and our needs and we were off. You don’t need to use ikea and Im sure many will bash it, but you need a well thought out plan.

You came to Houzz a little late in the game. The default Houzz advice to new homeowners wanting to change the kitchen is not to tear down a wall but to live with it for 6-12 months to see what works and what doesn't. Agree with everyone else, stop what you're doing without a professional plan. By removing the wall, you can't even do something like this:

Start an Ideabook for "Galley Kitchen" to get an idea about how to approach a galley kitchen There are basic principles about organizing kitchens regardless of whether they're galley, U-shape, square, large or small. An island in any kitchen requires a minimal amount of clearance, which you don't have. Thinking about adding arches is so beside the point without a working plan. That's why everyone is saying to slow down.

This space still looks tight for an island. The ref was better next to the bump out - not crammed by the stove. Does that post need to stay?

A floor plan with all dimensions is definitely needed as well as pictures facing the other direction as well.

It is risky to rip out without a plan.

This is what is being asked for - a fully-measured layout of the space under consideration and a sketch of the entire floor. Both can be either hand-drawn, computer generated, or drawn up with computer/app tools.

By "fully-measured", we mean a layout with the widths of each wall/window/door/doorway and the distances between each wall/window/door/doorway labeled. See a sample below. If something cannot be moved or changed, label it precisely on your layout (see post in sample) and tell us why it cannot be moved/changed -- we may have some ideas for you.

The sketch of the entire floor lets us see how the Kitchen relates to the rest of the home. It doesn't have to be to-scale, but it should accurately show how the rooms relate to each other and should include all interior & exterior doors. In addition, it will help us see how traffic flows in, around, and through the Kitchen. Label the front entry and family entry. The family entry is usually a garage or side entry, but it might not be. It's helpful to know which door you use to bring in groceries.

Regardless of how you draw it up (by hand, computer, etc.), please be sure all measurements are labeled. (Note: Computer generated layouts often lack key measurements and, sometimes, measure to/from things like the middle of a wall or the middle of a window. Neither are useful. Measure each item and the distances between each item.)

Other questions...

• Tell us about you and your family and how you plan to use your Kitchen. Single? All-adults? Empty Nesters? Children (now or in the future)?
• What appliances (& their sizes) do you plan to have?
• Where are you flexible? Can walls/windows/doors/doorways change (move, change size, add, delete)? [You've already taken down one wall, where else are you flexible?]
• Do you have a basement under the Kitchen or are you on a slab?

From: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5972404/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-2020-interim

At this time for this space, it's going to be about budget. You need the funds to reconfigure and replace.

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for your suggestions I appreciate the input. It will be just my boyfriend and me living in this home, and we don’t plan to have children or pets. The kitchen will primarily be used for everyday cooking for two, We’re not looking for extensive counter space just enough to prep comfortably and keep things organized.

We plan to keep our current appliances, though we’re open to updates if needed. I would like the keep the layout but We’re with layout changes, including moving or resizing walls and doorways. The kitchen is located above a basement, which provides additional flexibility for plumbing adjustments.
we’ll be updating all lighting to matte white LED canless recessed downlights.

Here are additional pictures

It appears a peninsula was removed to 'open the space up'. Now you will add back same function in an island but by not attaching it.... ok Can't say I comprehend your vision by knocking a hall wall out... We will be very curious to see your end result so do circle back when it's all done.

Congrats on your first home. It can be exciting and overwhelming and you are learning along the way.

I'm sorry that you started demo without a plan of action. The previous owners made excellent use of this space aside from the cabinet that jutted out too far where the wall bump out is located.

You would have been fine by just leaving the wall and cutting an archway on the far end by where you have placed the fridge, and leveling off the counter area so it wasn't raised at the opening. You are just going to be rebuilding what was just there.

When you say island, do you mean one with seating or just a set of cabinets and countertop space like what was already there? You do not have enough room for an island with seating along that hallway side. Do you want to preserve the far end of the kitchen for a dining area?

You are keeping all of your appliances, but the fridge sticks out way beyond your cabinets. Is that where you want it to live? Do you have the budget for a counterdepth fridge in here?

I'd get a hood in here with an exterior vent. Is there one currently where the microwave is placed?

Do you have extra matching flooring to fill in where you ripped the flooring up or will you be refinishing all of your floors?

What cabinets are you purchasing and what is your overall budget?

Are your measurements wall-to-wall or from cabs/appliances. We need them wall-to-wall. Measuring to/from cabinets and/or appliances is too imprecise. - inches count! Please re-review the sample layout posted above.

You don't have room for what you want, and you 've already created a semi disaster by removing the wall. It's going to need to go back.

There can be a range of comments on your design. Please don't be put off by any one poster. There can be many solutions to any problem.

The best use of graph paper is to make each square represent a 6" x 6" area of your floorplan. This will make your drawings to scale. Using a ruler to draw lines makes this 'to scale' easier and more accurate. Dimensions that are readable also help. Can you redo your drawings to scale?

I'm interested in the width and depth of the recessed area to the right of the wall that is next to the dishwasher. And the width of the wall with the light switches between that recessed area and the door.

Is the post with the electrical a supporting post or can it be removed? If so, then you should be able to add an island horizontally to the refrigerator and stove. (I think)

debra

My guess is that it felt very constricted when you came up the stairs to have the wall directly in front of you. An idea - Maybe consider moving the kitchen to the area opposite diagonally? And, do you know whats behind/in the bump out?

It is an old brick chimney that is no longer used.

Can you remove the chimney?

The only island that I think might fit is a very small one in the same general space as the cabs you took out, but without actual measurements of the space, I'm not sure. The refrigerator is a major constraint to the width of the island. Is it a counter-depth? If not, can you replace it with a counter-depth or recess it into the back wall and, possibly, the room behind it?