Galley kitchen in classic colonial

12 years ago

Since Houzzers were very helpful providing advice on how to improve the exterior/curb appeal of a classic colonial we've just purchased, decided to post another dilemma. Thanks in advance!

Need some advice on how to improve the functionality and style of the kitchen.
The kitchen is galley style featuring a double wall oven, cooktop and small eat in area.

Main complaints: 1)feels small, 2) very dated, 3) not enough storage

Questions:
- should we remove the eat-in area to expand the kitchen for more counter space and cabinets?
- should we paint the cabinets? If so what color?
- in a classic home, should we open the kitchen into the into dining room to make a large open space?

Featured Answer

PRO

LB Interiors

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

I would not remove the wall between the kitchen and the dinette. That will give you a more elongated kitchen and it will feel like a bowling alley. Especially, if you will be keeping the cabinetry next to the table. Costly changes. I think you need the division between the two spaces for the above reason.

If you do not need the eat in space, the only way to get more storage is to add more cabinetry in that space too. However, the center of the eating area floor space will be wasted and has no purpose. It would look like an add on as an extra pantry and cabinet space.

I have a galley kitchen. It looks about the same size as yours. I have raised two children with lots of cooking without a double oven. Had numerous dinner parties and many Holiday dinners serving 15-20 guests for a lot of years. I suggest you try to find items in the cabinets that do not get a lot of use.

Many times we have things, forget about them, and never use them. If I can not fit everything that I really need in the cabinets that I have, I don't add anything more or give it away. Sometimes we just collect things. It looks like you have plenty of cabinetry along with the cabinets in the eat in space.

To work with what you have, I would add some glass panels in the upper door panels in the main kitchen. It will visually widen the space. If in fact you may have enough cabinets, maybe you can eliminate the upper cabinets in the eat in area. If not. Add glass doors there also. The glass can be semi opaque. There are all different styles available.

To make the eat in space feel larger, remove all the shelving at the window. That will widen the space. That unit is closing in on you. Paint the eat in space a darker color to add difference. It will stop the eye from continuing throughout the entire length. Hope this helps.

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Comments (14)

PRO
User
12 years ago
1. yes open it up to nook space. 2. take out wall oven and put in regular over so much more storage right there. this is a big job! you need a contractor and an over haul.
danienick
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the tips. I'm considering keeping double wall ovens style. I think it adds to the look of the kitchen.
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PRO
Ku Interior Design
12 years ago
Even though you have an older home, I would say you could open it to the dining room. However, if you decide against that, I would definitely remove the wall between the kitchen and breakfast nook. That will go along way towards making your kitchen feel larger. Either way, you'll need to think about new cabinets because one you remove a wall the configuration will need to change.
PRO
Savvi design inc
12 years ago
Tearing down a wall can be costly depending on what's in them. Is your basement finished??
mveasey
12 years ago
Could you clarify: is the eat in kitchen and the dining room the same space? If not, please provide a photo in correlation to the kitchen. Thanks!
mveasey
12 years ago
Do you eat in the kitchen a lot? Are you an avid baker? I think the issue at the moment is the fact that the black wall oven unit is so center and sort of sticks out like a sore thumb. If you bake a lot and do not want to take out the opening into the eat in area, you could have the stacked oven unit further down, right behind the wall, in your current eat in area. That would open up space around your stove.
I think I would paint your cabinets. I would remove the shelving around the window on the left in the eating nook and run countertop under the window with barstools underneath.
If you take out the table and the chairs your kitchen will look very long - galley style. If you are brave you could paint your beautiful bay window area an exciting or matching colour, other than white, that will create an optical illusion that the space is not as deep. Other option is to have a tiny round bistro table with four chairs where the current tale is now, or even closer to the bay window.
What style/colour speaks to you?
PRO
Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
12 years ago
Where is your dining room in relation to the kitchen and the eat in area ?

Is it beyond the eat in area, behind that paneling with the small windows ?

What is behind those panels with the small windows ? Can you change those to French doors with full glass panels ? That would open up the room quite a bit.

Another thought is to open up the window wall in the eat in area. Remove the built ins and put in a full length French door or tall casement windows......Is that a radiator below the window ? You may have to install a radiator below the floor in that room.......

The kitchen and the eat in area will look larger if you can remove the wall between the two spaces. Also, if you put slide in ovens below the counter, under the range, you can use the space where the existing ovens are for a full height pantry with pull out wire basket shelving. You will be amazed at how much storage this provides.
mveasey
12 years ago
Here a few photos...
PRO
LB Interiors
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Just had another thought. You could paint the cabinets in the eat in area white. That would not look so much like cabinets were added as an after thought. You could choose any color for the cabinets as an accent color for the kitchen.

Eat in area ... combinations of blue and white, or black and white or teal and white. Whatever color you like.
danienick
Original Author
12 years ago
Dining room is on the opposite side of the wall containing the double oven and cooktop
mveasey
12 years ago
Thanks for the photo and the clarification.
If you take out the wall into your dining room, we are talking major modifications in the kitchen, electrical, flooring, not mentioning if the wall is load bearing in the first place
mveasey
12 years ago
I think you can get away with working what you have by tweaking it and updating it, unless you have your mind and $$$ set on a major change. How long have you had and worked in this kitchen now? It does give a better idea and perspective to deal with the current to see what you want or do not want in the future.
danienick
Original Author
12 years ago
mveasey - this is a house I just purchased.