Galley Kitchen Remodeling Guide

Remodeling a galley kitchen brings both excitement and challenge. The narrow layout poses issues with storage, workflow, and functionality that require creative solutions. However, a successful redesign can transform these awkward spaces into highly efficient cook spaces.

By implementing strategic changes, you can maximize every inch to its fullest potential. The result is a kitchen that meets your cooking and lifestyle needs beautifully.

Planning Your Galley Kitchen Remodel

Careful planning ensures your remodel stays on time, on budget, and achieves your goals. Bringing in professionals early provides expert guidance turning your vision into reality.

Hiring an Architect or Designer

Professional kitchen designers have experience tailoring solutions to the unique needs of galley kitchens . Their expertise proves invaluable for optimizing layout and functionality in limited spaces.

Architects also offer remodeling services, ensuring proposed changes adhere safely to building codes. Their technical drawings provide clear plans for contractors to follow during demolition and reconstruction.

Creating a Layout and Floorplan

When planning, focus first on creating an efficient workflow. Position appliances, sinks, prep spaces, storage, and seats strategically to minimize steps between tasks.

Next, maximize storage with cabinetry suits and specialty organizational solutions. Allocate space for cookware, pantry items, and small appliances.

Selecting Finishes and Materials

Finishes hugely impact the look and feel of your new galley kitchen . Fortunately, numerous options suit tight spaces while adding style.

Light colors visually expand rooms. Glossy finishes reflect light around. Glass cabinetry maintains open sightlines. Meanwhile, surfaces like quartz or porcelain withstand heavy use.

Establishing a Remodel Timeline

Galley remodels typically take 4-8 weeks. Creating a project schedule allows you to plan around significant disruptions. It also holds contractors accountable to timed benchmarks.

Setting a Galley Kitchen Remodel Budget

Costs range widely based on the project's scale and choices. However, most galley remodels fall between $15,000-30,000. Setting a clear budget prevents "scope creep" leading to unnecessary overages.

Maximizing Storage

Innovative storage transforms cramped galley kitchens. Specialized cabinetry and unexpected spaces handle provisions and equipment conveniently. Your belongings find a tailored spot, keeping counters and floors clear.

Adding Drawers and Pull-Out Shelves

Drawers and pull-out shelves in lower cabinets conveniently hold cooking tools and pantry items. Roll-out trays under cooktops offer a landing spot for hot pans. Custom widths perfectly fit awkward spaces.

Installing Corner Cabinets and Lazy Susans

Corner cabinetry with lazy susans or roll-outs hold more while easily accessing items in back. Vertical dividers also neatly organize pot lids and baking sheets stored upright.

Creating a Pantry or Repurposing Existing Space

Converting closets or under stair spaces to pantries adds storage without altering your kitchen's footprint. Narrow unused spaces beside chimneys or along walls work too. Adjustable shelves organize supplies based on dimensions of your provisions.

Selecting Galley Kitchen Appliances

Appliance placement directly impacts workflow in your galley kitchen . Compact or narrower models fit tight footprints without sacrificing performance.

Choosing Refrigerator, Oven, and Dishwasher Models

Measure carefully before selecting key appliances. Counter-depth fridges, narrow ovens, and compact dishwashers maximize space. Top freezer refrigerator models visually expand rooms by eliminating large lower units.

Opting for Smaller or Narrower Appliances

Today's small appliances offer full-sized functionality. Induction cooktops, microwave-drawer combos, and undercounter fridges provide flexible options. You can also split up larger appliances like double wall ovens.

Locating Appliances Conveniently

Place appliances sequentially matching typical prep-to-clean up workflow. Position the sink between the fridge, cooktop, and oven. Locate the dishwasher near cooking and eating zones for easy unloading.

Improving Lighting

Proper illumination prevents dim galley kitchens. Adding multiple lighting sources provides excellent task lighting for food prep and clean up. Meanwhile, options range from simple to spectacular based on your style.

Adding Recessed and Under Cabinet Lighting

Recessed can fixtures brightly light countertops and ranges without glare. Discrete LED undercabinet lighting illuminates backsplashes performing double duty as task and accent lighting. Both options nicely brighten spaces.

Installing Skylights or Windows

Skylights introduce free natural light from above, visually expanding any narrow kitchen. More windows similarly brighten spaces and connect rooms to adjoining outdoor areas. Just take fire safety and ventilation needs into account when locating them.

Choosing Light Colors for Finishes

Light paint colors, counters, backsplashes, and floors reflect light across galley kitchens making them feel more open and airier. Bright white, soft greys, warm almonds all work beautifully with both traditional and contemporary designs.

Opening Up the Space

Removing upper cabinets opens sightlines making galley kitchens feel less confining. Breakfast bars, open shelving, and new openings establish better connectivity improving both aesthetics and flow.

Removing Upper Cabinets

Eliminating top cabinetry opens rooms to natural light and adjoining spaces. The clean sightlines lend contemporary visual interest while increasing perceived spaciousness significantly.

Installing Glass Cabinet Doors

Glass-front cabinetry maintains needed storage while removing visual barriers to expand sightlines. The lightweight material prevents dominating small rooms as opaque wood doors sometimes do.

Adding a Breakfast Bar or Open Shelf

Replacing a short section of uppers with a breakfast bar adds convenient seating and casual dining. Open shelving similarly ensures visibility between rooms. Both choices keep essential items handy in plain sight.

Creating Sightlines to Adjacent Rooms

Widening doorways or adding new openings connect the kitchen and living spaces for better traffic flow. The improved sightlines provide greater visual expansion through borrowed scenery from adjoining areas.

Incorporating Multifunctional Solutions

When space falls short, look for furniture and fixtures doing double or triple duty. Pieces like a storage bench or fold-down table deliver optimal flexibility so rooms adapt as needed.

Choosing Furniture that Serves Several Needs

Multifunctional furniture rewards galley kitchens handsomely. An island with cabinets and seating stores items while serving meals. Stash small appliances in a storage ottoman pulling double duty as extra seating.

Adding Fold Down Tables, Banquettes, and Stools

Folding tables maximize unused vertical space storing out of the way when not serving meals. Built-in or freestanding banquettes provide cozy dining nooks. Counter height stools double as extra seating during dinner parties.

Repurposing Space Creatively

Take inspiration from boats, campers, and tiny homes creatively fitting conveniences in tight quarters. Use windowsills to hold small herb gardens or rail shelves displaying pretty dishware. Even awkward narrow spaces get new life with a little innovation.

Updating Flooring

Flooring significantly impacts rooms visually and functionally. Fortunately numerous options suit galley kitchens beautifully while standing up to heavy daily use.

Choosing Easy-Clean and Durable Surfaces

Porcelain, natural stone, luxury vinyl plank, and engineered hardwoods withstand water, stains, scratches and traffic beautifully. Choose slip-resistant finishes in wet areas for added safety during food prep and clean up tasks.

Visually Expanding Space with Light Floors

Light colored floors instantly make small kitchens appear larger and brighter. Soft neutral tones like beige and grey open up rooms without dating quickly. Bold variations like a white or very light wood wash lend striking contemporary contrast.

Adding Stylish Patterns Strategically

Use patterns selectively balancing appealing visual texture without overwhelming petite galley kitchens. Mini graphic prints or mosaic tiles along a backsplash make wonderful focal points full of personality without overpowering.

Selecting Countertops

Counters see heavy use daily in kitchens needing surfaces withstanding reasonable abuse. Materials must hold up to hot pans, food stains, sharp knives and more with proper care.

Opting for Durable and Low-Maintenance Materials

Quartz, granite, solid surface and quality laminates like Formica resist abrasions, burns and stains beautifully while simplifying cleaning. Just avoid porous natural stones prone to damage in wet kitchen areas.

Customizing Depth and Dimensions to Fit

Standard counter depths around 25" suit most tasks comfortably for taller users. However shallower 22-23" works better in very narrow spots. Similarly, custom cutting length or mitering corners maximize usable workspace along irregular walls or structural columns.

Extending Countertops to Maximize Workspace

Add work surface over washer/dryers, sink bases or suite refrigerators to expand usable area affordably. Corbels add support minimizing gaps with existing counters for seamless function and beauty.

Enhancing Workflow

Strategic planning optimizes sequential tasks facilitating a smooth cooking process. Arrange key appliances and accessories conveniently to limit criss-cross traffic flows during food prep and clean up.

Designating Zones for Prep, Cook, Clean Up

Group major appliances based on natural kitchen workflow. Position sinks centrally between refrigerators, cooktops and primary counters for efficient vegetable washing, meal prep and cleanup.

Locating Items Conveniently

Frequently used pans, utensils and pantry goods live nearest the stove for easy access while cooking. Meanwhile, platters and serving dishes stay beside the dining area to simplify setting tables.

Improving Traffic Flow Patterns

Avoid collisions by allowing adequate circulation space for multiple cooks. Islands with stools separate work zones. Arranging passageways to avoid cross-traffic prevents accidents carrying hot foods from cramped galley kitchens.

Adding Style with Design Choices

Numerous creative touches introduce beauty without consuming valuable real estate. Paint, tile, architectural details and decor customize rooms reflecting personal taste and style.

Painting or Tiling Walls

Inject personality through color with painted walls or ceramic tile murals surrounding sinks or ranges. Continue hues onto ceiling beams adding compelling detail. Just stick to light colors to keep spaces feeling open.

Adding Architectural Details

Exposed brick lends rustic warmth balanced with sleek metals and glass. Built-in shelving introduces decorative display space showing off pretty dishware collections. Salvaged barnwood clads a peninsula Island adding pastoral charm.

Choosing Galley-Friendly Decorative Touches

Remodeling a cramped galley kitchen involves considerable planning addressing limited dimensions creatively. However, strategic layouts making smart use of specialized storage solutions transform awkward cook spaces wonderfully.

By incorporating lighting improvements, multi-functional elements and splashy style choices your kitchen remodel creates a welcoming space for meal prep, dining and relaxation. With some imagination and expert help, tiny galley kitchens realize their full potential delighting owners for years to come.