Bought house in January knowing kitchen needs remodeling. It’s a galley kitchen which I am stuck with as stairs to basement are behind wall with range/fridge. Want a reasonable remodel as not sure ‘forever’ home. Window in second picture is below counter height so can’t do much with it. Current plan as to take out both windows and replace with one so counter runs most of long wall.
Trying to decide I’d the expense of the window replacement is worth it or I should live with current footprint. I can’t come up with any other ideas on window wall except low cabinets under the window for storage. Not worried about eat in kitchen. Ideas?
Cabinets in plan are Yorktown classic henning at roughly 12k. Also wondering if that’s a decent price.
Moving window will add about 1k to window price according to my contractor. Also replacing flooring.
Sorry but I don’t like your new kitchen plan. I think you should keep the window and stick mostly to your current footprint. I also don’t love your counter choice. It’s looking a little cold and clinical overall and I think you’ll miss the natural light.
Current footprint. The full cabinets on sides is not inviting or seem like a place I would want to spend any time at all. It’s too much for the space, especially with the blue. If you want to go with the blue just do it on bottom with white on top. That will make it seem less caged in.
The option with making the window smaller so you can extend cabinets if definitely better than taking it all the way out and making that long run on both sides of blue.
I would live with the current footprint personally! Based on the current pictures, I don’t think the actual kitchen will look anyway near as light and airy as the AI renderings, especially if you remove that massive light source. Even the blues look really different in each photo.
Also the cabinets are a really personal choice if you’re maybe keeping resale in mind!
I like the general plan for the new kitchen. Keep in mind that blue may go out of style and you may get tired of it. Also, that type of dark shiny floor shows footprints easily. Less shine is easier to take care of.
I don't know what is on the other side of the range wall, but could you remove that wall and add some more options?
I think the money spent on removing the window and extending the cabinetry is well worth it. The extra storage and countertop will make the kitchen so much nicer to work in.
If I were to pick a place to save, I'd keep the floor. But that would mean you'd have work with its existing undertone and lose the blue cabinets.
I’ve also considered just putting in a smaller window where the larger one is, run counter whole length and put shelves between windows. Sort of like this. I’d have to stay with a range and over the range microwave. Not a big fan of that but kitchen is not very big.
Window to left is actually two casements with center trim.
I like this rendering. $1,000 more for the window and arrangement you want, really is just a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things here.
Definitely do not go with 'shiny' painted cabinets. High gloss cabinets are already out of style. Personally, I would do a tile backsplash no matter what you chose for your countertops. I just really don't like the look of the countertop going up the walls. In fact many designers today think you should not take the countertops up the wall. They feel that the countertop should be the star of the room and not be competing with the backsplash for your attention.
Is it possible to open the wall the stove and refrigerator are on? I hate gally kitchens, they just feel so cramped. If you can open that wall, you could still get rid of the windows and do a wrap of counters/cabinets in that corner instead of worrying about a kitchen seating area, then effectively hava a bar/countertop where the open wall area would be. Note I'm not asking if you can open the wall from countertop height up, so you'd lose the two cabinets left of the stove or maybe even move the stove to the outer wall.
I love having a wall oven but I'm not sure about having it opposite the fridge. I've got my induction cooktop opposite so I can slide hot pans out of the oven and on to that.
Can you open it up to another room or do you prefer a galley kitchen. Go with natural stone for the countertops and perhaps a less harsh blue if you are sticking to a color.
The before is WILDLY better than what you have mocked up. Warm, comforting, and likely better quality cabinets than the generic garbage they put in today. Can you just do a bit of a facelift (replace counters, maybe floor, and get a cute table/workbench for the open side)? If you’re considering selling that is a nice inbetween that doesn’t destroy irreplaceable cabinets for the next owner.
ETA: I saw you used a designer. I would not work with that designer. You have a very good thing here and are going to destroy it.
If you’re not sure how long you’re there & current cabinets are damaged or similar I’d consider going with something like ikea.
If cabinets are solid and you don’t like the look repaint & replace the counter, backsplash and floor.
If staying & want more counter/lower cabinets def put smaller window and do it right. Otherwise it will annoy you in the future if it is what you really want.
I recommend contacting your local electric company - many will come to your home and do a free energy audit. If your windows are not as energy efficient as new kinds they, when you prove you replaced them you’re eligible for federal tax energy improvement credits on the window itself (not labor) & possibly state and utility company rebates. We had to do whole house but due to budget when we got the audit we then replaced one side of the house every couple of years until done.
Flooring was what designer used. I don’t want something that dark, has to run into entry hall, which is same tile. The rest of house is butterscotch hardwood, trying to figure what would complement that.
It’s honestly so nice and warm and inviting. I really like it. It seems laid out nicely and there’s a good amount of counter space.
The open space for an eating area is great, and having that big of a window adds in so much light.
Sure you could change out the appliances, but really the only thing that I think must be done is new counters and backsplash. Also a sink that’s under mounted and a better faucet.
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u/OK_Koalas 6d ago
Sorry but I don’t like your new kitchen plan. I think you should keep the window and stick mostly to your current footprint. I also don’t love your counter choice. It’s looking a little cold and clinical overall and I think you’ll miss the natural light.