Please help

Mary L
by Mary L
I need ideas on layout for this kitchen...it is so small and the fireplace for the living room is where those pots are hanging so I can't take that down. Any suggestions? Seems so small and dark in there.
Sorry about blurry pic...new camera is on christmas list.
  15 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 31, 2015
    Personally I would start by putting things that are not needed on an everyday basis away. Next I would repaint the kitchen a lighter color and maybe remove the wallpaper trim. This may help give the kitchen a larger appearence. Then if you are feeling up to the task lighten up the cabinets as well.
  • Shari Shari on Oct 31, 2015
    In my opinion, you have a decent sized kitchen and the layout of your appliances does not seem bad for efficient cooking. You seem to have adequate countertop space for food prep, although the amount of stuff on the countertops probably makes it feel like you have no room. Some extreme countertop decluttering is suggested. To lighten, brighten and update, paint is your best friend! I would remove all the wallpaper and paint your cabinets a lighter color. If you are not into white cabinets, any light color like cream, light gray etc., would help brighten the kitchen. If you are not able to replace the flooring, you can lighten it up with an indoor/outdoor rug. Indoor/outdoor rugs are much more affordable than regular rugs, plus they are very easy to care for. If they get dirty, you can simply take them outside and hose them off.
  • Elisa Elisa on Oct 31, 2015
    You have an efficient layout. I would recommend removing the bulkheads over the cabinets if you don't have anything running in them. You could leave it open which would make the room more spacious, or you could add small cabinets above with glass and light, or you could replace existing cabinets and extend them to the ceiling. I would add under and over cabinet lighting and consider replacing the surface mounted light with recessed ceiling lights. I just removed bulkheads and did all the lighting I've suggested and it really has expanded the look of the room without reconfiguring everything in it.
  • Elisa Elisa on Oct 31, 2015
    You may want to consider adding very narrow shelving 4-5 inches deep on the fireplace wall where you could display glassware or put cabinet fronts and store canned goods etc. in our old house we had very narrow shelving in the stairwell off of our kitchen and I could keep a single row of cans,jars etc...loved never having to move cans to see what I had.
    • See 1 previous
    • Elisa Elisa on Oct 31, 2015
      I'm always looking where I might cut in between studs to find more storage space. In bathrooms I've used mirrors for the back walls and glass shelves. I'll have to keep that term "one row deep" because "one stud deep" might be misinterpreted.
  • Bron Bron on Oct 31, 2015
    I think the size and layout are fine, When I looked at the photo the first thing that struck me was the darkness of the area. Maybe taking down the wallpaper strip and painting the wall area above the cupboards a very light shade and carry a slightly lighter tone of the same color onto the cupboards. It would instantly lighten up the area and make it appear larger. Maybe consider new modern handles on the cupboards before you paint them. You can fill in the holes left by the old handles and place nice longer handles on each edge of the cupboard instead. For ideas on colors and style google the question you want to ask and you should get so many ideas it will confuse you even more lol. Also keeping everything clutter free will give the area a more open look. maybe even having no doors on the cupboards next to the clock will be a good idea where you could keep your really nice cups plates etc on the open shelving.
  • Elisa Elisa on Oct 31, 2015
    You need to first check that no ducts or pipes are running behind them, and also make sure your cabinets are secured to the back wall. I hired someone to do it, but I assume he used a saw to cut the framing, I didn't watch what he did. You may have to hang drywall, as I did, on the ceiling and back wall above the cabinets. I'd first knock a few small holes before starting so that you can look inside with a flash light and see what is behind it.
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Oct 31, 2015
    As others have said, I would lighten up with paint. Do you have enough room to move your fridge to the left side where the separate cabinet is? Although the layout is good, maybe you feel cramped because the fridge being right behind you when you are working. Of course it will temporairly block the entry to the kitchen when open, but it still will be close enough for access and open up the kitchen while you are working in it. I would consider getting a counter depth one when you need to replace it. I would put the cabinet in its place and extend the counter.
  • Love Digging in the Dirt Love Digging in the Dirt on Oct 31, 2015
    I agree that lightening up the walls and removing the wallpaper would go a long way. I have a super small kitchen as well and I have it painted a sunny yellow and a light floor. Also us only valances on the windows to let the sun in.
  • Gayle Gardner Gayle Gardner on Nov 01, 2015
    Agree with many of the ideas listed above. Eliminate the wall paper with it's border, paint walls a lighter color for an overall lighter, brighter look. The idea of narrow shelves where the pans are hanging is great, along with a place for the spices which gets them away from heat and humidity of the stove. Since your appliances are a mix of white and black, I'd paint all the bottom cabinets back and the top cabinets white with the walls a light sage green to create depth and interest.
  • Z Z on Nov 01, 2015
    @Mary, here's what I would do if this were my kitchen. 1. Remove the wallpaper 2. Paint the bulk head to match the ceiling so it will appear part of it and make the room more open feeling. 3. Paint the back splash area a cool color such as a pale blue, green or purple. Cool colors recede, giving an appearance of space. 4. Add a tall white or light colored pantry cabinet (such as linked below) where you have the little red one now so you have a place for most of what are on the counters now, Again this will create the feeling of space. http://www.homedepot.com/p/South-Shore-Furniture-Fiesta-4-Door-Wood-Laminate-Pantry-in-Natural-Maple-7113971/204362100 Another tip: Never store your spices near the stove, though handy, it will degrade their potency. They are best stored in an air tight container in a cool dry place. The pantry I mentioned above would be a great place for them.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Nov 01, 2015
    Layout is efficient. Removed bulkhead to open my kit visually. (I put waxed paper on top of shelving units - just replace when grimy.) Have EXACTLY same set-up with fridge and wall next to it backing on a chimney. Built an insert flush with the front of the fridge at front, and same height as cabinets. Added shelves - 11" wide and 6.5" deep - with various heights. Your space looks much wider. Amazing what these store. Cookbooks, rarely-used spices, etc. Also easier to put hooks in the bottom of a shelf for hanging pots than into masonry. See you have a collection of rolling pins - some hanging - .perhaps all could be hung in one of the shelf areas.
  • The layout is fine......with some paint this kitchen can have a total transformation. Starting from the walls remove the paper and paint the walls. Then prep your cabinets and paint them as well. I would paint the walls a bright hue then maybe a bright white for your cabinets, you can never go wrong with white cabinets. Either eliminate the cabinet hardware or replace it. You can even paint the old floor using the proper steps and paint... lots to refer to here on hometalk. Finish it up with a bright matching curtain. Good luck to you and be sure to share the results with us!
  • Julies1949 Julies1949 on Nov 01, 2015
    Besides the already mentioned ideas to remove wallpaper and paint, I would find a place to store everything on your counters that does not need to be there to function. All that clutter makes your kitchen look so much smaller than it is. Clear the things off the fridge, even take the towels off the oven handle.
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Nov 02, 2015
    Here's my 2 cents...Over time we acquire a lot of stuff that ends up cluttering areas of the home...Before making any changes to the room. I would go section by section thru the whole kitchen. Make 3 piles, 1 trash, 1 donate, and 1 keep...Be realistic & be harsh. Start w/ food & move on from there. If you haven't used a canned food item in more than 3 months get rid of it. If you haven't used dinnerware, or flatware in more than a yr. then donate it. If you have Tupperware that is stained badly, or too much of it. Keep the ones you use most, donate the rest. Same thing for kitchen appliances, pots, pans, etc. Do the same for your decorative/seasonal items. Next step, I agree w/ others take the wallpaper & border down then paints the walls, back splash & ceiling a light color. I would paint the frames of the cabinets including the inside of each cabinet white. Then to cut costs & change the appearance of the cabinets I would take measurements of each door, replace them, & paint them white to match the cabinet frames in your favorite style. I think the Shaker plain doors w/ inset that you could you could customize w/ bead board for cleaner lines would look great. Add to the bottom of the top cabinets, individual task lighting so you have more light at night. Next step, I would replace the current light with something like this...It will give you much more lighting in the room & more options to direct light where you want it to be. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-10-ft-Stainless-Steel-Line-Voltage-Flexible-Track-Lighting-Fixture-Kit-with-5-Mesh-Shade-EC9580BA/202051411 On the end of your counters the red piece can be replaced w/ a tall one that is the same height as your top cabinets. You can use it for food or kitchen appliances that you don't use often. Hope this helps.
  • Cherlyn Milner Cherlyn Milner on Nov 02, 2015
    I had a very similar problem with my home in Denver. For cabinets where you would normally put a double oven you can put the dishwasher on the bottom and the oven on the top. I cook a lot with in small spaces. You can use hooks on your walls for pots and pans. You can use a very heavy wire grid (used for fencing) to hang from the ceiling with brass chains. Then you can use S Hooks to hang almost anything. You can cover one side of your sink with a large wooden cutting board to use as a prep area. Most importantly you have 3 pantries, Dry, Refridgerated, and Frozen. When I cook, I make in large batches and freeze. That way dinner is not such a big production every day. Also spice blends take up a lot of space and are expensive. I put my TV on top of the Fridge. Kept it out of the way of everything and is great storage space to put things behind. Think of it as a really nice screen that covers whatever.