- A city dweller will often have a galley kitchen because it fits into a small urban apartment's floor plan. Depending on where the galley kitchen is located, it may have a single window at one end of the space. Often there is no window in an urban galley kitchen. According to the website, Apartment Therapy, a galley kitchen does not waste space because there are no cabinets around the corners which would reduce the amount of flooring. Though an urban galley kitchen is often much smaller in size than a galley kitchen found in a suburban home, websites such as Apartment Therapy showcase sleek and stylish narrow spaces.
- Many houses built in the 1950s and 1960s included galley kitchens to fit into the small floor plans. Typical suburban galley kitchens measure from seven to nine feet long and are often wider than three feet. One of the problems with a galley kitchen is that the flow of traffic is limited, since there is typically only one opening into the kitchen. There are some galley kitchens with openings on either end, which is more of a corridor-style kitchen. Another problem with a small galley kitchen is its lack of storage and counter space. Though many original galley kitchens exist today, homeowners often opt to remodel a dated galley kitchen by knocking down one of the walls to create an open plan. An island will often be installed to take the place of the eliminated wall.
- A galley kitchen is small, but it can be big on style.Beautiful and new kitchen furniture on modern kitchen image by terex from Fotolia.com
According to the This Old House website, concealing appliances behind cabinetry panels in a galley kitchen will give the space a more streamlined look. Architects and designers are often called in to redefine a galley kitchen. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, a galley kitchen can be opened up by removing a wall to let in more light. Another way to add more light into a galley kitchen is to add a skylight. Even if a wall is not eliminated, the best way to instantly update an older galley kitchen is to replace cabinetry and appliances. - A galley kitchen design has an efficient work triangle. A work triangle is the space in which you spend the most time preparing food in your kitchen. The triangle is made up of a sink, oven and refrigerator. Imagine drawing a triangle between all three areas of your kitchen. According to The Home Depot, the total of the triangle's sides should not measure more than 26 feet, or you may have a difficult time cooking in an efficient way. A galley kitchen has one of the most efficient work triangles because the space is compact.
- Galley kitchens often fit standard-size appliances. But, there are compact, or apartment-size appliances that can fit into small galley kitchens without compromising function. According to handyman Bob Vila, there are a number of elegant solutions for small kitchens. Many Italian manufacturers make smaller cabinets and appliances because petite kitchens are common in Europe. Before scrapping the efficient galley kitchen for the expensive renovation, research options, because there are stylish smaller appliances designed for small spaces.
