Small kitchen diner layout

[OfUselessBooks]

I'm struggling with the layout of our new kitchen...it feels quite pokey as it's a smallish room and cut in half with a peninsula worktop. I really like the idea of a galley kitchen, but each of the longer walls has a door on it (one to the living room and the back door). I'd like more cupboard space and to open it up, but to retain a small area for dining (perhaps with a fold up table).

How do you go about getting the best layout? I'm sure it could be better than it is, but I cant work out what's best. And googling small kitchens seems to being up much bigger kitchens than our, which is 15 ft x 8 1/2 ft. I will try to attach a plan of the current layout. It's very dark so we're going to get lighter cabinets, but I just want a more streamlined and open look. It only has about 9 cupboards at the moment, so I want more storage space...am I asking the impossible??

Couple of questions: Firstly, what is currently underneath the peninsula? Is it cupboard space, or is it just open for seating?

Secondly, could you move the door to the living room, so it was opposite the back door?

I think I would take the peninsula out, and move the fridge into that space, next to the sink. Then extend the worktop around the corner where the fridge used to be, up to the door. You'd maintain the worktop space, but without it feeling so cramped. Moving the living room door would add more space to extend that run, but I think it would work even if you couldn't move the door.

Thank you - that could work with moving the fridge freezer...the island has cupboards underneath but I think with a better use if space we could have more cupboards without it.

Moving the door would work brilliantly in the kitchen, but not for the living room next door unfortunately as it would then mean walking diagonally through the living room from the hall the kitchen...and not enough space for our sofa.

I'm wondering about building in corner seating for a table and seeing if we could out storage for less used equipment (blender, baking stuff etc) under the seats.

I'm not sure if my plans for putting in more storage, at the same time as getting rid of the peninsula and opening it up to seem bigger, are directly contradictory!

We are downsizing, which makes it so hard. It's not a bad size but we have filled out old space and now trying to get rid of things!

I have taller slim cupboards against my back wall, 33inchs deep these accommodate all glasses, crockery and serving platters, the cupboards are the same width of the return from the wall to the back door, would that be a possibility (but higher than normal kitchen cupboards so work as a leaning post

Could you put a Welsh Dresser next to the door to the living room to store loads of stuff and break up the fitted look a bit?

Mines not much bigger than yours, and I ended up putting the fridge freezer out to the utility as I just couldn't come up with a plan that worked otherwise.

I’d put a small (extendable?) table in front of the back door. Then behind the table, on the wall that backs onto the sitting room to the left of the sitting room door, full height storage. Either built in or a dresser if you want a more traditional look. To the right of the sitting room door I would put more full height storage including the fridge but build in cupboards around the fridge too. Then I would keep the rest of the U shape of the kitchen broadly as is, but remove the peninsula.

You could have a butchers block on wheels where the peninsula currently is - that way you can move it to the centre of the U for a mini island, and move it out of the way when you want to expand the dining table.

I think a peninsula opposite a door is always going to feel cramped as you’re waking into an obstacle.

No other possibilities for moving the kitchen door? what’s behind the fridge?