A Small Dated Galley Kitchen Gets Functionally Overhauled

When I put in the offer on my Kirkland condo, it was at the very beginning of the COVID shut down in March of 2020. Historically over the last decade, the housing market in King County has been a sellers’ market, with properties selling above asking with multiple offers in just a few days. Thankfully, there wasn’t any competition for me since buyers took a major pause at the beginning of the pandemic.

The condo was built in 1978 and had been a rental for many years. Aside from a few cosmetic updates (paint, new appliances, carpet) the unit was largely original. This meant bits of the cabinet crumbled into the drawers when you opened them. The ceiling was textured popcorn with paint caked over it. The bathroom vanity was extremely short as per the old standard, and the original tub/surround had been epoxied over to white and was starting to peel. Overall, everything felt old and tired and ready for some TLC.

I scraped the popcorn ceiling myself with some help from friends. The rest of the renovation was done by Ashis’ Bhakta’s team at Elite Construction Contractors LLC and as per usual they were great to work with.

THE RENOVATION

Planning the renovation ended up being mentally a great distraction from the depressing reality of the pandemic. However, renovating during the shutdown presented many challenges as well. Visiting showrooms and stores was pretty limited, so I had to rely mostly on photos online or by ordering samples. Extended lead times were prominent in almost every industry due to production shortages, record sales and freight delays. My dishwasher took 8 months to arrive and my dining chandelier took 9 months to arrive. The flooring was purchased site unseen (relying on website photos only). I chose a waterproof laminate to run throughout the entire unit so it made the spaces feel less disjointed.

BEFORE

The unit was very brown and gray. There was brown carpet even in the dining room that had to go. The light fixtures were the cheapest satin nickel fixtures you can find at a big box store. The kitchen had a lot of missed opportunity with soffits that meant shorter uppers. It lacked storage for someone who cooks a lot. The range and refrigerator felt bulky and disproportionate.

As a kitchen and bath designer for many years and a Bellmont cabinet dealer, I knew that even despite the small footprint, a lot could be done to optimize the layout.

BEFORE + AFTER COMPARISON

Moving the refrigerator to the opposite side of the kitchen allowed me to hook it up to the water line and have an ice maker which seems small but was a must for me. Smaller appliances meant more storage and counter space and a new pantry added tons of storage.

BEFORE PHOTOS

THE UPDATED KITCHEN

THE DESIGN

Knowing that this is an investment property that will eventually be a rental, I chose very budget-friendly options. I chose brands that are good quality and will last but certainly not top of the line. Are the compact sizes as expensive as their full size counterparts? Yes. Am I okay with that? Also yes. Squeezing in a 24″ pantry was one of my top priorities. I chose a 24″ counter depth GE refrigerator and added the icemaker accessory. Keeping the two tall units to around 27″ overall in footprint created balance and defined the cooking work zone. Since I live in the condo alone, I swapped the full-size dishwasher to an 18″ model with a cabinet panel front so it feels more seamless and disappears with the cabinetry. The dishwasher is balanced by an 18″ trash/recycle pullout on the other side of the sink. Fitting the refrigerator on the sink wall meant sacrificing a little counter space; overall, I think it was really worth it for the functionality. I chose a Ruggable runner with the upgraded pad for comfort while cooking and ease of washing. The workstation sink that I chose has a cutting board that fits into the sink, converting it to counter space if needed. I also ordered several other accessories for the Ruvati sink, linked below, that are super helpful. In this small space, every inch counted. The kitchen sink cabinet is a 26″ reduced size to just fit a 23″ extra deep single-bowl Ruvati workstation sink.

THE CASE FOR SMALL APPLIANCES

In luxury custom homes, the bigger the appliance the better. However, in small spaces, I am all about making the appliances proportionate with the size of the space. Full size appliances can dwarf a space and take away precious storage. In this small galley kitchen, each wall measures just shy of 90″ so every single inch matters. I swapped a 30″ range for a compact 24″ GE model with the controls on the front so it is backless. Having the slide-in option makes the space feel higher end with more of the backsplash visible. I matched the range with a 24″ wide over-the-range microwave hood from Haier, which doesn’t have any branding or handles making it minimalistic. Being a 600 SF apartment, it is unlikely that I will ever host Thanksgiving dinner. The largest item that I will be baking is probably a pizza, and I can fit that easily in a 24″ wide range. I usually end up using the countertop air fryer to cook anyway. The 18″ dishwasher is plenty of space for one person, and I still only have to run it about twice a week. The 24″ counter-depth refrigerator may seem incredibly small to some, but for me I find it easier to pare down what is actually needed and not have a lot of food waste from things getting lost in the back.

THE CABINETRY

I chose soft-touch matte black laminate base and tall cabinets and 15″ deep matte soft-touch white laminate uppers. I was able to remove the soffit above the cabinets, so this allowed me to take the cabinets to the ceiling which gained a lot of extra storage space. The new configuration with the full height pantry (with adjustable rollouts!) provides tons of easy-to-access food storage. The top of the pantry is only accessible by a stool for me, but it is a great space for storing things I need handy but not every day. The uppers are 15″ deep, that extra 3″ from standard uppers is so impactful! And I was able to design the cabinetry panels above the sink in a way that I could build in a slim LED recessed light instead of an ugly bar since the upper is much higher and the light is very visible. I love the aspectLED (linked below) light due to its low profile and pretty trim options. I like to use 2700k color temperature for kitchen lighting. It’s a softer, warm white light that prevents the white of the cabinets and countertop from feeling too sterile.

THE COUNTERTOP

The countertop was my splurge item. I chose a 2cm quartz countertop called Zion from Pental that I am obsessed with. It has a true white background with a dark gray vein. I looked at tons of countertops, and really wanted a true white quartz versus a creamy white due to the upper cabinets being a very stark white. Every creamy counter I looked at looked dirty compared to the bright white of the cabinets. I carried the countertop to a full height backsplash to the bottom of the upper cabinets which is a feature as well as super easy to clean. Keeping the number of surfaces to a minimum also helps the space feel bigger and brighter.

STORAGE FEATURES

I utilized a lot of built in organization along with after-market solutions. I have a double bin trash pull out so no need to have a freestanding trash bin taking up valuable floor space. I ordered a two-tier cutlery insert for my silverware so the 18″ drawer space is effectively doubled. I did a spice drawer insert next to range to keep everything organized and accessible.

For the inside of the cabinets, I used clear bins to organize. I also utilized lazy susans to make accessing everything much easier.

I chose to use vertical space in the kitchen for storage of items that I need every day. This freed up a lot of cabinet and drawer space so it feels very optimized. The white tension organizers from Umbra are the perfect place for my everyday cooking utensils. Since the utensils are out all the time, I chose to get pretty brass utensils for the right side and more practical black utensils on the left so visually it feels less cluttered. Umbra, Yamizake Home and Amazon have some really incredible space saving storage options that I always look to when optimizing a small space. I got a Yamizake expandable shelf for over the range (pictured below). I did this to create a space for my cooking oil and vinegar so they are easily accessible and don’t take up space in the cabinets. I love that it also has little hooks for hanging things, which is perfect for my measuring spoons or anything else small to get out of the way. I don’t ever really need the back burners, so I don’t have to worry about them being in the way. I do try to move the vinegar bottles when the oven is up high, since the oven vents along the backsplash. I chose clear bottles with spouts to make everything consistent in height so it fits on the shelf below the microwave. These bottles work perfect because they are only about 8″ high. I purchased the labels and the green oil bottles on Etsy. After living with these for some time, I have been slowly swapping out the cork spouts for the rubber option since the corks get eroded by the vinegar.

A tiered bowl is a great place for easy to reach everyday items and snacks. I love Dash countertop appliances for their attractive and compact size. I got the Dash toaster, air fryer, hand mixer, and mini waffle maker. They tuck away super easily even in this tiny kitchen.

CREATING DIFFERENT ZONES

Since I am all about beverages, I made a separate coffee bar zone in my entry and bar for alcohol in my dining room. This freed up more space in the kitchen and created logical zones for everything. I replaced the dining chandelier with this pretty black and brass chandelier from Pottery Barn. The banquette is made with Sunbrella outdoor fabric, so it’s super easy to wipe down and keep clean. I hung 3 mirrors in the dining room to bounce light in from the only window.

The Nespresso, coffee mugs, coffee and tea neatly tuck into this unit I found on Wayfair that I placed in the entry. It blocks the closet for the furnace, but I only need to access that once or twice a year to change the filter so it isn’t a problem.

To bring greenery in, I planted a vertical hanging herb garden in my dining room window. It’s so nice having fresh herbs to cook with.

THE BATHROOM

The bathroom has been halfway updated with new lighting, flooring, vanity and toilet. I used the Kohler Persuade toilet due to its compact size and sleek look with the flush skirt. The shower is the next project on my list. In the interim, I swapped out the shower trim (luckily the old Moen valves are easy to update the trim) with some gold fixtures. The vanity is a budget friendly in-stock Costco vanity. I decided to keep a mirror medicine cabinet since I really needed the toiletry space. New lighting and plumbing fixtures makes it feel much more inviting to get ready.

Photos by Olivia Horine Design.

SHOP THE LOOK

*Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a commission from product links. I only recommend products I have used and loved.

OPEN ORGANIZATION – Left to right, top to bottom:

1. Umbra Anywhere Tension Organizer for Kitchen
2. Umbra Anywhere Tension Organizer Hooks with Caddy for Kitchen
3. Magnetic Knife Holder for Wall
4. Yamizake Home Expanding Shelf Kitchen Organizer
5. Rail19 Clear Glass Vinegar Bottle + Upgraded Weighted Vinegar Spout
6. Black Knife Set

WORKSTATION SINK AND ACCESSORIES – Left to right, top to bottom:

1. Ruvati Deep Workstation Sink 23 x 19 x 10
2. Ruvati Wood Platform with Mixing Bowl and Colander
3. Ruvati Stainless Steel and Silicone Drying Rack
4. Ruvati 17″x11″ Cutting Board
5. Over The Sink Drying Rack
6. Sponge Holder
7. Rev-A-Shelf Double Tiered Cutlery Organizer (Not pictured)
8. Xtreme Sink Cabinet Mat (Not Pictured)

CABINET ORGANIZATION – Left to right, top to bottom:

1. mDesign 3 Compartment Bin Storage
2. mDesign Can Storage
3. mDesign Storage Bins
4. Miscellaneous Size Air Tight Containers with Lids
5. Large Spinner
6. Two Tiered Spinner – 2 pack

DECORATIVE TOOLS FOR OPEN STORAGE – Top to Bottom, Left to Right:

1. Heavy Duty Kitchen Scissors
2. Gold Measuring Cups and Spoons
3. Gold Strainer Set
4. Gold Spoon Rest
5. Tiered Basket
6. Gold Pizza Cutter

COMPACT APPLIANCES – Left to right, top to bottom:

1. GE 24″ Range
2. Haier 24″ Microwave Hood
3. GE 24″ Refrigerator/Freezer
4. GE Icemaker Accessory
5. Bosch 18″Integrated Dishwasher
6. Disposal
7. Black Disposal Air Switch (Not Pictured)
   *Note, these links were revised 8/19/25 to updated Ferguson Home Links

LIGHTS – Left to Right, Top to Bottom:

1. PB Camryn Chandelier
2. Kitchen + Entry Flush Lights
3. Coffee Bar Plug In Sconce
4. Ultra Thin LED
5. Bar LED Strip Lights
6. Cabinet/Shelf LED Rechargeable Lights

SMALL COUNTERTOP APPLIANCES – Left to right, Top to Bottom:

1. Dash Compact Air Fryer
2. Dash Mini Waffle Maker
3. Dash Compact Toaster
4. Dash Egg Cooker for Poached, Hard Boiled, Scrambled, Omelets
5. Dash Compact Electric Hand Mixer

PANS & UTENSILS – Left to Right, Top to Bottom:

1. GreenPan Gold Handle Cookware Set
2. Gold Hot Pot
3. Gold Ladles
4. Gold Chopsticks
5. Gold Bag Clips
6. Gold Cutlery

ELEVATED CLEANING SUPPLIES:

1. Amber Soap Dispensers
2. Amber Spray Bottle
3. Plant-Based Compostable Sponges
4. Kitchen Brush Set
5. Reuseable Towels
6. Dish Soap Refill

If you are located in the Bellevue, Kirkland or surrounding areas and interested in remodeling your kitchen or bathroom with us whether large or small, please feel free to contact us below.