Pros and cons of a galley kitchen

[Anonymous]

When I think of a galley kitchen, I think of those small ones with about 2 sq ft of space that I had in my studio apartment in my 20s. But what are the pros and cons of a galley kitchen (assuming it is updated and not tiny) compared to an open kitchen? Why would or did you want one or the other?

For example something like this:


vs. this:

[Anonymous]

I did something very similar to your first photo. But in NYC you don't have much choice usually. Plenty of room to work with two people. I put a window seat and table with chairs at the end. Friends loved hanging out in the window seat and at the table with a glass of wine while I cooked.

[Anonymous]

I love a good galley kitchen. Everything is right where you need it. It so efficient to cook in one. You can zen out as a chef and not have to hear whatever your family is watching in the next room. And guests can’t crowd you while you’re cooking

[Anonymous]

I love the look of that galley kitchen, and I’d love to cook in it. I think big, open kitchens are ostentatious and kind of awful.

[Anonymous]

We had one in our old house and I can't think on one single pro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had one in our old house and I can't think on one single pro.

What were the cons?

[Anonymous]

We had a galley kitchen in our previous house and loved it. I found the work triangle much better than in more open kitchens that I've seen. I think kitchen islands tend to be mostly for show and also attract clutter, but I've never actually lived in a house with a huge open kitchen like the picture so I could be totally off base. But I will always be a galley kitchen advocate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love a good galley kitchen. Everything is right where you need it. It so efficient to cook in one. You can zen out as a chef and not have to hear whatever your family is watching in the next room. And guests can’t crowd you while you’re cooking

+1. A galley kitchen is perfect for a cook.

[Anonymous]

A galley kitchen is a great layout for one person who is cooking. But that’s only part of what people do in their kitchens.

[Anonymous]

Perfect

[Anonymous]

Try suck no island, crampped

[Anonymous]

When I bought a house, I wanted an open space kitchen because I wanted to be able to keep an eye on my kids while being in the kitchen -- something I couldn't do in a galley unless I gated the kids in with me in the galley, which would make it tough to work in.

[Anonymous]

I really hate galley kitchens. Everyone always crowds in the kitchen and in a galley there is no space. Plus I love entertaining and having a glass of wine in the kitchen at a big island.

[Anonymous]

Ooh I think you have your answer. I’m all open kitchen now with a family but remember the awesome gallery kitchens of yore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had one in our old house and I can't think on one single pro.

What were the cons?

So many:
super cramped even with 2 people
if one does the dishes, nobody else can walk by to grab something, open the fridge etc.
very hard to fit wall ovens
no option to eat in
no option to cook while having anyone close to me, it feels like you are the help
limited storage
dark, not a lot of natural lighting
no space for a wine fridge, undercounter ice maker
only one sink

I don't like huge, undefined spaces where the kitchen blends into the living room / dining room / entry way but there is a balance between that and the catacomb-like galley kitchen.