How to Redo a Galley Kitchen

Assess ways to make a galley kitchen look contemporary. A dark space furnished with outdated fixtures and cabinets will subtract from the home's appeal. Consider adding a long row of windows on an exterior wall to give more natural light. Look at high-end cabinets that might work better than old particle board cabinets, for example. Review materials such as granite tiles for countertops and base cabinets with deep drawers.

Install cabinets with sleek hardware. Use cherry cabinets with smooth doors and drawer fronts accentuated by smooth satin nickel pulls. Get rid of clutter, countertop appliances and miscellaneous items in full view. Plan a storage system that keeps countertops clean and neat. Install a pantry system in a back entrance or storage room to free up kitchen storage.

Install well-crafted appliances and a new sink. Buy stainless steel appliances, which go with any paint color or wood stain. Install a sink that will hold deep pots and a high, curved faucet to allow for washing large pots easily within the sink space. Purchase a restaurant-quality stainless gas range to create a gourmet kitchen. Keep in mind that expert cooks use gas for cooking because of it sustains an even temperature in food preparation.

Add new lighting and brighten the floor space. Hang lights along the parallel counters of a galley kitchen or use recessed lighting overhead. Create even lighting at every point in the kitchen, because a galley kitchen -- especially one with few windows -- can become dark and depressing. Use white tile on the floor to reflect more light in the narrow space.

Move part of one counter's base cabinets to another wall. Use space from a nearby dining room or living room to incorporate into a small kitchen. Leave the main sink counter of the galley kitchen in place, for example, and cut its accompanying parallel counter in half. Use another wall nearby for floor-to-ceiling cabinets. Make the kitchen more of a U- or L-shape to add extra width and a better traffic pattern.