How to design a gorgeous galley kitchen for a smaller home

Compact, practical and potentially delicious with ergonomic chic, galley kitchens allow you to retain a perfect workflow

Storage taken to the far side of the island is transformative: Caramel and white cabinets, manganese bronze tracks, about €27,500, Kube Interiors (Ireland).

Often dismissed as one of the most prescriptive layouts, the linear galley kitchen for one or two users is a chef favourite, with the golden triangle of wet/dry workstations navigated in a few steps and a balletic spin. Far from an apartment compromise, if you investigate the footprint of many rangy kitchens, that efficient, comfortable pinch between the working wall of the kitchen where the stove and sink are sited mirrored by an island or peninsula — often delivers up a galley. 

A seasoned designer will meet the challenge with creative relish. Compact, practical and potentially delicious with ergonomic chic, here’s how to get galley-gorgeous while retaining a perfect workflow.