Does your home have a galley kitchen? If so, you probably have a love-hate relationship with it. Most homeowners love the compact design’s efficiency but hate the lack of storage.
One solution is to add square footage to the galley kitchen by stealing space from an adjoining area. However, moving walls can quickly consume a sizeable portion of the budget and dramatically extend the project timeline.
For this family in Norfolk St., Cambridge, the best option was to breathe new life into the tired kitchen finishes and increase the available storage while preserving the existing layout.
As you can see, this remodel achieves a harmonious balance between practicality and style. The project maintains the main benefit of a galley kitchen by keeping the original layout intact: a compact and efficient footprint.
The new contemporary cabinets increase the available storage and transform the space into a more organized, functional, and visually appealing environment. As a result, this galley kitchen is now the heart of this family home.
Cambridge Galley Kitchen Remodel Details
In addition to increasing usable storage space, this project also included the following items.
- New LED can light
- Relocating the microwave above the stove to free up counter space
- New appliances – stove, fridge, and dishwasher
- Adding a new cabinet above the sink
- New sink and faucet
- New countertops with ceramic tile backsplash
- New base cabinet and outlet at the closed end of the galley kitchen
- New flooring
- Full-height upper cabinets with crown molding trim
- Roll out shelves in the base cabinets for pots, pans, and small appliances
- Roll out trash and recycle bins
- Contemporary cabinet hardware
The primary goal of this kitchen renovation was to increase the available storage while updating the cabinets and finishes. As you can see from the before and after images above, this simple galley kitchen remodel met and exceeded the client’s expectations. By retaining the existing layout, there was no need to relocate any plumbing or gas lines, which saved the family valuable time and money.
Tips for Planning a Custom Kitchen Remodel in Cambridge, MA
Planning for your kitchen remodel starts by creating two lists. The first should include everything you like about your existing kitchen, and the second should list all its shortcomings. Sharing these lists with the kitchen remodel contractor or designer ensures everyone is on the same page.
You can also visit local kitchen design showrooms to check out trending styles, different layout ideas, and kitchen storage options to incorporate into your kitchen renovation project.
Why Custom Kitchen Cabinets Are Essential for Your Renovation
For this Cambridge galley kitchen, custom kitchen cabinets allowed us to maximize the available storage. While the prefab cabinets are generally less expensive, you’re limited to the cabinet sizes and features the manufacturer offers. With custom kitchen cabinets, storage solutions like pull-out pantry shelves, lazy Susan’s, extra-deep drawers, spice drawers, and built-in utensil caddies can be added to almost any cabinet to maximize storage further. Custom kitchen cabinets also make adding storage virtually anywhere in the space easier, as shown below.
The new cabinet works like a sideboard and provides storage for serving platters and cookie sheets, while the new countertop creates the ideal spot for a coffee bar.
How Granite and Quartz Countertops Can Transform Your Kitchen
One of the easiest ways to upgrade a small kitchen is to upgrade the dull ceramic or Formica countertops with either quartz or granite. Heavy veining and dark colors typically add drama and contrast, while lighter colors, like the quartz in this galley kitchen, add warmth and brightness.
Both quartz and granite countertops are ideal for every kitchen remodel because they are available in an endless supply of colors and patterns. While granite is 100% natural stone, quartz is 95% natural stone and 5% resin, both are heat-resistant and extremely durable. The major difference is that granite must be resealed annually because it is porous, while the resin used with quartz creates a solid surface.
Is Kitchen Remodeling in Cambridge, Massachusetts Worth the Cost?
Whether you’re looking to improve the flow and function of your family home or want to increase its value before selling, it’s hard to beat the ROI (Return on Investment) of a kitchen remodel. According to the Remodeling website 2024 Cost vs. Value Guide, a midrange kitchen remodel in the Cambridge, MA area has an ROI of 117.4%.
| Remodel Costs | Increased Value |
| $20,000 | $23,480.00 |
| $40,000 | $46,960.00 |
| $60,000 | $70,440.00 |
| $80,000 | $93,920.00 |
No matter the size of your budget, a kitchen remodel will improve your home’s functionality while increasing your home’s resale value.
Tips for Finding a Reliable Kitchen Remodeling Contractor in Cambridge, MA
Start by verifying that the contractor is properly licensed and insured to provide the needed work.
The next step is to check the company’s experience performing kitchen remodels in Cambridge, MA, and ask the following questions.
- Do they use only top-quality materials?
- Can they provide professional kitchen design services?
- Do they have a dedicated customer service team in place?
- Can they provide affordable project financing options?
- Do they have any special promotions that could save you money?
Consider working with a design-build contractor like Bay State Remodeling to reduce construction costs. Our in-house design team can quickly prepare your original project drawings and handle unforeseen changes that might arise.
Share your lists, and work with the design-build contractor to finalize the plans and finishes for your classic, mid-century, or contemporary kitchen design.
You should also review their customer testimonials to see how the company has worked with other local homeowners, just like you.
With over 15 years of successful remodeling projects, our attention to detail has won us numerous awards and accolades from industry leaders like Houzz, Angi, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau.
If you’re still looking for ideas for your kitchen remodel, please visit our gallery of kitchen remodel projects for inspiration. Whether you’re ready to remodel your kitchen today or just starting to imagine how a new kitchen could improve family life, the Bay State Remodeling team is ready to help. Call us at (617) 340-6418 or send us an email to start the conversation.
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