Galley kitchen ideas: 19 designs for narrow kitchens
A gallery kitchen, also called a Frankfurt kitchen (named for the city in which it was first designed by the historic female architect Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky) is first and foremost a utilitarian space which makes the most of pokey rooms and (hopefully) high ceilings. The much maligned galley kitchen has a certain charm of its own, but can be tricky to design, as the narrow space doesn't leave much room for manoeuvre, and it's crucial to maximise every inch of space for kitchen storage. A sleek modern style works well in these kitchens, as clean lines help to give a streamlined look, but it's perfectly possible to go down a more traditional route and still have a light, airy feel. As the years have gone on (and space in cities has become, if possible, even more restricted), brilliantly creative people have conjured up stylish and deeply welcoming gallery kitchens using little more than two rows of cabinets, a lick of paint and some carefully hung artwork.
There are some key questions to address: namely whether to opt for over-counter cupboards or floating shelves (for some, the former can be oppressive in a small space, while others find open shelving makes it feel cluttered and messy), what colour to paint it (is a dark colour a mistake in a pokey room, or does it create the optical illusion of infinite wall heights?) and which appliances are best suited to a room that, realistically, isn't begging for endless cluttering technology.
If you are looking for a way to jolly up your mealtimes, we've gathered together our favourite galley kitchens from the House & Garden archives to give you some inspiration to help you on your way.










