Could use some help designing this kitchen!

[James Hamilton]

Hi all, 

Hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday so far. I am hoping to find some advice for how to remodel an outdated kitchen on my first investment property. 

Pic 1 - blue square represents a wall I want to remove to open the space up. On the other side of the wall is the living room and front entrance. The fridge line and stove outlet are in yellow. I'll have to leave wall above the top of the stove (with a narrow countertop), but I want to move the water line to the other side of the kitchen. I also was thinking of painting the cabinets and installing a new quartz or granite countertop. 

Pic 2 - different angle. Horrible red countertop, shelf thing has got to go. 

Pic 3 - want to move the water line to the other side and put the fridge in the yellow circle area. Also would like to throw down some fresh kitchen tile. 

Admittedly, I am not very skilled at designing....so would love to get some advice on what you would do with this kitchen.  Would be greatly appreciated! 

Also, could anyone ballpark an estimated remodel cost for this kitchen...leaving out cost of appliances? I have some contractors scheduled to visit later this week but would like to have a figure in mind before they give me their bid. Thanks again!

[Scott Mac]

I agree with @Joe Villeneuve,

He's an Architect, and knows his stuff.

I also did a mockup for a Class B SFH.

Pushed out a wall, cut a doorway, boxed in the water heater (check local building codes re this), added pantry cabinets (at the expense of counter space (not everyone is full on cooking 3 squares a day, with the readiness of microwave and ready to heat oven foods.)

 I added a WOW factor big bottom freezer fridge, may or may not be needed.

If it were mine, I also might put in inexpensive sliding glass doors in the kitchen and living room in place of the windows, to let more light in and to open up the spaces to a paver patio or deck. 

Also those 2 white kitchen tiles, maybe you can swap them out for 2 from the mud room/laundry room or whatever the room is behind the kitchen. Under a washing machine 2 white tiles will not matter.

Here are a couple of mock-ups, not as much counter space as Joe recommends (which is important), but a trade off for some storage and a walkway.

the range and the sink are across from each other, and you might be able to save a back by leaving no cabinets over the fridge.