I assume that the original fridge placement was on the far left. If so then yes I think it should be moved back. If you don't want to lose the cupboard space you could consider an under counter bar size fridge, many are large enough for the needs of a couple and you could keep the cupboard above. I'd put an island coming out into the space where the fridge is now for more counter space and leave the window unblocked, that would also provide more storage. You could put open shelving on the wall where the fridge currently is. If you were considering moving the sink so as to have room for a double I think the extra counter space of an island would enable you to install a double sink in it's current location.

I'd need to see a floorplan but I agree with @leilynne that a smaller under counter fridge is a good idea as well as do NOT block the window. I'm also not a big fan of spending money on someone else's property (unless you're my tenant :-) ... I had a decorator friend live in a place in Topanga and put expensive hardwood floors in throughout (even though she was deeply in debt and only lived there two years as she couldn't afford it). There's a lot you can do with paint, cheap and chi'ful !

I assume the fridge was originally located in the corner to the left of the sink? You should return it to that location.

Get rid of the odd countertop in front of the window. Instead, get a rolling cart for that area (with storage and a worktop). Or, is the wood floor the transition to another room? If you have the space, you could put the rolling cart perpendicular to the window wall -- like a room divider. (Or just move it as needed.)

You could also install peg board on the wall left of the window for storage. And / or hang pans from the ceiling over the cart.

The window is the best part of this kitchen; don't cover it up. Do get a new window covering if you need privacy.

Please don't block your window! As a designer that's just weird, unless you plan on replacing it with a higher window and extending the existing finish to cover the whole. You will have all manner of undesirable stuff build up over time in a location that's difficult to clean. I disagree with leilynne. It looks too tight for an island... after all, how would you open the stove?

It's a little hard because I don't know what exists beyond the fridge and stove (as pictured). I suggest: [1] Leave your fridge where it is but turn it 90 degrees so that it opens toward your window. Build a small wall behind it 24"-30" wide, just enough to screen the back of your fridge from whatever is there - don't forget the outlet. [2] To the right of the existing stove, extend a new counter to align with your new 'screen' wall behind the fridge. With this tiny bit of additonal counter you could have a small bar to sit at - OR - if you [3] swapped your sink and your stove, you could add a dishwasher under your additional counter. (Sinks need to be next to dishwashers.) Either way, more prep surface. [4]Depending on what's behind the wall where the current stove (new sink) resides, you could either extent the wall or frame an opening in to open up the space or both. [5] Since added a small length of counter space and potentially an upper cabinet above it, think about adding a full height pantry

I agree with the others - put the fridge to the left of the sink. Then get a rolling island/cart with a butcher block top and shelving below if you need more counter/storage space. I also agree about avoiding spending too much money on fixing rentals - spend it on solutions that you can take with you from place to place unless you plan on being there for a long time.

I would also put the fridge in the corner. You can get a little moveable island or kitchen cart from IKEA if you need an extra prep space. Don't spend money on new appliances or built-in cabinetry, but do fix that mess over the window. Corner cabinets usually are not a good use of space in any case, so you won't be losing much.

Wow - Your landlord did a really craptastic job with the IKEA - I'm so sorry...

If it were my place, I'd pull the entire thing out and start from scratch - placing both the fridge and stove on the back wall to either side of the sink - straight upper wall cabinets along the back wall - and a small island counter with a butcherblock counter in the center of the room for storage, workspace and a place to pull up a couple stools...
...but it's a rental and unlikely that your landlord is gonna shell out for another new kitchen - so I'd live with it and move on next year.

i'm confused. is this a place you're renting yourself, or are you the owner and future landlord? if you're the renter of this strangely laid out kitchen, i wouldn't sink a dime into a remodel. it's a waste of time and money for a place that's not yours. i'd focus on adding function to the space with a kitchen island/cart, pegboard potrack, shelving, or other things that can be used in your next rental. if you own this building, and are planning on using it as a rental, it may be worth it to start over with a new cabinet layout. however, moving the sink (plumbing), and stove (gas) is expensive, and may not be a worthwhile investment for a rental.

I would put the fridge in the corner where it "originally" was, and then put a long rectangular butcher's block on wheels where the fridge is now. The butcher's block would act like a fourth "wall" for the space plus give you extra chopping room. You could even get a stool to put at the block if you want.

Curious's comment makes me think my post might not have been clear. I wasn't suggesting putting an island in the middle of the space where it could block the stove, rather putting some kind of island/countertop/kitchen work cart where the fridge currently is, perpendicular to the wall. I see that a few others have suggested the same thing. My answer was also based on the assumption that you are renting this house and don't mind spending a little money fixing it up (I myself am buying a new sink for my bathroom, I'm planning to stay here for a while and it's to ugly for words right now) however, if you own this house and are going to be renting it out then I agree with travelingrory, gut it and start over because as a renter this kitchen would be a dealbreaker for me.

What great ideas y'all have. Thank you for the feedback!

To clarify things, we've owned the house for 22 years. It's historically certified and on a tiny cobblestone alley with a huge amount of foot traffic because it's in Society Hill Philadelphia. The house is just over 700 sf. The kitchen window faces the alley, and cooking, waving and chatting to the neighbors through the window is one of the best things about the house. The kitchen is 21 years old, we've wanted to redo it for years, but in 13 years of renting it we've never had more than a day or so between tenants, and our tenants have demurred when asked if we could redo it. We're landlords of other properties, too, and want to do something special, Terrainish/Anthro like our other houses, that includes a stainless 18" Miele dishwasher and an attractive stove and hood, but we're forced to look at vintage for that because of the size limitations. (The molding next to the refrigerator is the front door!)

Any more great ideas?

Ditto what the others have said. Fridge next to the sink, and butcher block. I don't know if a total reno is in the plan, but those cabinets are a litle unsightly and to me they look much too large for the space. That said, where would the dishwasher go if you move the fridge back?

I agree with what a few others have said - move the fridge back to the left hand corner (to the left of the sink), remove that odd counter that is cutting across the window and add a butcher block perpendicular to the window, but on the outside of the kitchen.

where did you get the fridge? i like it.

urban opulence, it's Summit CP171SS, 24"x24"x 79" designed in Denmark by renowned artist David Whitten Lewis. Two compressors for independent cooling of the refrigerator and freezer. An automatic defrost fresh food section simplifies user maintenance, while the manually defrosting bottom freezer conserves energy. Includes a wine rack. Our tenants' electric bills dropped substantially when we bought these.

Here's what I'd do, given that you own and it sounds like are ready to make some investment in the space: rip out the current kitchen. It's so tiny that you can easily replace it with functional if simple cabinets from IKEA or comparable, and you may spend just as much trying to make it work with the existing cabinetry. Then put the L back the way it seems like it once was, with the fridge in the corner on the left, then a small sink (go tiny---the whole space is small, so embrace that), then a little counter, and then a small stove. You may be able to find a vintage apartment stove (O'Keefe and Merritt made some great ones back in the day) that would add a fun historic aesthetic while conserving space.

If you run the few uppers you have up to the ceiling (including one over the fridge), you can pick up a little storage space. I wouldn't wrap the corner with these, though---it seems like it would make the space feel smaller. Where the refrigerator is now, I'd hang shallow shelves all the way up for added storage without having a cabinet or counter greet you at the front door. If you really want counter space on that side, you could try a work table or something that could be moved, since it would look less peculiar blocking the window in that case.

It's all hard to say without seeing a floorplan, though---for instance, what's on the other side of the stove? Is there room to spill out into a dining room or eating area there? If so, I'd look at ways to open up the connections between the spaces so that you can "borrow" from one when you need to.

Finally, a really unusual option you could explore is using freestanding furniture (IKEA makes an inexpensive line, but there are others) and moving the sink under the window as you suggested, with the range where the sink is now. You'd still be blocking the window, but a little less permanently so. (I presume you can't shorten the window given the historic certification.) You'd need to play around with this using the true dimensions to see if it would actually be an improvement, but I generally like sinks under windows whenever possible, especially when they have social elements at play! You could then potentially even make a U with a shallow counter opposite the sink.

Curious to see how it pans out!

1. I would move the SS refrigerator back to the original location
2. I'd move the stove to the right of the sink, and if possible get a small SS stove, with a SS microwave oven/hood to put above it -> it will balance out the tall refridgerator.
3. keep the sink where it is but maybe get a upper and lower cabinets that fit the space perfectly -> maybe even SS units from IKEA
4. Having now created an "appliance wall" and gotten rid of the "L" you can now float an island which will provide the counterspace you've lost and also possibly create some seating.

5. One more thing ... IF you do wind up redoing the kitchen I'd suggest you consider adding a dishwasher on the appliance wall; they do make DW's that fit underneath a sink for the tight space that you have.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&rlz=1C1CHME_enUS363US364&q=stainless under sink dishwasher&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=14869706540147779947&ei=8L18S7_UGYnYsQPOxty8Cw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers

that url didn't work
http://www.us-appliance.com/gsm2260nss.html?gdftrk=gdfV21216_a_7c444_a_7c1600_a_7cgsm2260nss

on 2nd thought, you have space for a deep sink and an 18" wide dw, which probably is better proportioned for this small kitchen.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/GE - Spacemaker 18%22 Built-In Dishwasher - Stainless-Steel/8498903.p?skuId=8498903&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8498903&ref=06&loc=01&id=1186004522407