Back in 2011, Roger Shollmier, a well-established Oklahoma-based kitchen designer, started tinkering with a new concept for his own kitchen. He enjoyed cooking and thought that a well-equipped central spot where all of the prep and clean-up tools could live would be quite useful. So he created what he would later call the “Galley Workstation.” It included an 84-in., single-bowl sink outfitted with colanders and bowls, cutting boards and a drain rack that he sourced through local manufacturers. 

Finding his invention so useful in his own home, Shollmier started creating them for his kitchen clients. The Galley, LLC, was born, taking its name and inspiration from super-efficient ships’ galleys. Shollmier’s first design was branded as The Galley Ideal Workstation 7, one of six workstation packages sold by the company.

The Ideal Workstations range from a compact 22-in. prep sink with a five-piece accessory set to an 81-1/2-in.,  two-person installation with an 11-piece set. Accessories come in black or white resin or natural bamboo, and their numbers keep growing. There are currently 18 galley accessories that can be purchased separately, including an outdoor cover, knife block, half-sheet pan, and condiment-serving boards. 

Sinks are all 16-gauge stainless steel, with sound-deadening undercoating and pads, and a spot-resistant “Angel” finish. The sinks have double rims that allow two rows of accessories to glide across. Standard depth is 10-in., but custom workstations are available with a 9-in. depth. The standard design is undermount, but there are apron-front and apron-ready custom options. With the exception of the prep sink, which has a center  drain, the standard sinks come with a side drain that can be installed to the left or right. Also standard is a removeable sink divider that creates a second bowl designed to serve as a built-in ice bucket for entertaining. Galley sinks can be installed indoors or out and are designed to fit into a standard-depth (24-in.) sink-base cabinet. 

In the unlikely event you can’t find what you need in the existing packages, Galley workstations can be fully customized. You’re going to wait at least four to six weeks, though, and pay a bit more. Prices for the six standard Ideal Workstations range from $2195 to $6995. Galley products are sold only through the company’s distributor network. Go the website for a list.

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