Our kitchen is 17x18 but the counter space is almost always full of stuff. I need to find better places for stuff and/or throw some stuff out.
We're without a cat for the first time in over 20 years. The one we got when my wife's mother died had been in failing health for months, and I'm slowly cleaning out the cat paraphernalia this weekend, that might free up some counter space. Though I suspect we'll get another cat at some point, we're just not in a big hurry. Might get two younger cats so they can keep each other company.