I currently have a 1 1/2 year old yorkshire terrier. My husbman and I are going through a divorce and Im proud to say that I get to keep our baby/yorkie. Unfortunately I work from 9am to 5pm I go home let him out of his crate and then head of to school at 6pm until 11pm. Once I'm home he has run of the apartment (11pm-8:30am) I feel horrible for leaving him in the crate so I'm wondering if he would enjoy staying in the ktichen with gates blocking him in which has no windows instead of staying in the crate.

I leave my dog in the kitchen when I am not home.
Just make sure he can't get behind anything like the fridge or stove and put everything he could get into up.

I don't find that nice, but I am not a dog owner. I would think the best thing to do is find a doggy day care. Leaving your dog in a room for a long time, all by itself, doesn't sound too nice. There are also, usually, people who you can pay to come and check on your 'baby' and take him/her for a walk.
I just think if would be a lot nicer for you to let him/her have more time with other people and dogs, not locked up in a room.

Those are too many hours for it to be in a crate. IF you must and I say must leave the dog alone for all of those hours it is much better off in the kitchen providing you can dog proof it. I really think it needs to have more social time than what it is getting, maybe you could have a family sit it or find affordable day care.

I know so many people that work 40 weeks not even including travel time.
I think if you have to leave a dog alone for so long I think it would be nice to have two to keep each other company.

I know plenty of people who leave their dogs in their crate from 8am - 6pm, only to come home, spend 3 - 4 hours with the dog, and then go to sleep. Make sure the dog gets plenty of exercise, and that the crate is relatively comfortable, and I think it'll be OK.