Our kitchen renovation has not started yet but we are getting rid of the #^@#$*(%$## peninsula and putting an island in our kitchen, which is much narrower than yours (11'). Not only is the peninsula a dumping ground for mail, papers, and junk, I have to walk around it every time I want to go to the kitchen table, answer the phone, or go out to the deck. I expect the island will have its own set of getting used-to-moves. But at least the traffic patterns will be better!

My (old) area is very different from yours, but what I don't like about the peninsula is that the wall end of it is pretty much wasted space. The best layout I've found for my own so far is to cut the peninsula and make a shorter island in a similar space. Peninsulas seem to work best as room dividers, instead of walls, rather than instead of islands.

All such things are tricky. The main thing is not to have either a peninsula or an island cut into your work path. In my brother's kitchen there are both! One has to go around the island and peninsula to get from the fridge to the sink, and go round the corners from the island cooktop to the sink and fridge. Not a great set-up for anyone who cooks more than he does.

I liked your baker's island layout from a round or two ago. Is there any way you can do something like that and still maintain a clear path for the classic work triangle?

Hi Sarah. Our kitchen is approximately the same size as yours, and we'll have a 25" x 5' island. (The room itself is about 25' long, I believe, so the working part of the kitchen will be U-shaped with the island tucked in the open part of the U.)

Well, I can see the pros and cons of both, but more pros for the island depending on appliance placement. For example, in our previous kitchen (the one which was removed last week -- yippee!), the island was a total pain. I felt as if I were getting my required exercise walking around it to go from the fridge to the (only) sink. And its (island's) top was a breeding ground for our junk -- if we had stuff it got piled on top.

So we thought about not having the island in the to-be kitchen but realized we really wanted both the storage as well as the function (it will become our primary working surface with a butcher block top). So then we thought about a peninsula but, as raynag wrote, in our particular space feared it would become a traffic jam. We joked about putting in a railroad crossing sign (3.5 year-old who loves trains -- on all our brains!). And, like you, my 19 month-old lives to hold onto my pant legs (at least it feels as if he lives to do so ...), so I knew he'd always be inconveniently underfoot and it was just a crying accident waiting to happen. Plus all the pets who feel if a human is in the kitchen then so must they. That's why we love them, right?

So we decided against the peninsula and in favor of the island, a narrow island at that (25"). At least, compared to some of the beauties I've seen here ours is petite.

Our refrigerator and sink are both being moved so as to make a much friendlier transition (no running around the island), and we'll have refrigerator drawers adjacent to the sink (it will remain our only sink -- we do not have an enormous kitchen, or rather, we prefer tons and tons of storage and were definitely willing to sacrifice a second sink to obtain it), so those should also help ameliorate any extra exercise I might get -- ha ha!

The aisle space will be on the tighter side, but for us, we decided it was worth it to shimmy around one another (I'm exaggerating) and still have the island, vice have heaps more room in the kitchen but a potentially harder time actually getting into the kitchen with a peninsula.

Wait, here's a peninsula-removal-and-regret story: my parents took out a peninsula and put in an island and it is HORRIBLE. Eight people, theoretically, can work in that kitchen (it's a grand room), but none of them can move past one another. It is hands-down the prettiest kitchen I've ever, ever seen, and it is the crappiest layout as well. Then again, my parents don't cook and my mother was upfront that she wanted a kitchen which looked good ... well, she got what she wanted! But when we go to visit, Sarah, and naturally we have to do the cooking (her idea of dinner is frozen peas mixed with cottage cheese and some Italian salad dressing on it -- no, I am not kidding), both my husband and I spend the whole time rolling our eyes and muttering four letter expletives. For someone who cooks, their space would have worked better with a peninsula, but, as I wrote, they don't cook. Imagine that.

Have you drawn up both ideas? How wide would you be willing / able to make the peninsula entrance into the kitchen? If you could make it extra-wide, then perhaps it could work for you? Good luck!

We totally redid the floorplan for our kitchen with changing door locations. Our 8' peninsula is working well for us because on the outer side we have a 3' wide space to wall which serves as space for stools and seldom used pathway to outside patio. Our goal was to gain as much cabinet and counter space as possible. I can see how a peninsula might not be efficient if you have major appliances or functions on the outer side of it.

In our case, the peninsula is also working well for entertaining guests and keeping them away from the stove and sink area.

Whereas islands are popular and can be very pretty, they're not for everyone.

If I had a u-shaped kitchen, it would have to be huge before I would even consider bisecting with an island and if my kitchen were that huge, I probably wouldn't opt for a u-shaped layout. In my humble opinion, the chief benefit of a u-shaped kitchen is having all of the elements comprising the work triangle close at hand and most of that utility would be sacrificed if an island were placed in the center of the "u." On the other hand, if you include an eating bar pennisula on one side of the "u," you pick up additional counterspace (which is the practical reason for having a kitchen island) and you sacrifice nothing in terms of kitchen layout utility (which cannot always be said for a kitchen island).

Good luck with your design and try to have some fun along the way.

This is very helpful, but I am, as usual, totally undecided. The island defintely would be prettier, but in my space, I'm not sure it's as functional (also seems to be A LOT more expensive than a peninsula for some goofy reason).

Plllog, unfortunately, there was no way to make the baker's island work where I don't have fairly narrow aisles and have to walk around it to get to the sink from the refrigerator, unless I put the MW either across the room from the fridge (yuk), or down low in the island (double yuk). Right now, we have a poorly placed peninsula that gives us a 60" aisle between sink and range, and my DH and I are constantly stepping over each other and getting in each others' way. Add my ragamuffins, and it's really tight. So even if I can get a true 48" aisle (and not sure I can when you take into account overhangs, appliance clearances, etc.), around the island, it's going to be squeezy.

In our case, the peninsula would be moved to the other side of the room and used as a room divider with the dining room. There would be a 5' "doorway" between the wall cabs and the end of the peninsula, and 8' from the peninsula to the range (plenty of room for sink and prep space).

There will be no doors to other rooms or the yard from the kitchen (backyard access will be from the DR. The peninsula would have an 18" overhang for seating, but will not be raised (I think the raised bar is the cause of junk collecting since it's not working countertop space). This would give the looky-loos a place to perch while keeping them (mostly) out from underfoot. Undecided, but I could put the sink on either the peninsula or under the window. If it's on the peninsula, it will be a quick access point from fridge to sink and would increase visual contact with other areas of the house (but the sink would be directly facing the DR -- not ideal).

Also, if I use a peninsula instead of an island I could fit a standard depth fridge instead of spending $$$$ on a built in (cabinet depth don't have sufficient capacity and so aren't an option). With an island, the standard depth fridge was taking up too much aisle space and making the island unworkable. OTOH, really, really like the look of the built in fridges. So pretty.

With a peninsula, I only need 1 sink (could fit in a prep sink, but not sure it's necessary). With an island I HAVE to have a prep sink in the island so that I don't have to walk around the island to get from Fridge to sink.

The island essentially bisects the U workspace, while the peninsula would keep that space open, and I could get a small 2X2 or round butcherblock or marble top island that can be moved out of the way, or tucked into the pantry, for added prep/storage space.

Hmmmm.

Draw it out and let's compare!

I'm drawing it during my lunch. I'll post it tonight.

Maybe if I do a peninsula instead of the pricey island, I'll save enough to be able to do quartz counters in a terrazo style and marmoleum floors. Oooh. Ahh.

For my retro peninsula inspiration, I'm thinking of the green-counter kitchen in larzebub's post to this thread (scroll down).

Here is a link that might be useful: Green counter retro peninsula kitchen

You've just answered your post question: The island doesn't work. It just doesn't. I like your inspiration peninsula, especially since it's more cabinet than seating space, so won't impinge on the eating area as much as it otherwise might.

If you really want the best of both worlds, you could put heavy, locking wheels on the peninsula so that you could move it into the kitchen proper if you want a baking island. But the main reason to do this is if you're working with the kids on the other side, and there's no reason why you can't do that on the peninsula where it is :) When my mother and I make hors d'oeuvre together we use the pass through sink board from her breakfast room, with one on each side, and if that works, a peninsula will work much better :)

BTW, kitchen carts are great in theory, but I've never used mine for kitchen stuff. It makes a great boxing and mailing center. When I got it I thought it would be a good auxiliary counter in a too wide kitchen but it became a junk collector and something to be pushed out of the way constantly.

Oh, good point about having people work from both sides of the peninsula. In that case, I would definitely want the sink to be under the window instead of on the peninsula leg. Maybe I could put a small prep sink in the peninsula, close to the end so that I still have a nice big stretch of prep space.

And thanks for the heads up on the kitchen cart. That sounds like more trouble than it's worth.

Hmm. More to think about....

First I thought...Whoa...This is going to be a way different inspiration than Barrelhaus' unfitted kitchen you loved. But I like this...It's cute, but still has some of the traditional/very classic timeless styling you like with hutches and such. I could see myself getting a little tired of the cutesy colorful bent to it, but this would be easy to make more sophisticated with a new counter and wooden stools...It could have a whole new personality very easily, which, I think is a good thing, since what you like and is family-appropriate with your kids as young as they are won't necessarily be what you want when you're all older. I hope I'm not sounding negative about how her kitchen looks, because it's wonderful...It just has the additional benefit of having builtin flexibility for the future.

It is definitely different from the unfitted kitchen, but it seems to call to me, too, and since I just have not been able to come up with a good layout with a nice island (unless I play with a costly addition that we can't really afford), I was thinking something that would be easy to transition as we get more $$$, without a whole new costly redo, might be what I need. Plus, I think this seems to fit the style of the house a bit better -- traditional, but more 1940s-1960s feeling to it. So, for now (while kids and dog are young), I may go with marmoleum floors, which we can replace with hardwood when we can afford to do the whole house's flooring (since the hardwood is truly messed up in the kitchen, but looks fine even if it's a bit too 1980s honey oak, in the other rooms, including the DR). Also, for counters, right now, I need something that is fairly impervious to kids and a DH who don't exactly wipe up messes. I don't want banded lineoleum, but was thinking that a pretty zodiaq quartz would be just the thing. DuPont had some new colors that looked like carrera marble, and the terrazo style quartz counters are lovely. Although I really do love the look of soapstone, and if it fits in the budget, I may put that in my splurge list. I don't know if I want to put in a glass hutch or a plate rack/open storage like the one in that inspiration picture. The nice thing about a glass hutch is that the dishes and shelves don't get dusty and the hutch can work in nicely with a more elegant look. If I can declutter the house a bit tonight (assuming it will look like a bomb exploded in a toy factory when I get home), I will try to take some pictures so that you can see our style a bit better. I have some funky 1930s-1960s furnishings mixed in with more traditional style stuff.

It sounds like you may be on a good track...If you can truly love this other style. I'd hate to have you feel that you 'settled.' But I think this offers a great mix of style/period, some fun, some tradition, and the quartz will really add some zing and dressiness to mix with the casual, comfortable feel. I think it gives you a good setting for funky or more elegant accessories...or an interesting mix.

I'm not a fan of open storage. We've had too much of it in our temporary quarters while we're building and am sick of things getting dusty...and the dust in the kitchen is often greasy, too. With kids running around kicking up dust and keeping you busy with things other than fanatical housekeeping, I would go for the hutch. ;-)

Not sure it's "settling," so much as turning down a different trail entirely. Re the hutch v. open storage: that was my thought, too. Those plate racks always look cute in a picture, but at heart I'm a pretty practical girl, and I know my limits. Dusting greasy plate shelves is probably one of them. :-) At one time, I even had all of our books behind glass doors to cut down on dust.

I'm not sure where you are going now, but in answer to the original question: We just put in a peninsula, and so far, after a grand total of I think 3 weeks (can't believe I don't really know the date)in an actual functional kitchen... we are extremely happy with a peninsula.

When you say your kitchen is 16' x 14'- does that include the eating area, or is that all working area? Can you include a layout pic? (I forget what everyone's kitchen looks like, so sorry need a visual)

Our total area is 25' long X 10 1/2' wide. The working area is 15' long ending with a 66" peninsula- so that the 'eating' side borrows space from our relatively small eating area of 10 feet. This has created a nice long (for us) prep area where 2 or more cooks can work comfortably. Before renos, all we had was the counter space above the dishwasher (so I guess that was 24", plus the little corner from sink to stove- never got used for prep was just enough room for coffee maker) We really like the openness, no bumping into one another, and fridge is just the right distance away on the opposite wall. There is only a 32"-34" (end curves) aisle from beverage centre and peninsula into dining area, but does not seem squished or small at all (we worried about that). We just had our first dinner party Saturday, and one of the guests was even on crutches, and it never seemed to be an issue.

BTW, every single visitor we've had since the granite was put in (and even before, when we just had plywood counters) has gravitated to the peninsula- and you have no idea how much I worried that it was going to cut kitchen in half and harm any future resale...:>)

Well it sounds like you have a terrific solution! Good job.

I want to add my two cents about the Zodiaq carrara: it's actually a product by Okite (absorbed by Zodiaq) and I wasn't thrilled with it (both the sample I had them send m as well as going to look at a slab). Put it on your list, yes, but seriously, really look at it. I know somewhere here I saw a kitchen with it and in the photos, it looked terrific. In real life, not so much.

Congratulations on your developing plan -- it's such fun!

My rehab house had a galley kitchen and I hated it, plus there was water damage on the interior wall with the kitchen sink and cabinets. I threw out the kitchen sink & water damaged base cabinets, moved the upper cabinets to another wall in a washer/dryer alcove to be used as utility cabinets...and I tore the wall out. Now I have a custom-built peninsula with a large hammered copper sink, disposal and dishwasher installed, and the upper "bar top" is both a breakfast counter and will be a bar when we entertain. On the wall end I will have shelving that will store barware and hors d'oerve plates and such. The peninsula also has two spacious shelves at the other end, which is far enough from the nearest wall that I can have a small kitchen island on casters against that wall (or even a small table). What I like best is the peninsula serves as a room divider and focal point between the kitchen and the family room where I also tore out an exterior wall and installed a sliding glass door (and two sidelite windows) that goes out to my new 10'x4' balcony deck. Peninsulas are definitely the way to go if you're taking out a kitchen wall to open out space into another room!

Okay, so that I don't clutter the peninsula thread with my layout, I am posting my possible peninsula layouts with the previous layout thread. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Peninsula Layout (scroll down)