flat peninsula vs. bar decision

16 years ago

The last decision on our layout is about adding a bar on the peninsula. The question: Flat, 2 levels, or just peninsula with no area for chairs at all (the way it is currently)?

It will be only 54" long (a little longer than our current peninsula in that spot), and separates the familyroom/kithen table area from the kitchen.

We decided not to have a sink or stove top in this spot, so it's just open space for prep, serving food, and of course as a flat area will no doubt collect junk, as it does currently...

Another decision about the 2 level bar is whether to have it more enclosed -- continuing that 2nd level of bar along the outside (in an L shape), providing more 'leaning area' as well as a more framed sort of look.

I like the bar idea for more seating, for a place for guests to hang out while we cook. But all flat seems better for serving food.

On the negative side, having an extended area means taking up more room in the family/dining area. We don't have a huge amount of space.

Any thoughts from anyone on this?

This peninsula, by the way, butts up against a weight bearing wall (mid-kitchen) that we can't remove without huge expense.

Current peninsula photo here (and link to album of all our 'before' pics below):

Thanks all! --Nancy

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen-before

Comments (11)

lynninnewmexico
16 years ago
Nancy, we opted for a flat peninsula for our reno and we are so happy we did. We love it. Like yours, ours divides the kitchen from our family room, but we have a separate dining room for our table. I love having a flat area to do all my prep work at. I can see the tv and talk with everyone in the family room while I work. We have stools at our peninsula and use them all the time; not only for eating quick meals, but for our DD to sit and do her homework at occasionally. It's also been the perfect place for me to work on projects at. At parties, it tends to keep most of the people on the other side of the peninsula. I'm so glad we didn't put the sink or cooktop here! You have less space on the family room side than we do, so why not look for backless or low back stools that can tuck under the counter when not in use?
BTW, my favorite thing about our new peninsula is my bank of prep drawers right there. They're so convenient!
alanandnancy
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Lynn, I've been admiring photos of your kitchen as an example for sure. Can you have regular sized chairs then at the peninsula when it's at counter height instead of the raised bar?
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If you have kids of an age to kick one another, this is always a possibility, but generally they grow out of that behavior and it shouldn't be too important a factor for planning, any more than kicking is a factor at any other rectangular table. More important is choice of stools if this is an eating area; don't get swivel ones if there's a kicking problem. A different problem is that there is only so much knee space. How deep will your overhang be? Did you discuss going leg-less with the designer? That is, using supports underneath the countertop instead of legs? I agree that the openness is a virtue. At the very least, I dislike the faux drawers idea you began the thread with. Visually it would be weird to see that panel with the implication of a 3-D back and there be none there--like a flat Hollywood set. Is that a t.v. behind the peninsula? In that case, I even more strongly suggest that the storage unit go up against the wall and the sitters move down. That inner spot will be the last one taken whenever people sit. I think you're envisioning someone sitting adjacent to wall and trying to talk to the cook at the range. How often will that actually be the case? More often the cook will be at the peninsula washing & chopping or messing with plates. The splash goes either side of the little sink plus behind it and the seats by it will seem just a bit too close. The end seat(s) will be the premium seating: possible T.V. viewing plus conversation in three directions--toward family room and toward colleagues and cook. And it's the first seating when entering through that door. One more thing to consider--how likely are you to pull a stool around to the inside of the peninsula? If you're like us, one stool will "live" in there much of the time. So if that happens, where will it go and who will it be facing? [Your layout is very similar to mine except that your door is my refrig and your wall adjacent to end of peninsula is my hall from another room, but there is no seating until what is your second seat because the peninsula angles out there. I sit to right of the prep sink at the pullout chopping board at the corner and DH sits opposite me when we are there conversing or such. Our little undercab t.v. is over your blind corner.]
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lynninnewmexico
16 years ago
Nancy, our stools are counter height. Regular chairs would be too short there.
mlraff53
16 years ago
I had a very similar kitchen and I extended my peninsula another 5". I couldn't go any more because I have french doors right there. But the 5" is just enough to sit comfortably on counter height stools. Plus it just makes the countertop look huge now.
dorothyct
16 years ago
We went with all flat. We also enlarged ours to include space for counter height seating as I wanted to get rid of our VERY small table and chairs. The layout was a challenge. You have to decide if you can spare the extra space that counter seating would require.

We don't have our stools yet but here is the view:

Also - I am anti-clutter and feared the flat space gathering junk so I 'made' space in our new drawers/cabinets for the typical stuff that used to accumulate on our flat counter spaces before.
homey_bird
16 years ago
In a small kitchen, where prep space is always scant, leaving the peninsula flat is a good idea. It can be converted to regular-height dining by placing chairs if needed; but it becomes a flexible space where one can easily reclaim it for prep work.
lkremodel
16 years ago
We weighed the same decision and also went with the flat peninsula because we needed all the counter space we could get. We have a 9" overhang and use 4 counter height stools in the 8 ft. length. I was worried that the 9" overhang wouldn't be deep enough, but, it works ok. I can't imagine using regular height chairs with a counter height peninsula.

If we did it again, I'd also do the flat counter peninsula.
jtsgranite4us
16 years ago
We have a raised bar on our peninsula.

Here is a picture:
Linda Ross
16 years ago
We went flat too, my husband likes to spread out the newspaper in the mornings as he reads and the flat was better for that. I also wanted a larger prep area especially for baking, etc. I thought the large flat would be great for wrapping gifts and some craft projects.
alanandnancy
Original Author
16 years ago
Wow, thank you everyone for your input and beautiful photos. This list continues to amaze me. Clearly the votes are overwhelmingly for the flat peninsula, yet I'm still torn, feeling unsure if/how either way will work for us. The multi-levels add some interest and shape, which attracts me to that choice. Also, I'm thinking maybe the flat space works better with granite because of the movement. Our quartz won't have quite the same effect. I just keep imagining our unborn grandchildren sitting there while I make them pancakes. :-) (We're recent empty-nesters.)

Oh well, we finally gave our GC the down payment last night to make it all begin, which means we have a few more weeks to decide before demo starts. Another decision that can put off! Yay! Thanks again all. So good to have you nearby!
--Nancy
dziner99
16 years ago
I have a question for jtsgranite4us and I'm so hoping you see this....Your bar is exactly what I am looking for in my basement "snack bar" design. I am assuming this is a standard 24" depth cabinet? If so, can you tell me what the measurement of the support is for the bar counter, as well as the overhang of the bar counter on the inside and the overhang on the chair side? Oh, and what is the length of the bar counter? (If you have a plan view, that would be even better!) Thank you so much!

flat peninsula vs. bar decision

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flat peninsula vs. bar decision

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