I like LiveWireOak's layout with the sink arrangement. Now two people can access the sink at the same time, and the DW is easily accessed being placed to the side of the sink. However, I wouldn't want to live with a fridge off by itself in that far corner and would put it back where you have it in your layout, homebuyer. My suggestion is that you reconsider putting the wall oven under the induction cooktop. I have that situation using a Bosch oven built in under a Bosch induction cooktop and have found it to be not bad at all in actual use as I had previously been concerned. Granted it's not quite as nice as the oven at eye level but not a bad compromise. This thought is coming from someone who had two built in wall ovens for 35 years previously so I know the different trade-offs between the two arrangements. The only caveat with the Bosch wall oven under the Bosch induction cooktop is that the countertop height should be raised one inch to allow the recommended air space allowance between the two appliances. However, I found the higher counter to a more comfortable working height for someone like myself who is 5'4". That leaves the question of where to place the microwave and would depend upon your frequency of use and preference. I would put the pantry in the far corner either with, without, the MW. Anyway, it looks like you're coming into the home stretch and wishing you the best with your final layout.

I had a similar dilemma with my kitchen. Most advised that I go with a large island, I wanted a peninsula with no island or with a small island. While I incorporated much of the advice I received, I opted to go with the peninsula for a couple of key reasons. Given the points your laid out in your intro, these reasons might be helpful to you in your deliberations: - it defined the space between my DR and kitchen. This was difficult for me to explain to people online, but I wanted that definition and I felt the lay out of my house cried out for it. It was difficult to appreciate without actually being in the space. - with a large island in my kitchen my messy clean up run would be visible from the LR. Although my kitchen/DR/LR are semi-open concept, I wanted the best of both worlds by concealing at least part of my kitchen from both the DR table and the LR. Peninsulas have fallen somewhat out of favour I think because many peninsulas in mid century and '80s homes block access to the kitchen, forcing people into a narrow passage to enter the kitchen. I allowed for a wide passage into my kitchen past the peninsula, and the lay out of my house is such that people would have rarely entered the kitchen from the area where the peninsula is regardless. You might want to consider this issue as well. How wide is the aisle at the end of your peninsula in layout 2? I agree that large islands are "in" right now and that may be why many people default to the island option. As for the usefulness of a small island, my temporary island is 48" x 38", it is just about perfect as an unloading zone for my pantry and fridge and for prep across from my hob. My permanent island will probably be about 50" x 36". It is small enough not to be a barrier. Good luck.

Detailed Analysis of Layout #1 - continued from previous post Prep Zones...there are two nice prep spaces Primary...the primary Prep Zone is in the island. It has a nice prep sink, over 5' of workspace and the trash pullout. Normally, I'd put the trash pullout next to the sink, but in an effort to locate the trash pullout so it's accessible from both Prep Zones without two people bumping into each other, I put it on the other end of the island. That location also places it near the Cleanup Zone. If you are willing to have two trash pullouts, then I would move the one in the island next to the sink - on either side. Then, I'd put the second trash pullout to the left of the main/cleanup sink. This would put a trash pullout in each Prep Zone, very close to the Cleanup Zone, and close to the Cooking Zone. If you can spare the cabinet space, I'd do that. Optionally, the second trash pullout (next to the main/cleanup sink) could be a single-bin pullout. That would give you back 3 to 6 inches for cabinet storage. Secondary...the secondary Prep Zone, b/w the range and main/cleanup sink, has over 4' of workspace and provides a Prep Zone next to the range for when you need to be close to the range rather than across from it. It's also great for a second person prepping. Note that many people actually prefer to prep on counterspace directly adjacent to both the range and sink instead of on an island across from the range. If you or your DH are one of those people, this will be the primary Prep Zone for that person. Both Prep Zones have a "view". Note that the main/cleanup sink is aligned to the right side of the window. This means you have a view out the back while prepping in the secondary Prep Zone. The primary Prep Zone faces DR side and faces people coming and going through the house. I tried to offset the sinks enough that two people prepping back-to-back won't be in each other's way too much and so that if someone is standing at the range, that person won't get in the way of someone prepping on the island. E.g., if one person is prepping at the island directly to the left of the prep sink (on the left as you're standing in front of the sink), another person can be prepping to the left of the main/cleanup sink and there shouldn't be too much overlap. Where the overlap becomes an issue is if one or both are working a foot or more over to each one's left. Then, they will be back-to-back, literally! (Or, as some describe it, butt-to-butt!) I could eliminate the 12" deep cabinets on the other side of the island, but they add significant storage - perfect for your cake baking tools/supplies and they add depth to the island. Islands (and peninsulas) do not have a wall behind them to stop things from being knocked off the back, so you want to have additional depth - at least 12", IMHO. . Cooking Zone...the Cooking Zone is located so it's easily accessible from both Prep Zones. It's also protected from traffic b/c most people will go from the Family Room to the refrigerator via the aisle b/w the island and pantry. The only time it may be an issue with traffic is if someone comes in from the Screened Porch to the refrigerator. I don't know how often you use the screened in porch, but I think some "training" would help. Plus I made the aisle b/w the table and island a bit wider so people would be "encouraged" to go that way instead. . Cleanup Zone...the Cleanup Zone is located out of the way from the Prep and Cooking Zones. This is ideal for workflow purposes. It's also located near the dish storage (to the right). There is plenty of counterspace on the right for dirty dishes so you don't have to stack them on the left in the middle of the second Prep Zone. . Dish Storage...Dishes are stored in the cabinet to the right of the main/cleanup sink and near the DW. This makes it easy to unload the DW w/o having to run all over the Kitchen for every-day dishes, locates the dishes such that someone setting the table from the DR or Kitchen Table will be encouraged to go around the island to get to the dishes, and takes advantage of the deeper cabinets on the Refrigerator wall. . Microwave, Breville Oven, Refrigerator, Mini-Snack Center...Note there is 4' of space for a small Snack Center that has the MW and Breville Oven. This space is near a water source (for MWing) and near the refrigerator where most MW'd food comes from. It's also out of the way of the two Prep Zones and Cooking Zone. Yes, it's quite close to the Cleanup Zone, but unless someone is loading/unloading the DW when someone else is getting a snack , there won't be a problem. The Prep Zones + Cooking Zone are where over 80% of the work is done/time is spent, so I'd rather not have the MW or Oven in those zones. The reason I located the MW to the left and not next to the refrigerator is b/c all MW doors that open side-to-side have the hinges on the left, so you need to have space on the right for maneuvering food in/out the MW without bumping the refrigerator. The MW is on a shelf above the counter. Note that the cabinets on that wall are 18" deep - that's to (1) accommodate the MW and (2) help reduce the impact of the extra depth of the standard-depth refrigerator. Unfortunately, you cannot recess the refrigerator into the wall behind it b/c the PR wall intersects with that wall in that space. . Food Storage...the pantry is located so it's close to the garage Mudroom or the garage entrance (from the basement, you mentioned). So, whichever entrance you use to bring in groceries, you won't have too far to walk to put them away. . Aisles...I'll be honest, I wish the aisles were a bit wider. However, I think it will work. Between the island and sink wall...This aisle is 45". I would have liked to make it at least 48", but that would mean a 37" aisle b/w the island and pantry cabinets. I tried to position the sinks to minimize the impact (see the comments regarding the Prep Zone above). Between the island and pantry...This aisle is 40". I would have preferred this one be 48" as well, but I think you'll be OK b/c there is no seating at the island. I would definitely not want it any narrower. If this aisle is too tight, people might be tempted to go through the main working area of the Kitchen (b/w the island and range wall) to get to the refrigerator from the FR. Most doorways are 32" wide. This aisle is 40" - 8" wider, so I think it will be wide enough. Between the island and refrigerator...There is plenty of room on this aisle. It's 42" to the refrigerator and even more to the counters. Between the island and table...This aisle is a good size. Since you access the Screened Porch from the Kitchen, you want this aisle wide enough so that even if someone is sitting at the table there will be room to go to/from the porch without having to cut through the Kitchen's primary work area (b/w the island and the perimeter cabs/counters.) .

Thanks Romy -- Almost exact - mine is 39 x 75. I'm going to add two recessed lights over the island and just do the 3 pendants along the peninsula. I'll probably change out the other hanging fixture in our seating area. Maybe to a pretty flush mount of some sort. Good thing is, I don't have to choose anything right away. He can just install the boxes and I can take my time.