Back side of peninsula - what to do?

14 years ago

Hi, I've been lurking here too and I am so happy to find like-minded folk (who obsess on their kitchen remodel).

I have a peninsula that backs onto an eating area, so I am looking at the back of the peninsula all the time. We are having granite countertops put in, somewhat rounded so a few stools can sit up to it. It will have 3 supports on the back as well.

My KD suggests just leaving it but I think panelling on the back and side might be more visually pleasing - but it will be painted (opaque tahini) and I'm worried it will get scuffed. Could you please let me know what you've done to yours or any suggestions?

Thanks so much

Featured Answer

Buehl

14 years ago

Yes, it probably will get scuffed. And, the smaller the overhang the more it will get scuffed up. But, it will get scuffed up no matter what you have there...so does it matter?

What decorative door panels will do is take away an inch or so of leg/knee overhang space...are you tight on overhang (i.e., do you have We did not put them on the back of our peninsula and I think it looks fine. We did it as a cost-saving measure and fully intended to put them on later...but when we saw it we realized it was fine w/o them and decided not to do it later.

You do know that your stools will hide/cover most of the back panel and anyone sitting at the peninsula won't see the back....

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Comments (26)

dinkledoodle
14 years ago
Is it straight? What is your style?

I think your wood paneling would be beautiful. You could use a satin polyurethane which would help with the scuffing. And if it got badly scuffed, just re-stain it. I think that is a great idea.

We plan to tile ours. I know that sounds crazy, but I want to splurge some ridiculously expensive porcelain tile ($12.95/sq.ft.) since we won't need a lot. It's totally durable and hold up to people's shoes and boots. And, the back of our peninsular is in a highly visible location. It needs a WOW factor. As you can probably tell, we're hugely influenced by Candice Olsen. Our look is fairly modern and definitely galm, so this may not work for everyone. We've settled on the idea and the manufacturer. The problem is that they have so many cool styles that we keep going back and forth. This is one of the choices we've looked at. there are a couple that I like even better, but they aren't pictured on the website.
creek_side
14 years ago
Our kitchen designer suggested wainscoting for the back of the peninsular in our new house. We will probably go with that.
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Buehl
14 years ago
Oh, we did put the door panels on the ends...but only b/c they were included for free b/c of issues w/our granite fabrication and damage to a cabinet causing yet another delay to our project. (They replaced the cabinet.) We had originally cut them as well to save costs. Those, I think are worth it since the ends are visible at all times and there's no overhang or stools to cover them.

We also put them on the back of the second (mini) peninsula b/c we have a cabinet that opens on that side and it wouldn't look right if there were doors on one cabinet and plain wood on the other cabinet next to it. It also has no seating overhang and faces the Foyer & FR.
lexluthor
14 years ago
We have a peninsula with a back to the eating area.

We put door panels on them. I think it looks like.
biochem101
14 years ago
We put beadboard on ours. Painted and glazed the same as the cabinets.
palimpsest
14 years ago
In a mid-century modern project, we ran the flooring straight up the back of the peninsula. Its kind of interesting because it is one less finish material. The flooring runs at 90 degrees to the peninsula so it is vertical up the back of the cabinets.

This is not a great picture but the floors are Brazilian Cherry and dark, so the back of the peninsula is also dark and deemphasized. It is bracketed on each end by the wall color.

In another project with white cabinets and a white subway tile backsplash that goes from counter to ceiling we ran the subway tile on the back of the backsplash.
kmgard
14 years ago
We didn't put panels on the back of ours due to costs, but I think it would really look nice. We also have doors on the left side of ours (the corner cabinet actually faces the back of the peninsula and acts as a "pet center" storage for food, treats, and anything we might want to easily take out to our back patio like citronella candles).

dinkledoodle: those tiles are beautiful! I'm having a hard time picturing what they'd look like on the back of a peninsula, but I'm looking at the website and they really have some that would look fabulous in my bathroom. :)
palimpsest
14 years ago
We ran the subway tile up the back of the peninsula.
grannabelle
14 years ago
we ordered bead board sheets from our cabinet people in the same stain - we only have a 12" overhang - but our stools have footrests - we have not had any scuffing
monicakm_gw
14 years ago
I'm very interested in replies to this question. Our peninsula has been nekkid for a year and half :o We can't decide what to wrap it in. When we remodeled the kitchen in 02 we didn't replace the cabs. In 07 we knocked down a wall and added a peninsula at the end of a cabinet run. I thought I could wait till we refinished the cabs and do the peninsula bottom in the same wood/stain. We also considered Black Galaxy 1/2" tiles on a mesh backing...till we got the $550+ price tag for just material :o
iceqween13, when you say your KD suggested "just leaving it", do you mean sheetrock and paint?
beuhl, is yours sheetrock and paint? The kitchen side of our peninsula is green. The dining rm side is tan so I don't think painting it is an option. iceqween, I hope you don't mind if I post a couple of pictures and tag along for ideas.
Monica
You can see some of the bar base in this kitchen side

and the dining room side
nhbaskets
14 years ago
We have beadboard on the back side of our island and peninsula. We have 12" overhangs in both locations. Only a month in, but so far so good. I love the look.

Island

Peninsula
msgreatdeals
14 years ago
I ordered a matching panel for the back of the peninsula that is facing the family room. For the side facing the nook it will be painted dry wall. My bar will have a 12" overhang. The panel was not that expensive. My bar is 72" long.
Jean Farrell
14 years ago
We did beadboard.

It is good for obscuring scuff marks, etc. We have a touch of beadboard in the open shelf over our refrigerator, as well, to tie it together.
bob_cville
14 years ago
I had a panel made that has the same look as the cabinet doors. One thing that is neat about having a panel like this, is that since the peninsula is on an angle, the is a triangular space between the run of cabinets along the wall and the peninsula cabinet. Normally this space would just be wasted, but I attached the panel to the cabinets using accuride drawer slides so that the panel can slide to the right allowing access to the triangular space between the cabinets, for additional "secret" storage. (Maybe for the chocolate chips? :-)

{{!gwi}}

Note: We've since got two stools that are the right height, but I haven't taken new pictures since the kitchen is still not done. :-(
la_koala
14 years ago
jeannie_kitchen, do you have full overlay cabinets? Or inset?

I really like the look of your cabinet doors, and I don't quite have my mind wrapped around the full overlay vs inset style--so I'm looking for good examples so I can learn how to distinguish one from the other. :-)

Thanks in advance!
Jean Farrell
14 years ago
Thanks!

My cabinets are full overlay.
boxerpups
14 years ago
We are in the process of doing the back of our peninsula.
I am probably going to do columns and molding but we have
not finalized it yet. The devil is in the details.
It seems details really make a kitchen sparkle.

Here are my inspirations. Some are of islands but they
can still help you.

~boxerpups

Lite Designs
{{!gwi}}

Flickr image

Finewinecountry properties

Beadboard kitchen Islands.com

Mark Timothy
{{!gwi}}

Zarse

bigstockbeigekitchen

Glendadesigns

Caruth5

{{!gwi}}

Guillmette

Uptodatedesigns

Crownpointecabinets
{{!gwi}}
annanna
14 years ago
In-progress here, but here's what we've done with ours. We have trim for the columns but I don't know if I want to use it. And sorry it's big!
Circus Peanut
14 years ago
This is fairly out there, but I was recently in a house that had a peninsula eating bar, and the side with the seating actually had a shelf halfway down it that was meant for resting your feet.

This meant a larger footprint by about 8"-10" on that floor side, but man, was it ever comfortable for sitting! (I always hate the perching slouch that most bar stools require.) There are likely dusting and other issues to consider, but it was really pretty genius in terms of comfort. Just something to ponder ...
Buehl
14 years ago
Most of the pictures posted here are of islands or peninsulas w/no seating (at least not on the sides that were shown). There's a big difference, I think, b/w a totally exposed side and one that has both a significant overhang + stools in front of them (blocking the view). Even most of those w/seating didn't show them w/stools and how much of the view is actually blocked by those stools.
dinkledoodle
14 years ago
Like the shelf idea, circuspeanut. We are planning what is basically a "hearth." A raised area to serve as a footrest. I agree, a foot rest makes counterheight seating much more comfortable. But it has to be really durable; it's basically a floor.

kmgard: tiles on the counter wall is really straightforward. Just nail up a piece of Hardi-backer, thinset, and grout. Just like inside a shower. We didn't want to continue the cabinet material into the great room. So we're basically continuing the backsplash. It looks good in the renderings anyway. We shall see as for real life.

But I do love nearly all of the inspiration examples. Especially that distressed black one. If my cabinets were that nice, I'd carry the look into the other room too. Sadly, poverty leaves me in a completely different league... ~:o)
la_koala
14 years ago
I'd like to have a 'foot rest' raised area, and have a radiator hot water pipe inside of it. Then my feet will get warmed up on those chilly winter mornings.

dinkledoodle, how are you constructing your "hearth"?
iceqween13
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all for your comments! I was SO pleased.

Buehl - You provided 2 things I didn't even consider - 1" less space for feet; and that the stools would cover the panels..... I agree with panelling the end as we'll see it from the Living Room.

Monicakm - When KD said "just leave it", he meant to leave it as one solid sheet of stained maple without any panels.

Annanna - I LOVED yours and my husband understood instantly what I was talking about. Thank you for the photo. It's perfect.

Boxerpups - thank you for the great pictures - lots to consider.

Bob cville: Ingenious!

Thank you again for all your suggestions. Much appreciated. Will update as time goes on..... Yikes!
annanna
14 years ago
Really glad that picture helped, iceqween, and that you like the design! I just wanted to let you know, since your design is similar, that initially the center column was pulled forward of the other two. The soapstone fabricator, however, wanted only an 8" overhang opposed to the 12 or 14 that was planned, so we built out the entire back of the peninsula and made all three columns even, leaving an 8" the radius.

I don't know if this will be helpful or applicable to your design but thought I'd throw it in since it was a last-minute adjustment for us.
patti823
14 years ago
Mine is an island, but the same idea. Originally my KD intended it to be painted. As soon as it was painted, I knew I didn't like it, so I had my KD order panels to match our cabinets. I'm so happy I did that. I like it much better. Here are some pictures.

With paint

With panel