I think its fine. 12 is ideal and I have that on the main side of my island where people will sit, but I have only 9 on each side of that and I am sure with people over, they will sit on all sides... For me, it matters what else is in the room and how whether the room is more crowded and need space more than granite...

I'd have to see it...

Are you someone who prefers form over function? If so, then maybe you'll be happy w/the shallower overhang.

OTOH, if you prefer function over form, then I would think more about it.

Oh...and why is there a switch in the way? Shouldn't it be a bit higher than that? My light switches are all approx 48" off the floor...

I also don't understand why the wrap around is an issue...

How tall are you and your family? Friends? If you're all fairly short (or at least short legs), then again, you'll probably be OK. But, if any of you are tall (or have long legs), it may not be all that comfortable. Newly_Suburban admits that her main overhang is 12" and that the 9" will only be used when there are people over...meaning no longer-term seating...just party type (stay awhile and then go mingle).

With 10-1/2", people will probably have to sit sideways... I don't know about you, but that position is not a comfortable one for me and I would not want to sit there for anymore than a brief time.

I don't mean to cause more problems, but I really think you need to rethink it...w/o some fabricator who wants you to do what's easiest for him, not what you want. I know that my DH is easily swayed when someone tries to convince him like it sounds like your fabricator did to your DH...that's why he always has me around for these things (and I want to be)...he knows I'll stand firm and not let them snow me...

Thanks for responding so quickly!
I'm short with short legs. I don't expect to have any issues. DH is tall,6'2", with long legs. I expect he'll need to sit sideways, but don't expect him to sit at the bar very often.
The bar stools are in the eat-in area -- generally, folks won't be seated at the bar. But, if the table is full, or folks want to hang closer to me while I'm cooking, they may be. It's just DH and I but we do entertain fairly often.
Not sure why the wall switch is that height. Actually, the plate is, not really the actual switch. The switch is approx 45" and near a sliding glass door (it works the outside lights).
I don't think the fabricator talked DH into this. I think he was more into form and pictured the granite coming out and wrapping around this little bump out. It really will look better at this depth. But, I'm more into function, hence our disagreement.
Hmmmmm.... well, I'll go see if I can get some sleep. Maybe the answer will come in a dream.
If it will help to see pictures, I can take some tomorrow and post.
Thanks again.

Good morning,
I got up a little earlier for work and made a cardboard template of the counter. I'm going to ask long legged DH to try to sit there and see how he fits.
I'll check back later tonight.
Thanks again.

10" is what we had before on our peninsula, and its all we have now. i never noticed before what we had until i measured after reading what 'should' be. its really all i could fit this time with my new island too. i think that the 10" is plenty. its the space from side to side thats more important from my experience here at my house.

I have 10" on my peninsula and it works fine for us. We're going to be changing out to granite soon, and I am torn as to whether or not to put out the extra two inches. Here is a picture of my peninsula. By the way, we entertain fairly often and have not had a problem. But, then again, none of us is over 6 feet. Good luck.

Just wanted to throw in that it's REALLY easy to change the position of a light switch, so don't let that determine anything design-wise! :-)

12" of overhang is the recommended space for bar height (42" H) counters. For comfortable non sideways sitting at counter height (36") 15" is what's recommended.

I'm almost 6', and I don't like sitting sideways. It's hard on my back to twist back and forth, and small overhangs make actual eating at a counter impossible. If it's just for "conversation sitting" while keeping the cook company, then 12" is OK. I"ll sit sideways for that for a little bit of time. But 12" isn't even close enough room for me to get my knees under the counter at counter height. Sideways sitting people will take up around 40" of linear space, where if you sit with your knees under the overhang, you really are OK with around 24". That's one big difference in functionality, believe me!

10" really is barely enough room for a child to get their knees under the overhang and sit straight. It won't be "snackable" for breakfasts or lunches for adults at all. It won't be comfortable for marathon cooking sessions when you want to sit and chop up a bunch of veggies. When you entertain, it will accomodate a drink and a napkin, but without the stools if you want to have more than a couple of people there.

It depends on how you eat there. The deeper is ideal if you eat meals there like dinner. You can get away with a bit shallower if it is for snacking and breakfast, IMO. Also if there is room to pull the chair so you are not sitting exactly like you would at a table. (Slouching or turned a bit :) I cheat sometimes because if 12" needs a support I will do 11" if I want to avoid one.

I just did a project where it ended up 9" because the clients wanted it flush with no projection beyond an adjoining wall. Its mostly for the kids and as a tertiary work space (Standing "outside" the kitchen to prep) --so it works.

That said, there is a diner that squeezed it down to 9-10 at a counter and it is very uncomfortable for me to eat there (and I am short)...I think it is also because there is no room to sit except with the chair to be pulled all the way in.

My DH is our GC too and plumber, electrician, laborer ect. and he refused to get more than 10 inches. He though it would look to massive in our space. We really wanted the peninsula seating primarily for the kids and for having a cup of coffee and not for meals so I do not think it is a big deal at all to be less than the suggested depth. The counter at lowes was only 7 inches deep and I sat fine to do paper work and such.

I haven't designed a kitchen yet where there was 40" available for the 15" recommended depth. (1" overhang front, 24" base cabinet and 15" overhang.) But, I've never designed a kitchen in a modern suburban house, only urban or small suburban houses, where you take what you can get. I have also had some problems with materials limitations (availability of certain things or driving price up)when you start to get into the depths over 36".

So, the recommendation of that amount of depth is a good one, but I've never been able to follow it.

I'm definitely with Live_Wire_Oak on this one...we have friends who have a 12" overhang on a counter-height peninsula. I have to sit sideways (I'm 5'10") and don't like sitting there for any length of time. My DH refuses to sit there at all b/c it's so uncomfortable for him (he's 6'5" but has short legs for his height...).

Our kitchen is 10'6" wide. Our peninsula is only 5'2" long and has a 15" overhang and it doesn't look "massive" at all (total depth of 41-1/2").

At that Lowes counter, how high was it? How long did you have to sit at it? What position were you seated (sideways? straight on like at a table? straddle it?)? Did you carry on a conversation w/others in the area in front of the counter? Could you imagine yourself sitting there for 30 minutes and still be comfortable?

For some people, form is more important than function, if you're one of those, then go with what looks better, not what functions better.

There's nothing wrong w/preferring form over function...as long as you admit it and realize you're compromising function for form...and no whining when things don't function as well as they could! :-)

Thank you all so much for your responses! They've helped me so much.
I want to clarify.... the peninsula will be about 43" -- bar height.
As many of you mentioned, we don't expect to eat meals there. I'll finally have a kitchen table to eat on when this is done. Yippee! The bar is more to allow family and friends to keep me company while staying out of my workspace.
Long legged DH was fine sitting at the cardboard and air filter template I pieced together this morning. So, we've decided to keep the 10.5". Without your insights, this decision would have been much more difficult.
Circuspeanut, thanks for the lightswitch info. DH just mentioned the lightswitch as one more reason not to change the granite template. He was cranky and was piling on the reasons. I think after all of the electrical, spackling and sanding, he couldn't think of making even one more change and kicking up more dust again.
Thanks again to all!