Can you post photos or a layout?

I was afraid you'd ask that:) I just learned how to post photos from photobucket; but how do I post an illustration? Do I scan it onto my computer, then move it to my photobucket account and then proceed as with a photo?

yup, that's exactly how you do it!

OK, so I'm winging this without the drawing because I think I can see it in my mind's eye--but will check back once you've posted the drawing too. I like the breakfast bar idea better than the existing peninsula layout you describe. The raised bar may indeed be too "contemporary" but you don't have to raise it--there are counter-height stools (between bar height and chair height) Or, you can do like I did, which is attach a lower table height bar to use regular chairs. (Mine's still a drawing, too--otherwise I'd show you)

As for the "information center" --do you think he put this in as a result of his perception of your traffic flow/activities in the house--where do you pick up the phone, drop the mail, get the kids off to school? You will need a landing place for all that activity--but a breakfast bar may serve that purpose too...

Will check back in when there are drawings!

Best,
B

The raised bar won't look any more victorian (imo) and they seem to function best as junque collectors. You can counter and trim out the entire thing as a single level space.

Or - you could try raising the wall a bit and make it into something - pidgeon holes on the breakfast side and maybe an open plate rack above that? something like this?
{{!gwi}}

Okay, after several hours of effort, this is the best I could do with the pictures! Sorry they are so hard to see. Hopefully you get the general idea. I am having a hard time figuring out what to do with the peninsula and the half wall, which I don't like at all. My cabinet person wants to remove the half wall and make a raised bar, but I don't think that look fits with the rest of my kitchen. My thought is, would it be possible to separate the peninsula completely from the wall and make it an island? Right now it houses the dishwasher and the main sink. So I guess the main sink would have to be moved to the back wall. Any suggestions?

I was hoping to see a layout so we could explore the 2 island idea. Is there a reason you can't lower the half wall and make it all one level?

Can you draw it up on graph paper, making it to scale so we can see what space you have? Also label dimensions, where the half wall is, doors and where they go, main family entrance (through kitchen?), and where your eating area is. I understand the electrical and plumbing are in, but are you open to moving them? It's a bit of work on your part, but IMHO is the only way to get the best ideas.

I can lower the half wall, or remove it altogether. It would still be a peninsula, but at least I wouldn't have the choppiness of the bisected counter , or the bilevel one. But what about having the main sink on an island with no backsplash? (it's the 30" shaw farm sink.) Do people do that? Sorry my pictures weren't too helpful; let me try to get something drawn up that's to scale.

and, because no one else seemed to ask:

WHY is half wall there? Bonus question why is wall-let between the upper cabinets?

Here is a diagram of the kitchen with some measurements:

If you keep the half wall, how about if you ditch the built-in cabinets on the "morning room" side and put in a freestanding buffet or desk. Maybe an antique and if you need more storage put in a corner cupboard too. It would look less like a wall is sticking up in the middle of your counter.

One thing I noticed glancing at you layout is the fridge is quite a haul to the stove with your island partially blocking the path. My layout will have a similar issue as your's so I'm not knocking it. I just wanted to point that out in case you didn't consider it.

I can see some architect thinking a half wall was a good idea to separate the desk for the kitchen work space, but I agree that it's not!

Many people have their clean up sink in the island/peninsula with seating across from it. My sister has that arrangement and it's really nice (it took me a long time to talk her out of a raised bar but she's glad I did). It works best if there's at least 20" of counter between the sink and stool but it doesn't look like space ia a problem for you. As to being too late, I don't see why it would be.

The diagram doesn't show the morning room part of the kitchen to the right of the half wall. Originally the point of the half wall was twofold: to provide an L shape to the cooking area (the peninsula is where the main sink is and the half wall gives the sink its backsplash) and to provide a visual distinction between the main areas of the kitchen: the prep/cooking part, and the morning room, which includes a corner fireplace, a large corner bay area for a round table and chairs, and, theoretically, the "information center" which would be a desk area and drawers on the peninsula on the morning room side. Now I want to open up the space into one big kitchen. I have already eliminated the wall that allows for the corner cabinets over the peninsula. I am not going to have any corner cabs at all, or any cabs over the peninsula. My only uppers will be 3 straight cabs on either side of the range. Now I can eliminate the half wall as well, leaving a wide peninsula countertop, or maybe I can separate the peninsula from the wall and create an island? If I push the island down toward the opposite wall I should have enough clearance between the range wall and the edge of the island (how much clearance is necessary?) But what about the issue of the main sink (30" farm) with no backsplash on an island?

Wow, somehow I completely missed the floorplan the first time. With the sink there, I don't know how you could separate it and make it an island...wouldn't it be too short to fit everything?

If you did a very pretty cabinet with glass doors on the other side of the half wall...as tall as (maybe covering?) the half wall, or even a little taller...would that be more in keeping with the style you're after?

How about (warning big departure from your original design) eliminate the peninsula move the fridge where your corner cabinets were and move the sink DW were the fridge was. Then extend the island toward the morning room. It totally opens up the kitchen to the morning room which I'm not sure if that's what you wanted.

A side note, if you have a hardcopy of the layout, you can mark it up to what you have now and label where other things are like the morning room, etc. then take a digital photo of it. Making sure you are as straight on as you can without blocking the light. Then put that into photobucket.

No, the sink doesn't need a backsplash if it's in an island or peninsula that's at least 36" deep (42 would be even better).

Since you already have seating at the island and a table for 6, I like Bmore's drawing with the cubbies (though I'd probably skip the pot rack). I wouldn't consider a breakfast bar unless I did away with the island seating. You might, however, love having the desk especially since it's nice and big and doesn't look like an afterthought that will collect junk, but is actually sized and positioned to be useful.

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I think I will skip the breakfast bar and go for something like the cabinets or cubbies and desk. I already have room for stools at the existing island. BTW, what are pigeonholes (I mean with regard to architecture)?

somewhat romatic version
{{!gwi}}