I wouldn't do anything with it right now. In a couple years,[or anytime], I would get a drop leaf or some small table for eating suppers together. The peninsula for now, but you may want a table to be together in the future, other than the dining room. This probably didn't help you much.

I think that is a perfect desk/hw area. It puts them a little away from the kitchen, but within reach if they need help.

I like the idea for use of the space. But the size of the desk at that depth is pretty useless really. To function well for homework it requires space for text book, paper, laptop, and calculator. Good lighting and power outlets are also needed. What about a "coffee shop" look with table and 2 chairs? A small rug to anchor the space as well?

Here is a table from World Market that I think would work well.

I know it may seem hard to really comprehend, but in a few short years your kids will be so much bigger. They will have group projects and homework that takes longer to complete. So a space for projects that is not where you prep and eat is good.

I agree JulieKcmo. A place for them to do homework that does not have to be moved when you sit down to eat is a good idea. I also think the other post is right that the area is a perfect location, not in the middle of the the action, but close enough for help or just to "keep them on task". As a former teacher a central homework area that is well supplied and well supervised will help them learn good organizational and study skills

At our home, the kids had desks in their rooms, homework was not at a central station in the middle of the house, or occupying the kitchen table at any time of day/evening.I don't think this is really that good...distracting for the kid. And there was a lot of homework, the kids never complained about being at their desk in their room.Homework finished? then join up with whatever else is going on. Can kids no longer keep their "supplies" in a desk drawer and keep track of what they use as opposed to laid out on a table, tended to by others?

Good points everyone, thanks. I agree that 19inches isn't an ideal depth for a desk. But it is adequate for a computer, a book, paper. Not for a big project though, I agree.

Herbflavor, dd does have a desk in her room, but she is not yet keen to be away from us and the action. I think we should take advantage of her wanting to be near us while it lasts. Once she starts to use a computer I know I will want to supervise, perhaps that is overly cautious, but I'm not in favour of computers, tvs etc. in kids bedrooms. No doubt she will do some homework in her home when she gets older.

I like the coffee shop idea, or a drop leave. I can't imagine that we will ever eat meals there though, the DR is far more pleasant. It may take up too much space though.

The area in question already has a plug available and excellent lighting.

I'd add a few thoughts...

The usage of the playroom will change as your kids get older. As they start playing with computers, wii and all that jazz, it can get noisy.

It would be hard to put anything there that was permanently installed because of the double doors.

Maybe find a 'vintage' modern piece of furniture?

bmorepanic - like a sideboard perhaps? I have one now which is handy for storage, but doesn't look great. Perhaps I need to find the right piece.

If I do opt for a 19" desk like table, what material? I was thinking Corian or Silestone, but what about laminate? As I learned from one of the "design around this" thread, there are some pretty cool laminates out there.

Hi Sochi - My oldest two kids are the same age as yours, so we are entering the homework phase, too! I was thinking that a 12-15" deep (15-18" wide) tall cabinet in each corner with a small banquet -style seating and table would work. Then when you have 2 doing homework, they could both work there and it would suffice for meals if needed. My 4 yo always wants to work on her "kindergarten book" (what I call her phonics book to get her excited about it since she is not yet in kindergarten) while big sis is working on her real homework. I would store homework supplies in the tall cabinets. I don't know what your mudroom situation is, but these two cabinets could function like lockers for each child for school bag, lunch bag, sports bags, etc. I am not sure if your space is big enough for this set up, so you would have to lay it out. If a temporary solution is what you are looking for, you may want to look for a couple of freestanding desks designed for kid size and back them up to each other or put against the wall. Then each kid could have their own space and you can move these pieces to their room if they show and interest in that. Good luck!

You mentioned a drop-leaf table, but if 18" is too narrow for homework and projects, how about a drop-leaf desk? If that compromises knee space, you could have another section built underneath that pulls out and locks to increase the depth, similar to the pull-out keyboard trays on computer desks.

You can also put in some shallow drawers for supplies and a couple of filing cabinet drawers so they can save tests, notes to refer back to for studying. If you still have space left over, consider some really shallow flat file drawers for art projects.

A good book to read is The Organized Student by Donna Goldberg.

As far as Corian or Silestone, I have no experience with either, but have heard people complain that Corian scratches. Silestone might stand up better to hard use.

sochi,
My kids are 13 and 16 so we have been through lots of homework! My kids prefer to do their work at the island where they feel connected to me while I cook or clean up after dinner. I know that if the desk was outside of the main area, while in theory it would be a quieter place to work, my kids wouldn't stay there if I was in the kitchen...they would be at your peninsula. You could find a piece of furniture, like a sideboard, that you could set up to house the homework essentials and give them a space for their school stuff that is easily accessed and then easily put away.

My first thought was "desk".

Sochi, I heartily agree with you about computers and TVs in bedrooms. Especially for younger kids, I don't think it's a good idea at all. My DD is a sophomore in high school; we've just this year allowed a computer in her room, out of deference to a teen's need to start to separate from the family (man, is it tough....)

For parents of this highly computer literate generation, it is extremely difficult to keep up with the most current ways we need to keep our kids safe. Our parents could just say, "No talking on the phone after 9 pm", and easily monitor who we called and what we watched on the single household TV in the living room. Now, kids would be texting and facebooking and YouTube-ing until 2 am every night if they could, and it would be hard for parents to know. A simple homework assignment involving research can easily (and mystifyingly: just HOW do those search words relate to this image?!?!?) unearth Google Image searches of the most horrifyingly triple-X nature, even WITH the latest parental control software installed.

I highly recommend a place where growing kids can have computer access under your watchful eye. I think you'll be really happy to have it. Plus, it would be a great place to do projects that need to be laid out for a few days, like a gingerbread house or starting seedlings or something... out of the main kitchen.

Mine are 6 & 8, and we have a "homework table" that is in constant use, and it's fantastic. Homework, cartooning, model airplanes, pinewood derby cars...all get done on that table, not our kitchen bar or our dining room table (our family's daily eating spot.)

Ours is 23" but the kids sit across from each other - I think you ought to mock something up cheaply with IKEA parts and see whether it's something that you'd use at 19". My guess is you would.

No computers for homework right now anyway, and at some point they'll use a school laptop which doesn't even need 19" of space.

The big issue for us has been storage of paper, pencils, markers, etc. Bins are good for a start, but closed storage would be ideal.

The only problem I see is that it can't serve as a games table, which ours often does. Monopoly is a multi-day process in this house!!

i'd look into making the space more decorative and self-rewarding than anything else. Are holographs (or 3-D) displays good now? Your photo collection could be recycled every few hours in a holograph in mid air.

Kids can do homework in other corners of the house.

b.t.w. i don't know what the double doors are for, and I don't know if the window view is a good view, etc.

What about a small, round pub table, with two chairs? Maybe put the desk in the family room or have the kids work at the counter...with a pad, for markers? It seems like you have lots of doors/doorways in this space, so something that's easy to move, might be a good idea :)

I think the desk idea is good for your kids' ages, especially to monitor the computer....would not spend the $$ on corian or silestone though....would get laminate instead... when they hit the teen years they will most likely do homework sprawled on the their bed. In a few years when you decide to change things out in there you wont have invested a lot...one long plywood countertop under the window covered with laminate.....OR, you could do a big bench to throw their backpacks, coats, etc. on and some cubbies to store their stuff.

A counter top, desk or table for homework and projects for the kids would be perfect...all the advantages of having them in the kitchen, without the disadvantages. And, as joanie suggests...I'd go cheap and/or moveable. For the next 10 years they'll use it. Then when they refuse to be in the same room with you for more than 10 minutes at a time (unless you are feeding them, that is)...you'll have plenty of time to dream about what you'd REALLY like to do with the space, permanently.

What about a taller "breakfast table" than the green one? Would that be a homework table?

I love bar cabinets myself. I want to say that I have no idea how much the linked one is, I just like it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bar cabinets

Given the two doors, the narrow wall space and the window - what about a mid-century modern wall unit? None of these is the exact configuration but they are (IMO) in keeping with the look of your kitchen and the type of cabinets in the room beyond the open space.

Note: I can see something tall to the right of the window and then continuing under the window - but with enough space left to clear the door. None of these fit that exactly but . . .

(Also, with this type of look you could hide the kid stuff away and use it as an interim serving area or conversation area (?) when entertaining (or not!).

Here's a cube that opens up into a work station but it looks like it might be more trouble than it would be worth, yet, when folded up it might look nice below the window - to balance out the framed art on either side.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fold-up work cube

This looks too deep but you might be able to find a craftsman who could make something similar. The "L" portion folds back under when not in use. This way both children could work in the area at the same time without impacting the door, that is, if you made the extended portion flat. Then you could add storage up the wall to the right of the window.

OK off the wall suggestion. We didn't build this kitchen, and it has its issues, but we have this sort of strange thin pivoting bar that we use constantly. I would never have installed it, but in the end we love it. It would work where you are looking for an idea...

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. The double door to the left is actually only a single door - the door closest to the kitchen is operable, the second "door" where the desk would/could end is fixed, so I can bring the table almost right up to it.

Very cool pivoting thingy young deb! I don't think we need the pivot, but the fact that you use your thin bar frequently is good news.

Leia - I'm in love with the first unit you posted. Totally fits the bill - useful and pretty too (like my kitchen!) I love that it is all off the ground. Definitely a contender.

A couple of you mentioned that the kids will use the peninsula regardless of what I build in the 'nook'. That gives me pause. But something gorgeous like Leia's first MCM idea could be really useful for us - beyond homework for the kids.

Okay Leia - do you know where that unit is from?

Personally, I would use furniture and not a built in that forces the space into a single use.

That looks like a great area for homework and projects for your kids. Personally, I might do a table with a stainless top to coordinate with your stainless cleanup counter. The stainless would be durable for use by children and easy to clean up (markers, school craft projects, etc). You could easily use a laptop in the space and move it out of the way for other homework so it doesn't become the focus of the space.

Alternatively, you could create a small lounge nook for yourself. It looks like a nice cozy spot to admire your lovely kitchen and sip coffee or tea. You could put two comfy arm chairs with a table between, or a small sofa. It could be a great place to relax and read or work on a laptop while your children play in the play room. Or a great area to curl up and read recipe books or plan meals.

I have four kids and they span the ages of 6-12. My oldest has a desk in her room but she prefers to sprawl on on her bed and/or bedroom floor. She only even started using her bedroom last year for homework. However, she does need to use the computer often and like you, I don't allow the computer in private spaces so we keep it on the main floor. My younger two do their HW at the kitchen table b/c they often have questions or need help. It is most convenient for them to do it there. My 10 y/o has a desk in his room, but he mostly prefers doing his HW either at the kitchen table or in the family room on the coffee table. He too sometimes needs the computer.

Given that you have the space, I would use it for those purposes, at least until your kids are older and prefer the privacy of their own room. Given that you don't have to worry about clearing the space for meals, I think it would work well. Like others have said, I wouldn't do anything permanently built-in unless you design it so that it can be converted into some other use once the kids no longer use it.

sochi - I just retraced my internet steps and re-found it. It's part of the Sticotti Collection from Design Within Reach (DWR).

A few of the others are from Atlas East.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sticotti Collection