I like to the wall.

Have you considered doing the whole kitchen in a stone look product that is nice to the touch like corian?

To the wall...

I really thought I would like "to the wall" until I saw it. I personally prefer the other.

2

I like the second picture- not to the wall. I can't explain my rationale very well though. I'll keep thinking about it. Looks more tailored to me somehow in the second picture.

Three sinks???? The one to the left makes that counter not very usable.

I prefer only to the counter, not to the wall. To the wall cuts off the look of the nice counter and just to the counter makes the wood its "own eating space". To the wall makes the kitchen look like it's half counter half eating space.

What zorroslw1 said, perfectly.

Neither. It’s contrived lookiing and the detailing between the two materials will be problematic.

I’d get the prep sink off if the island and into the corner of the peninsula. Then do the island in wood. Or eliminate it entirely. Right now the island is an afterthought and a barrier. It’s dysfunctional, even with a prep sink on it. And the beverage sink is superfluous. Eliminate it and do that counter in wood if you want wood somewhere.

I honestly don't like it much without a height change. I've seen it look good with a height change.

Hey, I agreed with Sophie!

Thanks, Debbie. I really love the wood overhang the best!

To address some of the above criticisms:

This is a beach house kitchen designed for large gatherings. We often have 10-14 people here for weeks at a time. The peninsula is not a work space. It's where everyone hangs out for light meals and snacks or for wine/cocktails and conversation while dinner is being prepared, some sitting and others standing around on the other side. The island is neither an afterthought or a barrier. All of my prep work is done there facing the people at the peninsula. There are refrigerator drawers next to the clean up sink. The prep sink will be round with an offset faucet that's usable from both sides. The bar sink is important because that's where coffee and cocktails are made and a dishwasher, for the barware/stemware, is tied into the drain.

But back to my current dilemma.

The wood counter would definitely be a different height and rabbeted over the stone. I got a quote for doing the overhang in wood but that doesn't help with the granite seams. Because the run is so long, there has to be a seam on each side of the cooktop if we use a granite with any movement. Maybe that's ok, but I'm worried it'll be noticeable. I thought about changing it to a gas rangetop (DH would be very happy with that) but I don't think it'll fit in the cabinet. My only other option is a very uniform quartz, but I don't love it.

The island sink will look like this.

Wood overhang would look like this.

Take it to the wall!

Bonus (at least the way you drew it): more seating.

The island is neither an afterthought or a barrier. All of my prep work is done there facing the people at the peninsula.

How can you be facing the people while you prep when the prep sink is facing away from the peninsula? If you want to face your guests and prep, you would need for the sink to be on the opposite side.

I did't particularly like Design #2. It had less seating, but more importantly, it had a poorly accessible corner. Why put stone counter top in the corner if nobody ever works there anyway. At best, it would be used for storage of rarely-used counter-top appliances.

Design #1 looks cleaner, has more seating, and loses the the inaccessible corner.

But after @cheri127 explained the anticipated use case, I think Design #3 is the clear winner. It still maximizes seating and eliminates the awkward corner. But it clearly delineates different zones. As a bonus, it keeps a small amount of storage for counter-top appliances in the corner. And it breaks up the lines much nicer. It'll be a great place to congregate in the kitchen.

In fact, while the original designs looked a little forced, this design looks very intentional.

How can you be facing the people while you prep when the prep sink is facing away from the peninsula?

It'll be fine. It's two steps to turn that corner. I don't need to stand next to the sink when I work.

pew-like seating does not make for good conversation on the whole, particularly when the pew ends up against the wall

We have this arrangement now and it's brilliant. There are always people standing on the other side facing those sitting. It's a dynamic environment during meal prep, with people coming and going, not a sit down dinner.

I really appreciate the feedback on the layout but changing it isn't an option. That part is done, right or wrong. The cabinets are on the delivery truck.

I like the wrap around.

Now I just hate the island and the left counter. Lol.

Definately vote for continuing the wood to the wall.

Your picture is from a viewpoint no one would ever have (ceiling). When someone is looking into the kitchen, IMO if you have 2' of "stone" it would look funny. When someone is standing in the kitchen at the corner where the two counters would intersect being at a corner, the transition would seem "right".

Now I just hate the island and the left counter. Lol.

This is funny? Really?

I have never had a kitchen where it would have made sense to have a separate prep and clean-up sink. So, yes, the island sink feels a little odd to me. If it was my kitchen, it probably would take me a long time to figure out why it's there. I'd rather just have a single work-station style sink for both prep and clean-up.

But I can admit, that that's just a function of how I like to work. What @cheri127 describes about how she uses the kitchen sounds plausible, when entertaining large groups. I can see the utility of the island. And except for the sink it doesn't bother me.

On the other hand, I do agree with @Milly Rey. The left side of the kitchen still feels really awkward to me. The cabinets and appliances feel not quite right, yet. For instance, I feel the ovens would be better on the right-hand side. And the open space in the center feels as if it should be filled in a little more. But it is hard to say from the pictures that we have.

And yes, I would not interrupt the left counter top with yet another sink. If a sink is needed in that vicinity, move the island sink that we can't talk you out of. It can be accessed from the drink area, if it was on the left side of the island.

Alternatively, get rid of the sink in the drink area and turn it into a bar tap. Now that makes more sense!

What's the size of the walkways around the island?

I'm being light-hearted. It's a joke. I dislike those areas for the same reason everyone else does, but I do think your peninsula is working now! Sorry to come across as mean.

Honestly, you now have the PERFECT opportunity to fix the island. Move the sink to the peninsula. Then you can prep close to all your guests. And you'll be closer to the stove.

I'm not understanding the purpose of the third sink. It looks like a perfect baking counter or. coffee station was ruined.

The wood top of our peninsula goes all the way to the wall. I made it (from scratch) out of spalted maple, and I love the look and feel of it. It's about 1/2" higher than the adjoining counter to prevent an awkward transition.

I really like your last rendition with the wood overhang!

Sorry your question keeps getting taken off topic.

If I had to choose between the first two, I would choose the second -- it doesn't make sense logically, but it looks better aesthetically to me. But I prefer the overhand most of the three.

What if you did the wood overhang but the piece of wood going fully to the wall so there is not granite seam? Apologies for the bad drawing...

What if you did the wood overhang but the piece of wood going fully to the wall so there is not granite seam? Apologies for the bad drawing...

Love this!!!! Thank you so much, Debbie! :D

Sometimes it takes a little longer to get there!

Good luck and be sure to post pictures when you are done! Very exciting!