We had the same question in two areas of our kitchen reno. Bar or counterheight for both the peninsula AND when I decided to enlarge the pass through window. We chose counter height for both, and and so happy that we did. Here's the peninsula: and like Nathan mentioned -- we actually have alot of newpaper reading and homework being accomplished and internet surfing going on the non-kitchen side of the peninsula -- Oh! and card playing: with this set-up we can get 3 people playing cards here, too! My daughter likes to make cool decorated cupcakes for her friends, and this large area allows her to spread out and make an even bigger mess . . . Oh, I mean be creative. This was formerly a wall that we took down between the kitchen and DR. When I have a buffet, I take the stools and move them to the pass-through overhang -- shown here. This was the passthru window that had a "bump-up" -- we flattened and enlarged it. I like the counter height all through out the kitchen. And I apologize to people who may be sick and tired of seeing pictures of my kitchen. But so many helped me, I just want to help people who had THE SAME questions I had when I was planning!

Don't worry so much about the handles matching as getting the best appliances you can afford in each category. The two wall ovens should try to look similar though due to proximity. What outlet are yu finding deals like this?

als6w, There are lots of neat ways to finish off cupboards and peninsulas. It wasn't even something on my radar until I started frequenting GW! Doesn't bother me in the slightest, but I do like it when I see those finishes in other kitchens. For us, seeing the side of the pantry instead of the side of our fridge was such an improvement- we're happy, and we jealously guarded every inch of space on that wall, losing a couple of inches to add a fake door on either end just wasn't an option, let alone the $$$. We actually had ordered an angled cupboard to finish of the run of cabinets for the fridge side- had to reject the first two attempts, and ended up hiring a carpenter to build us a winerack/bookcase combo- far more functional, and we're happy with it. letter100, Our kitchen is 10.5' wide(actually an inch or two less than that). Yes, our walls our 8' high and the cupboards are 39" with a 3" molding and an 1.5" light rail (DH made the light rail, so he made it as small as possible). The peninsula overhang is 12" on the table side (so glad we added an extra 3" from the original plans). There is 5' from the base of the peninsula cabinet to the table. Wouldn't want it any tighter than that. Would have loved 2 more feet of length and depth to the DR part- but as we basically live in the kitchen and eat 95-98% of meals at the peninsula, we stole as many inches as possible from the DR. Our fridge is flanked by two 18" pantries- one is used as a broom/storage closet, the OTF cabinet is 29" deep+ 3/4" door. Any narrower, and I wouldn't be able to reach my pans/trays. I wouldn't recommend the cabinet manufacturer to anyone- (you could search to find out my long sad story)- my kitchen company has gone bankrupt and good riddance is all I can say!

Thanks for clarifying MamaGoose. I will have to check and see what might work. From what I have seen you pay most of the price of the cabinet to buy just the doors so it may be just as easy to just buy the tall pantry and use that as to build something else and buy the pantry doors. You wouldn't get the broom storage but would have more overall storage. I will give it some thought and tsk to the GC and see what we come up with. Overall though, do you think any of the options would look better/worse/ strange? We go back in to remeasure on Wed. Close a week from Thursday and get possession in 5 weeks. Getting close! Now I just have to finalize everything so I can order the cabinets.