I'm not a fan of banquettes as they're very hard to keep clean.

Thanks Ephma,
The purpose for either option would be morning coffee, afternoon snacks, homework etc. I don't foresee actual meals there. With the change from the peninsula I would only lose a 36" lazy susan cabinet, but definitely some counter top!

Would you be interested in a separate 'scullery' area, for clean-up and dish storage? The current plumbing could be used for a prep sink centered on one side of the window, giving you two prep areas with no zone crossing. Helpers could load or unload the DW, or gather dishes to set the table, without entering the prep and cooking zones. Stored dishes are convenient to the range, for plating, and the clean-up sink is easily accessed from the DR, for incoming dishes.

If not mamagoose’s idea, you could do a small bistro table, two upholstered chairs, or a coffee bar where the “eat” sign is. But the peninsula is all wrong.

I'm not a huge fan of island seating, actually, and while it's a trend that's not going anywhere soon, I find it uncomfortable and inconvenient. A banquette under a window would be a lovely spot to sit and drink tea, read mail, look up recipes, etc... I get the utility of mama's plan, but I wouldn't give up a cozy nook to get a second sink two cabinets down from a prep sink.

I like the idea of a cozy window seat, too, not necessarily an L banquette. I have two window seats in a playroom which adjoins my kitchen, and I keep a small drop leaf table against the wider seat.

Our electric was off yesterday, due to tree limbs being trimmed away from the lines. It was an overcast day--too dark in the DR where I usually set up, so I spent the morning at that table, doing paperwork in the natural light. The seats were built to encourage my grands to use as reading nooks, but I love to take a cup of tea and watch for deer in the evening.

If you don't have multiple cooks/helpers to use the separate clean-up and prep zones, a window seat with a small table would be the best of both worlds. :)

I don't think the second sink fits our family or needs for the space. While certainly and interesting idea, a space to comfortably gather is more our speed! Mother Goose are you suggesting just a straight built in bench?

I had a banquette in my previous kitchen and every houseguest loved it (I loved it, too). So in the new plan we carved out space for another one. I love being able to sit "lazy" in the morning after I've fed the dogs and am waiting for the caffeine to take hold.

That said, there are people who just do NOT like them at all, so I would get a furniture banquette and not a built in if you have choices. Ballard Designs had the best selection when I was looking, tho Crate and Barrel had some more contemporary styled options, too.

We just renovated our kitchen and we cut the peninsula for a banquette and I LOVE it! It reduced the amount of space our dining room table takes up, my 1 year old thinks that standing on the banquette and looking out the window is the best! We also love that smaller bums can allow us to seat more people at the table than chairs would allow. Depending on the size of people in our house we can seat anywhere from 6 to 10 people where as before we were limited to 6 or less.

Just remember to make it big enough to accommodate older children & adults...they have longer legs and need their own, dedicated knee/leg space. Also, try to keep it so people don't have to do much sliding in/out as that can get old quickly. If it's just one seat on each side, it will probably be fine.

I'm not a fan b/c I prefer to have some "control" over how far I am from the table when I sit and with a banquette, you're constrained by others sitting at the table since you cannot move your seat. But then, I'd probably sit at one of the outside seats and let others sit on the bench.

To Beuhl’s point, you’ll want to make sure the table is a pedestal style. Though I think with a banquette as small as this one, any bistro style table you would choose would have a pedestal. Ours is a bit larger so we used a oval tulip table.

Ephma, that is beautiful!

@ericag613 thank you! I kept second guessing myself about it, but I’m glad I did it because it’s my favorite thing!

@ericag613 I just saw this in one of my idea books and thought of you! It looks similar to your space. Swoon!

https://www.houzz.com/photos/ballard-cottage-traditional-dining-room-seattle-phvw-vp~135355110

Ephma, thanks for thinking of me. Love it!

Ephma - LOVE that space! The seating...the view...

I'd love to have a space like that to sip my latte and do a little painting...

Thank you! We use it every day!