Is the dining area shown your main/formal dining room, or just a breakfast nook? Also, how big is your house?

I have a breakfast bar that backs into the dining room, and we use it a lot despite the fact that it somewhat crowds the dining room, because we wanted both functionalities and live in a city townhouse that tends to be tight. In a large contemporary suburban house, similar crowding might raise eyebrows.

If seating isn't really the driving force herr (as opposed to counter space), then maybe you could do the peninsula without the overhang, or make it small and put backless stools under it so that it impinges minimally on the DR.

It is technically the breakfast nook but we will be using it as the dining room. the formal dining room is to the left of the kitchen, but were planning to use it as our kids playroom while theyre little.

the allure of the peninsula was the extra seating. Honestly, I don't think i would want it otherwise.

Can we see how the kitchen relates to the rest of the floor plan?

Here is the entire first floor

It's best to have the overhead lighting fixture and table centered on the windows, so be sure to take that into consideration for the eating area. 9'6" for the table eating area with seating at the peninsula would be cramped. If it were me, I'd do a one level peninsula to gain all of that counter space, and if possible, get a few more inches to add to the 9'6" width.

Anne

Thanks, Anne. The peninsula seating would be counter height, if that's what you mean by one level.

Is this a forever house or a quick stop? If you’re going to be there a while and the playroom will graduate to a dining room in a few years, it might make sense to go with the peninsula. In the short term you could put a bench for kids on the far side of the table and that would allow you to keep the table tighter to the wall than what would otherwise work.

I think it works well as an L as well, and if you go that route I’d look at adding a small prep table style island to give you some more working space and not have such large open space in the center of the room. Like one of these:

Are you sure you need seating right next to a table? How often do you expect to have more people than will fit at the table? If it's a few times a year, perhaps bringing in a card table would make more sense than a peninsula that will crowd the table.

I happen to love a peninsula. It is perfect for having the kids on one side and you on the other to work on projects, for baking cookies, for being able to make dinner while answering questions on home work or just chatting.

I might consider pulling the kitchen back a foot. The peninsula provides extra storage and the little 12" cupboard beside the dishwasher is pretty useless.

Make sure they provide back access to the corner cupboard. I would get them to provide back access to the other cupboard as well. It is a bit less common on walls than peninsula's but without it the space is unusable.

I like the idea of a peninsula with seating. I never liked going around a island to get to the refrigerator.

We have a peninsula and love it. We used it all the time when the kids were young for breakfasts, lunches, and sat there to do homework. When we remodeled our kitchen we considered changing the layout ( to an island), but space wise this fits so better and in my opinion works Just as well. Having back access to the cupboard in the corner is important too. I think you’ll regret if you remove it.

I understand the appeal of a peninsula (or island) with seating. However, unless you have room for 60" b/w the peninsula edge and the table, you don't have room for both. And, to be honest, do you really need two sets of seats so close to each other?

To determine whether you have enough room

36" b/w the table and wall on the right

+ 42" deep table

+ 60" b/w the table and peninsula edge

=========

138" = 11'6" between peninsula and wall on the right.

Don't skimp on the 60". We have 48" and you really cannot have people seated at both the peninsula and the table at the same time. (You may say/plan not to have people at both at the same time, but the reality is that if the seating is there, both will be utilized at the same time more often than you think.)

Maybe if you take some space from the Kitchen and do a banquette with a bench along the far right wall it might fit. (A bench reduces the 36" to 21" b/w the table and wall, a gain of 15" with that change alone.).

If you get a narrower table, say 39", you gain another few inches. I wouldn't go any narrower than 39", though, unless you are a short family with short legs. You'll be surprised how quickly grow and begin to take up "adult size" space.

FYI...the refrigerator cannot be up against the wall as you have in your layouts. Unless it's a true built-in refrigerator, you will need 6" to 12" b/w the wall and refrigerator to allow the doors to open fully for both full access and cleaning. The doors of non-built-in refrigerators must extend out past all surrounding items. If they don't then you need space b/w the wall and the refrigerator. I recommend a 12"W tall pullout utility cabinet for broom, mop, etc. (Or, a 12"W tall pantry pullout.)

At 13'2" you have just enough space for an island and one wall of perimeter cabinets. You would be giving up cabinet/storage space (ap 38" on sink wall, and uppers above the fridge run), but there would be no conflict with seating. To make up for the fridge blocking some of the light from the DR window, I drew a wider, triple window over the sink so the view is unobstructed. If you use 1" for the counter overhangs, and a 40" deep island, you should have ap 93" to divide between the work aisle and traffic aisle.

I also moved the wider window to the right, to allow you to put a larger cabinet between the sink and corner susan, which also increases the prep space. Moving the fridge solves the issue with the pantry wall.

ETA, an alternate layout, moving the playroom door. An advantage would be easier venting for the range hood, but prep space between sink and range is still at a minimum.

When you say, we are building, I don't know where you are in the building process.

Have you placed your furniture in the entire space and given lots of thought to how you will use each space?

I have lived in homes with formal living and dining rooms and found the spaces really under utilized. I also think that when kids are small it is better to have a view of their play space while you are cooking.

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions!!

Mama goose, I did play around with putting an island in, but didnt think of taking those cabinets out! There is enough room, but I dont think I like the way there isnt a clear path from left side doorway thru the kitchen....TY!!

Buehl, for a 42" table, we would have just under 60" between IF we did the bench up against the wall idea...which I like, but Im worried about how the table being off center from the sliding glass doors will look. and where would the chandelier go??? Thanks for pointing out the issue with fridge placement...you saved us a headache for sure!

Jennifer, that is exactly why I love the idea of a peninsula...to interact with kids/help with home etc. when i need to be in the kitchen. You may have just sold me with that comment alone! lol

Muriel, this is our forever home, my husband is building it. I do like the idea of a small prep table, but no extra seating :(

Mama goose - I really like this idea!!! It really seems to open the space up instead of feeling closed off like with the peninsula. and we would still have the extra seating!! my husband would not be happy about having to move that doorway tho!! lol but he was talking about doing stud bookshelves in the den, so maybe he will be on board with something like this in the kitchen

When it comes down to inches of width it would help to know the outside width of the foundation and the size of the exterior studs.