skip to main content

Design Dilemma Dining Rooms Kitchens

Kitchen layout island vs peninsula - please help!

11 months ago

Hi everyone, looking for your advice on my kitchen layout please!

We are considering island vs peninsula, but also having the kitchen vs dining area next to the sliding doors to the garden. I've added floor plans and mock up pics of each style below.

In both options, the units around the fridge are full-height dressers with solid doors, they don't render on the planner. In both options, the bench will be a corner bench style dining table.

I'm wondering if option 2 will be very busy around the fridge/breakfast pantry at the entrance of the room, but Option 1 has less worktop space expect for the island. Wondering if anyone has a similar layout and if you miss the worktop space?

I'd really appreciate your advice and suggestions!

Option 1:

Option 2:

Featured Answer

Daisy England

11 months ago

I prefer option 2. lt gives more worktop space and also visually looks as though you have easier access to the fridge.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

PRO
i-architect
11 months ago
Think about how it will feel to be sat eating in each option. (I would imagine it being nicer to be sat at the table closer to the view of the garden - but this would be my personal preference and yours may be different).

Also think about how it will feel to be doing your thing in the kitchen - do you spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and when you are there do you think you'd rather be closer to the view of the garden or further away? (my personal preference again would be standing in your 2nd option as you'll still have a good view out to the garden as you move about and it looks like easier access to everything, but you may feel differently).

For all these kinds of dilemmas consider how you want to feel and what kind of space will help you feel that way. Also how many people and doing what.

My free Design Your Home Vision Checklist will help you and you can get that here: https://www.i-architect.co.uk/dyhvchecklist.html

Best wishes with your home redesign!

Jane

award winning chartered architect

eco-home and conservation area specialist

www.i-architect.co.uk

For helpful videos watch my YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@iarchitect
Related Discussions
New house kitchen layout
Q
Comments (12)
I see what you mean, It's a good idea in theory, however, practically, I don't think it's going to work, and you will end up ruining the nicest room in the house. There are no walls that remain unbroken by doors or windows, so where are you going to put units and unbroken worktop space. They can't go on the left as there are three doors. There's a door on the right, which although you could put a unit and a bit of worktop back right, it wouldn't be very big, and the biggest run of wall goes straight down to the glass doors, so you probably can't and wouldn't want to go straight up to them. You could move the door into the hallway from the front end to the bottom end by the patio doors and this would give you a better run of wall. If you put an island in the middle, 5' into the room to give yourself room to walk in and gain more worktop, it'll only leave you with around 6' at the other end for a dining space. However, i'd still advise getting a kitchen planner onboard before you start, as i'm not convinced the room is big enough to achieve what you want with the available wall space, and it stands a good chance of spoiling a very nice and elegant entrance to a house. The other big problem is the plumbing, there isn't any currently in that room, so you'll need to dig up the floor for drainage and almost definately that of either the utility or one of the bathrooms! I vote for keeping the house exactly as it is!
...See More
Kitchen design help!
Q
Comments (11)
I agree with 'Kitchens and Baths', you are leaving yourself precious little counterspace to accommodate 2 side-by-side wall ovens? Can't you stack them if you need 2? Also, a warning, I wouldn't be taking anything out of those ovens and "turning to the island" with them...not with a quartz countertop!! You'll have that whole end all scorched...unless you are quick and accurate with lots of trivets! But your "open shelving" is going to look like a pinched-in forgotten corner pantry...you really need more space for them too , if it is going to look right. Right now as it is, 2 feet of them are all but beyond reach (over the lower countertop) and then a mere 2 feet worth of actually OPEN, available space you can reach, then the monster of the floor to ceiling cabinet will be in the way. It will be like reaching around into a closet. I would seriously reconsider this design BEFORE your electrician shows up--and before you order all those (expensive!) cabinets. But as for the island 'crowding' the walkway--it looks as if your drawing says 1.2 meters? That's plenty and more than enough, even for running boisterous kiddos, you're fine there. Best of Luck.
...See More
Help with Kitchen/Dining area layout - new build
Q
Comments (1)
I think I would have one set off steps down and move the dividing presses to the side where your sink is, making it a peninsula. That would make for a nice L shaped banquette seating area where your blank wall is, and the gallery backdrop would be great there. You could also have a nice long table as opposed to the small square one. I also hope you don't mind me saying that I think you need to reconsider the placement of your hob. It's right beside a door which will be awkward and you have your back to the room when entertaining. You will have such a nice kitchen that you should make the most of it for entertaining. Even you consider putting it on the island facing the dining area?
...See More
Need Help With Our Kitchen.
Q
Comments (0)
Hi Houzz Community! My girlfriend and I have recently taken over my family's B&B. As it's now in the second generation we want to bring our feel to the home. We will be renovating the Kitchen in January 2019. We love bright colours with an environmentally friendly, greens, whites, greys, light browns etc. while also keeping it classy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Please view the pictures and thanks so much for your time! - The layout is shown on the drawing and attached photos - We use this kitchen to cook the breakfast for our guests and so everything in the kitchen has its purpose ( however doesn't mean things couldn't move - but it works now) - We think the table is quite large and possibly could make it smaller - seating area for 3 - 4 people - Do you think we could fit a small island with bar stools? Thank you for your time and suggestions!
...See More
Jessica Tabor
Original Author
11 months ago
That's the problem - as I can really see both options working!

The island kitchen feels like it would be more of a statement and more luxurious feeling than the peninsula, as the peninsula maybe closes off the kitchen a little bit, I wonder if it would feel like being in a serving hatch sort of thing.

I'm also not sure about having the units and fridge at the entrance in option 2, as I'm worried it will make that major walkway quite busy in the morning with breakfast pantry.

I think option 1 has less workspace apart from the island, but looks more stylish.

I always thought I would want the table by the door, but we are having two skylights and it's a SW facing room, so not sure if that will make it quite hot and difficult to eat there in the summer.

It\s so tricky deciding between the two!

We are a young couple with two dogs hoping to have kids in the next few years. I'd love to hear if anyone has a similar layout to either option with dogs/kids and can offer any tips for what works for them...
Daisy England
11 months ago
I’m lucky as l have both. Have to say that the island get one hell of a lot of use though. I know that contravenes my preference for yours.

What l did think when l saw the initial post was that your fridge is wrongly positioned. lt’s too far away from the sink. Is it necessary to have an American style FF as they tend to be bulky as opposed to an integrated one?
Jessica Tabor
Original Author
11 months ago
I agree the fridge is quite far away, but my husband is 100% set on having an american one, it's one of his non-negotiable things. Also being able to sit at a comfy chair and watch TV somehow - I couldn't manage to fit in a sofa though!

I've just tried this way, maybe this is kind of the best of both worlds?
Daisy England
11 months ago
A definite possibility. If you have to have the FF in that specific position then the other things will have to work around that.

Personally l hate straight corner bases because you have to scramble on your knees to access the corner. Could you swap that for a 900L which will have 2 opening doors and full access into the corner? lt would involve moving some of the units around though. You would have no void/waste of space but would also have to align the wall units up accordingly.
Jessica Tabor
Original Author
11 months ago
I can do that! Or I could get a magic corner pull out thingy instead

I tried moving the fridge but it messes up the symmetry of the room a bit, not sure if that is going to make it a bit too messy?

It means I lose quite a bit of the worktop space too if I do move it - it's so tricky to balance all the variables!
Daisy England
11 months ago
last modified: 11 months ago
You get more storage space in a 900L as opposed to using a magic corner.

l have 900Ls in 2 corners. Here is one of them …
Jessica Tabor thanked Daisy England
katlucy
11 months ago
Could you play with this layout with the kitchen on the right?
Jessica Tabor
Original Author
11 months ago
I thought about this too, but the entrans to the room and the back door are both on the right, so that wiuld make the kitchen directly in the path between them, which is apprently bad - would this matter?

also im not keen on a tv above the dining table, it feels wrong to me somehow!
katlucy
11 months ago
Ah i thought that was a full length window, can it be moved turned into a window?

You would have to be strict woth young children about whose allowed in the cooking area of course but it does use all the space
Anna G
11 months ago
I prefer option 2 and I think it's safer for small children - mine would've run round and round that island!
User
11 months ago
Dining table in front of sliding doors would be my preference

Sponsored

Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore

More Discussions

How would you lay out this bathroom?

10

Authentic Feng Shui Workshop - Angel Times Limerick 27th April 2024

0

reconfiguring floor plan layout and would love help please

2

Interior Design Classes April to June 2024

0

Further Education & Training Centre Open Day: Interior Design Classes

0

Ireland

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.