Island vs. Peninsula: ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN!!!

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

Which looks better? Peninsula or Island? (More pics below!)

Please help me decide! This kitchen design/planning is driving me nuts! I originally started with an L-shaped kitchen with a round table in the middle. Then I decided to do a peninsula with seating, which I thought was nice. But a few weeks later, when I showed my layout to a local kitchen designer, she strongly suggested that I should do an island ("I would hate having to walk around that peninsula to get in/out"). I posted my layout online and many others also preferred the island. So I settled on the island...

But now, looking back at my peninsula pictures, I am starting to like the peninsula again. It looks more open, spacious and "social" to me, and I would have room to put a small TV near the stove.

Island Pros:
• it's an island...people generally prefer islands (better for resale value?)
• can use butcher block countertop on island
•

Island Cons:
• only 2 seats (3 seat island looks weird)
• feels less spacious or open? (kitchen aisle widths: 50", 41", 41", 36")
• fridge too close to hallway?

Peninsula Pros:
• can fit 3-4 seats (or more if I extend peninsula)
• seating faces stove
• more counter space around stove
• clearer passage when walking from garage to living room
• enough space for TV near stove

Peninsula Cons
• refrigerator in corner sticks out into doorway by 3-4" (but I can demo that wall)
• is not an island
• potentially more expensive (more granite)
• no pantry cabinets (but walk-in pantry to the right of fridge)

Peninsula

Island

Other

additional pics

Featured Answer

annmarie2

12 years ago

We had a U-shaped set-up with a peninsula and got rid of it in favor of the island. With the peninsula, it's more difficult for multiple people to operate in the space. We were constantly bumping into each other before. Now, there's plenty of prep space, without walking all over each other.

A few other thoughts:
1) a 42" blind base cabinet is difficult to use. Consider changing that to a pie-cut lazy susan. That allows for better access to the corner, and for a larger sink base cabinet.
2) the version with the island gives you a pantry, which is great
3) if you're concerned about the fridge being too close to the hallway, shrink the cabinets on that run, or swap the fridge and pantry locations.

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Comments (11)

klrblndng
Original Author
12 years ago
Some additional pictures:
klrblndng
Original Author
12 years ago
Peninsula with TV
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J Sant
12 years ago
I think I would go with the island, it's not enough extra counter space to justify the loss of a cabinet/pantry the size of the refrigerator. I had to look at each photo many times because I was torn and also liked both the island and the peninsula.
barrowp
12 years ago
I like the island. Better traffic flow and more cabinet space. If you turned it the other way it would be more accessible as prep space. Make it as long as you can and still maintain space around it, and you may have room for a third seat. Another idea would be to add a small prep sink in the island, which is so handy when two people are working in the kitchen! As for the TV, I found a small one that mounts under a cabinet and is out of sight when not in use.
klrblndng
Original Author
12 years ago
Looking at the floor plans, I think traffic flow might be similar or better with the peninsula. The aisle widths
are much wider with the peninsula (56" and 83").

The peninsula would get in the way if you're walking to/from the stove, but if you're walking from the living room to the garage or bathroom, the peninsula appears to offer a more direct And wider path.
klrblndng
Original Author
12 years ago
The pantry is something that I'm somewhat reluctant to give up. Those gliding pull-out pantries with Blum hardware are really cool.

However, I also have a medium sized closet in the upper right corner (to the right of the dishwasher) that I can use as a walk-in pantry. Maybe I can fit one of those pullout pantries in there...
makaloco
12 years ago
I voted for "additional pics" by mistake, lol. I meant "other", because I was inclined to suggest going back to the table idea. But it seems from your lists of pros and cons that the peninsula would work best for how you envision yourself and your family using the kitchen. That's the real question, not how it looks. The only big negative I can see is the fridge door opening into the doorway, but maybe you can live with that, or find a way around it.
t100smiles
10 years ago
We are about to start a second story addition which will allow us the opportunity to open up the kitchen to the dining room and originally wanted an island. however, the architect brought up a good point: with an island guest will stand around it and be in your work area. with a peninsula, they will be on the dining room side and out of the kitchen. just a thought.
Momof5x
10 years ago
I like the peninsula better as it gives you more kitchen space too near cooker without having to turn back and forth, I would suggest rather than take out the wall, just make a bigger door entrance way and then again if you think about it, you have counter space next to fridge to organize fridge when you need too. Not really any space for that in the island layout.

If still in doubt about both, see if there is a third option for the design.
indybaba
9 years ago
What did you decide to do? Any regrets? I'm now in the same boat!