Hey Oak, our peninsula is smaller than yours and I use it often for cooking. If I do put something there it's usually a small bowl with fruit or our cake plate when I bake. Nothing fancy, but both the bowl and cake platter each has sentimental value to me.

Ours has a raised bar. I do all my prep on the lower level and we eat almost every meal at the bar ... except when the weather is comfortable, then we eat on the screened porch. I had the lower level made 6" deeper than my other countertops, so IÂd have plenty of room to work. If you ever saw my old kitchen and the tiny spot I had to work on, youÂd understand why. ;)

Only accessories on the bar (nut bowl and lamp) were my momÂs. They make me feel like sheÂs in the kitchen with me. Seems appropriate since sheÂs the one who instilled the love for cooking ... same as my dad did with gardening.

Lukk, that's a beautiful cake plate, I'd keep it out all the time. I like the idea of something sitting at the end of the penn.

Natal, I used to call our penn. a "bar" but thought we were the only ones who called it that. lol I like how you have it set up with the placemats.

I like the idea of a lamp in that corner. I've been thinking about putting a small lamp in the kitchen but didn't really know where to put it. Our under-cabinet lighting is nice, but I only use them when cooking because they give out a lot of heat in the summer.

We have our stove on our peninsula and have 4 stools that tuck into the overhang. We rarely eat at it as we have the big table in the kitchen. The stools get used when people are over and hanging out while we cook. Typically, I have either fresh flowers or a simple candle on the top.

"Decorating" on a rainy July 4th evening is actually kind of fun!

Here's the lamp from the mantel I put on the bar. Unfortunately it gets too hot to set under the shelf so I scooted it out a bit. And that's where I keep my dog bowls for their morning breakfast and milkbones. Their food storage is under the bar.

I really like the warm glow it gives to both the kitchen and dining room. I still need to piddle with the area.

{{!gwi}}

thanks Oak. It was a gift from my sister and was hand painted in Portugal. She came across a woman with 6 of them, all different, but equally beautiful and bought them all from her. She wrapped each one up and put numbers on them, had me, my 3 other sisters and my mother draw numbers and this was the one I pulled the number for. I love it.

Bonnie, I really like the brick in your kitchen and the island you have. Does it get in the way when you're cooking and moving about in the kitchen? I've been thinking about getting one.

Lukk, that's a nice way to give them out, makes them more special.

I think my vase has been seen before on my mantel but it's new home is in the kitchen with the other transferware.

Woke up this morning to make coffee and turned the lamp on instead of the kitchen lights and I really REALLY like the soft light it puts out!

Mine is usually decorated with my husband's keys and work badge. You don't want to see a pic. I like all the above ideas and oakelyok, LOVE your floor!

I was going to suggest a lamp, and then read down and see that you have already put one there. The warm, softer light is truly enjoyable, isnÂt it?

At one point our kitchen light over the table had gone out, and I didnÂt have any halogen bulbs on hand, and too late to get to the store. So I brought in one of the small lamps from the computer/music room, and put it on the kitchen table. I really had to force myself to replace that halogen bulb!

When you play around with the space, think about getting a cute tray that can hold the lamp, phone and a fun jar with the dog treats. I would put the bowls down with the food if you can. It will create a cohesive feel to the arrangement.

Hi Oak,

Thanks for the compliments on the brick and the island.

The brick is the side of a fireplace that faces the kitchen table. Re: the movable island. We love it, use it all the time. We have 4 stools at the other end of the peninsula but never eat there, thanks to the large kitchen table. The stools come in handy when guests want to watch me (more likely to be DH these days!) cook.

Mine is empty....nothing on it. ;-]