I love the peninsula design but the sink and DW worry me. Is that the DW to the right of the range? If so, I don't understand how you're supposed to load it. By standing in front of the range? I just think it's a bad sink placement -- crammed next to the fridge, considering that's where a lot of time is spent. There is also no loading zone next to the fridge. My previous kitchen was a very similar size and layout, and it worked well for us.

Here's a pic. Sorry you cannot see the peninsula, but it is right where yours is -- to the left. The range is there (with a downdraft exhaust -- see the black glass top?), then there is a bit of backsplash and the eating counter is bar height with stools under. You also cannot see the DW -- because it has a cabinet panel -- but it is left of the fridge.

I'd want the sink and DW on the peninsula. It really shouldn't be crammed into that corner while you have that whole peninsula open. Or if the plumbing cannot be moved, put the range in the peninsula with an island hood and shift the sink down to be a corner sink with the DW next to the fridge and a small MW in an upper cabinet next to the fridge.

I agree with the previous posters that the sink looks very cramped between the range and sink. Additionally, opening the dishwasher would make access to the sink difficult (maybe impossible?). I agree that putting the sink in the peninsula might work better. Right now you have no landing space next to the fridge and very little work space between the sink and the range.

try an L-extend the counter to the left of range all the way down,and space the sink/range a little differently on the L...you'll have more space. Then,without any peninsula,can you work a small island into the foreground for the stool type casual seating. That's apparently the goal-but an island with human movement around in various directions would be better than a peninsula and it's "row" seating..

My U-shaped kitchen is 8 X 12.5 feet and also opens to the main hallway. We have a 36 in. CD fridge. My peninsula has a 27 in. sink base and a 24 x 18 in. sink, a 24 in. DW, and a separate 12 in. trash cabinet. I put the sink in the corner so I'd have a large expanse of prep space. It's been great!

Does your peninsula butt up against your dining room? If so, you do not need seating at it. I had a raised bar peninsula before the remodel. It made no sense to have bar stools literally in the DR.

Keep the fridge uppers but make them deeper. You can store small appliances, metal baking pans, and large odds and ends in there. A 6 pack of paper towels for example. It's valuable space!

Try to extend your upper cabinets to the left of your range close to the end of the peninsula. If you stop short of the edge, you'll have too much bare wall over the peninsula. It will create problems when you go to tile since you'll want to start your tile under the first cabinet.

Here's what we did.

Oh, I like May flower's kitchen! The sink and dishwasher on the peninsula would be nice and give you more prep space by the range, too!

If you do move the sink, could the microwave go on a shelf, to the left of the fridge? And maybe a regular vent/hood above the range?

Also...what about a plate rack (maybe with mug hooks below) for that extra wall space, to the left of the range? Just a few ideas :)

Ya, that DW placement is no good. Is it just two of you? Would you consider a DWD (dishwasher drawer)? Then you could have a couple drawers for more storage underneath.

Also, what I'm considering (if some GW'er doesn't point out to me why it's a bad idea) is getting a CD fridge and setting it up on a shallow drawer base (6" high maybe).

Great use of the space, mayflowers! We also used a cabinet-depth fridge in our space. Every inch counts in a small U.

What I did not mention before was how useful I found the U. Nothing was too far away -- no running around things to get to what I needed.

Small spaces really do require careful planning. I hope the OP chimes in soon.