I would have an overhang. EVERYONE ends up in the kitchen - even if your dining area is next to it!

I would keep the overhang. There is just something about sitting at the counter that people like.

Have you considered just a perch type over hang? 8-10 inches? That is what we did and are quite happy.

Will look into that nightowl, thank you!

I have an overhang on my peninsula even though my dining table is right next to it. I know I don't have the proper spacing between the two, but it's rarely used at the same time. It's a great spot for the grandkids to eat as I can serve them easily from the kitchen side. My kitchen is a galley opened on the peninsula side, so it worked well in my space.

I have a very similar layout to yours and I love the peninsula overhang and seating. It is where absolutely everyone hangs out.

Keep the overhang. Even if you decide against stools for sitting, the space will be used for leaning against & chatting and for setting out food buffet style.

My island overhang is only 11". It's not a big deal for us. Sometimes knees bump but if you pull the stool out a hair it's fine. We are also not giant people. Mostly the kids have cereal there, and I have coffee in the am at the island. I think nightowls suggestion is the best of both worlds.

I have two small stools that slip right under it and out of the way.

I did not opt for this, and sometimes wish I had. In your plan, I would definitely do it. Good luck.

I'd nix it. Why? Because your Kitchen desperately needs the extra inches - unless this is one-person home...

Do you have the space for a 15" overhang (minimum recommended by the NKBA) and then 60" b/w the table and peninsula counter? If so, then you could put in an overhang, but those 15" would be so useful in the Kitchen itself! And, with no overhang, you would only need about 51" b/w the table and counters, so you'd gain another 9" or so. That's another 2 feet - very, very useful!

What is the aisle width b/w the end of the peninsula and the refrigerator doors/handles? Keep in mind that most counter-depth refrigerators are approx 31" deep and standard depth close to 36" deep.

Have you considered no peninsula and extending the window wall into the DR a bit?

Are you working with an actual Kitchen Designer?

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BTW...I really like your Mudroom size! Plenty of space for cubbies and/or closet and/or bench!

I just looked at past threads, it looks like you're set on this layout.

Good luck with the remodel!

(I'd still nix the overhang!)

Keep the overhang!

I hated the peninsula seating. It made no sense to have bar stools back to back with the dining room chairs. People will stand and talk to me while I'm at the sink, but your sink isn't even on the peninsula. Or they sit at the table and talk. It's no big deal.

We also gained two 12" deep cabinets and display cubbies.

We have back-to-back DR & peninsula seats and it's too tight to have people seated in both locations at the same time - we have a tad over 48" b/w the table and counter.

Honestly? It's only used by my DD when she's home from college and, now, my DH for breakfast. (We moved the Kitchen TV to a new location and now he has to sit at it if he wants to eat breakfast & watch TV at the same time - I'll do anything to get someone to use the seating! :-) The overhang is too shallow for him to sit there comfortably - it's only 15" and he's 6'5". We should have put in at least 18", but no one was really talking about deeper overhangs back then - probably b/c of too many claiming 12" was plenty - it's not - unless you're very short! My 6'7" DS never sits there...he'll sit at the DR table, but not the peninsula.)

Even when we have people over, no one actually sits - they all stand, so what's the point of a "seating" overhang? :-) I often wish we had put storage there instead - I need that more than two types of seating so close together!

I would definitely keep the overhang.

I don't know if it is just because my family are hobbits but a 12" overhang has always been what we have had and it was always comfortable to sit at, with the dining room table right behind it.

Is it possible to open your U shaped kitchen another foot and make the bar area 36 inches deep? I would certainly like a bigger U in the kitchen.

I noticed you have a window in the dining room somewhat centered on the wall. I would probably center my table with the center of the window and see how much space you have left with the table turned the length of the room. They recommend 3 feet behind chairs. Even now with the small U, you may not have room for bar seating with the dining room chairs behind them. If you were able to open the opening between the dining and living room more, move your dining room window down, you might be able to fit the breakfast bar in there.

I'd go larger U kitchen over bar seating. You could still make the bar 30 inches deep to act as a buffet.

I like a 5 foot U. I think you could get the breakfast bar , but not the chairs.

We eliminated our overhang and added storage, similar to mayflowers. We don't miss the seating at all.

I would require it - it's important hang out space - even for entertaining. BUT - there 's a serious lack of working counter here - that area that is the most "valuable" is btw the sink and stove and it's not enough - but there's lots of other counter. I am worried you'll feel crowded even though there's enough sq footage of counter - just not in the right spot.

I am sitting at my table right now with my back to the peninsula. The chair is positioned so I can slide out. I measured the space from my chair back to the peninsula counter. It is 12". Where am I going to put a bar stool? My table is 34" from the peninsula.

Thanks everyone. We weren't able to get the wall opened today so will only be able to see the full space tomorrow. Am hoping that will help visualize it.

The total length from the kitchen window to the entrance to the dining room across is 21 ' 4". So it's not a large space. I would love a larger U and I think that would make the space more airy as well as give better flow.

This is a more accurate drawing of the space. How far out could we reasonably put the peninsula with or without the overhang I wonder...

I'm actually not concerned about counter space. We have a similar set up now and it works quite well for our cooking style.

I would definitely do the overhang. My peninsula didn't have one when we moved in and we hated it. We took out all the storage underneath and made an overhang for 4 stools. It's where everyone gravitates when we are entertaining.

DC, how much space wall space to the left of the dining room window?

How wide is the dining room window?

How wide is your present dining table?

I just want to calculate the clear floor space if your table is centered on the dining room window (not being centered would not be an option for me, that would drive me crazy, unless of course you want to change out that window.)

My room measurements are almost the reverse--DR is 9'2" and the kitchen is 12'8".

Won't you want to center your table in the dining room? So just figure out what width the aisle needs to be between the table and peninsula when both have chairs. Allow for people to walk between the chairs. I think you need at least 5'.

I just don't think you have the luxury of an overhang when the U is so narrow.

How are you doing on storage? Do you have more than you need? You could eliminate the cabinet under the end of the peninsula and keep a seat or two under there while still creating a roomier kitchen aisle.

Like this, but with a peninsula instead of an island:

It'd be nice because the cook could sit down sometimes while working.

That's similar to what we did- didn't have room to move the counter, so we took out the cabs underneath.

Before:

After:

I would definitely keep it he overhang. We've always found it of great use. Breakfast/snacks happen there while I or DW are cooking/cleaning up. It looks from your drawing like you have the space without really encroaching on the dining space. We have a 10 inche overhang and that's plenty. Make sure your countertop people are aware so they design in the proper supports.

if you haven't already selected your hood, consider having that on the peninsula, it'll let you fave out into the room. Need to vent through the ceiling not directly out but lots of good island hoods work.

Benjesbride, the window is 40 inches wide and from the window to the wall separating dining and living room is 58 inches. We're those the measurements you wanted? Our current dining table is stored away at the moment so I wasn't able to measure it.

I think I could live with the dining table not being centered to the window if it meant more kitchen space.

Jillius I like that idea. We decided to keep the uppers on the range wall so we may be able to spare a cabinet under the peninsula. Is that your kitchen in the picture? How many inches wide is that open space?

thank you everyone!!

Your light fixture will also be uncentered.

Do you have the space for a 15" overhang (minimum recommended by the NKBA) and then 60" b/w the table and peninsula counter?

While this number is the ideal, I think it's not always necessary. It's assuming that we have people sitting at the table and the counter at the same time and that's rarely the case. Even when it is the case, it's still not a huge problem.

As for the original question of whether or not to have the overhang, I vote for.

Mayflowers we are doing all new electrical and can easily move that. We will also be doing downlights.

You look like you have a lot of storage on the fridge wall. Perhaps you could do 18 inch deep cabs on the peninsula and gain 6 inches. My chandelier is not centered on the window and I wish it was, but it is not the end of the world and I doubt if most people notice it. It's probably off by about 3 inches.

Oh, so only downlights? No chandelier?

My tucked-in chair back is 4" from the table. Pulled out to simulate a bar stool on the peninsula, it's 24" from the table. I need 18" to walk between the chair positions (inherited slim hips from my mother--thanks, Mom!). Add them up and I need a minimum of 42" between the table and peninsula.

Alas, I found that kitchen on google. I don't know the dimensions, but it looks to be about 30-36" wide under there.

I'm hired to remove an overhang about once a year or so, and they weren't very large. It has more to do with the chair-side space than anything else.

Put a pull out or fold down island bar at table, bar or island height for the best of both worlds. With a pull out the storage wouldn't be compromised. I like flexibility in my kitchen so opted on purpose for rolling carts and fewer fixed counters so that's what I'd do.

DC Reno what did you decide? I am facing a similar decision with my island. Currently it is a 5 foot island with seating on one side. My husband never sits there. My daughter and I occasionally sit there but not together. The island seating gets used when we have company but there are only two chairs so our company sits and we end up standing which we don't like because we get tired of standing all night. If we have a big crowd only two get to sit and have access to the food and others have to reach around them. We are considering changing to a 7 foot island with no seating and more storage. This will allow me to easily store a lot of china and silverware on the non-work side closet to the dining room. My concerns are: will my guests miss it and what about resale?

We went with the overhang and very happy we did! We actually haven't gotten the counter stools yet (because of horrendous service from west elm, when they hadn't delivered them 6 months after we ordered I gave up. So now looking for other options) but we love the extra counter space and guests always hang out at the peninsula. We have pulled dining stools over there a few times and it doesn't feel crowded.

I got lots of feedback that my U was too small and would be too crowded but we haven't felt that at all. We can easily be 2 people in the kitchen.

glad you went with the overhang! just wanted to add that ours is only 8" overhang (though the total depth is maybe 48") and is open to the dining/living room and whenever we have guests they are on the one side of the peninsula and hubby and i are sitting on the other (with obviously no overhang on our side). i love entertaining this way!