I should add- I will have 42" aisle in work areas, and 40" from island counter to wall. it is not the main walkthrough through the house.

This is the peninsula layout:

Although I am always partial to islands, I prefer the peninsula in this case, for the extra countertop space on each side of the range.

You need at least 48” for that seating space and better is 60”I do not see one bonus of the island I find U shaped kitchens very functional and IMO the whole kitchen could have been better designed with the stove on n outside wall with proper venting so that should be on the wall behind where you want the stools There is a lot more that could be done with this space.

having the range on the outside wall would mean that the exhaust fan would be in front of the window so that doesn't work, and it cannot go on the wall behind the stools.

I like the peninsula lay out MUCH better,

Peninsula.

I found this post interesting as we are considering a design where we are going from a peninsula to an island, but in our case that greatly increases our storage and space....in your situation its the opposite. because you have a wall to work with (where your fridge is in the peninsula layout) I would definitely go the peninsula route. Your kitchen with peninsula is a basically a G shape, mine is a more of a U or a J....

100% peninsula in this space. We have roughly the same layout in our current kitchen and the peninsula works great.

Mrswaves do you use your peninsula as prep space?

Your kitchen is too small for an island. How wide is that island? It doesn't look deep enough for seating.

You don't have enough room on either side of the cooktop with the island.

Peninsula.

The island is 72 wide and 37 deep, 12" overhang (yes I know many don't think 12" is deep enough but it is for me).

I like the peninsula plan, but understand double checking options before finalizing. Of course doing this drove my husband absolutely crazy during our planning :-)

I have a few "ifs" on an island plan:

IF you can place the fridge to the left of the sink to achieve ice-water-stone-fire

IF you can move the dishwasher to the left of the sink and get it out of the prep zone

IF you can eliminate counter seating on the back/ family room (?) side and replace with 15" deep base cabs. You eliminate the 44" minimum walkway behind stools and reduce the minimum to a 36" walkway. (min. 42"/48" applies to work aisles.) You might put an overhang toward the dining room for one.

Then maybe

Seating and dedicated prep space are two of my highest priorities.

i would love to move the fridge to that wall but with the stupid giant window I only have 30" on each side of it.

We debated the same when renovating our kitchen. We went with a peninsula and love it! Completely open access around the kitchen space. No walking around and bumping into an island. We use our peninsula for prep as well as serving, seating and that’s the gathering place for guests and appetizers when we have company. My husband and I eat dinner at our peninsula. I highly recommend it. To me, same use as an island, just way better functionality and flow. Good luck!

Donna, your kitchen is great! I agree with everyone else, a peninsula will look and function better!

I would create a galley with the peninsula section and upper wall containing range and fridge. Sink on peninsula: clear the window area. You get full use of your 12 foot wall with no corner to hinder usage. the peninsula with sink can be 8 feet long or more.....more seating and further out in the room means the view out the window can be appreciated. A galley is an excellent kitchen. Your peninsula section extended will be a cross between an island and the small peninsula you have shown, which you are hesitant to choose.

Your idea is intriguing herb, but I don't think moving the sink plumbing is something I'm open to considering.

I think both would work. But a thought if you want the island, make it a movable island. My kitchen is also 11 ft wide and have close to the same lay out, but have more cabinets where your wall is open. My island is 27 inch by 4 ft. I had it made from a wall cabinet with a 13 inch overhang for seating. 60 inch is plenty for the island to be from the wall since it is not a walk through area. I have found it to be so versatile. Most of the time it sits the way you have it pictured. Sometimes I turn it to face the stove when baking large batch of cookies. Sometimes I just put it against the wall when the whole family is over and put the snacks on it and sometimes I put it parallel to my other cabinets to make a L for a buffet.

I started to draw out what I think is herbflavors suggestion. I think I'd miss the cabinets and counter around the range.

Yeah I wasnt sure if herb meant get rid of everything on the fridge wall or not.

Function-kitchen seating is #1 for me so a moveable island wouldn't work.

the assembly to the right of fridge can go to 15 in width..at full depth is a lot of storage..rollouts! the range can nudge a bit more to the left...anyway you will get more ability to reach into all the wall cabinets ….all the base cabs will be drawers. . . .and a 27-30 in sink base is more than adequate. Sounds like the shifting sink to this position won't be entertained. Unfortunate.

Amber- Yes I do. Especially for baking/cookie sheets. It’s a good working space for me currently.

A lot of people would love to have that "stupid giant window"!!

I think the decision here is pretty simple.... are you ok with the fact that when people are sitting on the island, anyone that has to get to the ref is going to have to walk into your work zone since they won't be able to get behind the island seating.

I think you can use that empty wall to maximize storage and put the peninsula off the other side of the room as well...

Or move that pantry over to that side so you can slide the ref down by the door opening and maximize your counter around your stove. Most cooks will tell you the most important piece of countertop they have is the one between the sink and the stove.... try to maximize that...

Good luck!

herb - I think amber is planning a microwave in the high cabinet.

Crcollins- lol I know, I feel silly complaining about it.

How wide is your pantry? Could it shrink in width to give you more space between stove and fridge?

Amber, then if you need the seating a large movable island wouldn't work for you. There is only my husband and me and the island is big enough for us 2 to sit. We use the formal dining room when the entertaining. In your case I would then use the peninsula layout.

Ranton- 24" which is as narrow as I'll go for a pantry (i do prefer the 30" that the peninsula design gives me).

Thanks for the feedback Debbie, although I really do want the island or peninsula to be my prep space.

Back to your island consideration. Did you ever quote having the sink placed on this island...use some 12 in deep cabinets on window wall..........the island then has walkway clearance, while at sink can face people and seated people have advantage of view out window too. Gives you 90 inches to divide for your two walk ways. If you don't use window wall for cabinets at all.....there is more you can do with island for storage, no doubt.....use of ends for drawers.....etc.

It's an ikea kitchen so it would be 15".

I'll post a pic of the actual space in a bit.

Wall to dining room that is coming down:

View from dining room

Window wall

In case anyone is wondering why I am not keeping the double wall oven- it's 24 inches.

Take a look at Cheryl Hewitt's reveal, Her lovely kitchen only has 38 1/4" between counter and wall at her seating island. She talks about her experience living with it in her March 21 6:20AM post.

Not knowing your whole house layout and traffic flow, I'd worry about the traffic to the fridge in the island plan. Is there another route to it from the DR around that wall? Also, in the island plan the pantry forces such a scrunched range area. If I were to consider this plan, I'd put it to the left of the window. You can fit a 30" pantry there.

I'd vote for peninsula.

Thanks Karen!! We took a lot of advice from Houzz and it helped!

You could do the peninsula connected to the sink side and then slide the ref to the right and put a wall of pantries on the blank wall - they wouldn't need to be 24" deep - 18" would give you great storage and keep the room open...That would give you max storage and max counters.

Actually your pictures of the peninsula layout option was offering the most counter space - although , if possible, I would try to keep the ref from being in the walkway into he kitchen..

Good luck!!

Since the wall is coming down between the kitchen and dining, is there not 6“ that you could co-op from the dining for the kitchen so the fridge could move to the left of the sink? Alternatively, could a more narrow fridge be used?