Without seeing your layout, you probably won't be able to hide it so much as work with it. Make it part of the architecture. Here are a few photos that might help:

Deb & Chuck's Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Encinitas Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Beartooth Foothills · More Info

Thanks. That is how it looks now but we’d like to make the island a bit bigger so the beam would be about a foot in from the edge.

The beam will make that part of the island fairly un-usable. I think I would opt for a ceiling support beam - it will be expensive, but would dramatically improve the use and appearance of the island.

The picture above is very similar. I saw something on a real estate listing (no longer available) where they made a cabinet. It’s a pretty common problem so I’m hoping to see more ideas here.

Yea I have seen the same A T. It was shallower shelves that were open. Which took up less physical and visual space. Do you have any pics of your space?

The beam that can’t move without great cost us the farthest right in the second picture. The middle mean is cosmetic and we will open up a pass through there. The Islam will extend out into the area in the first picture

Island not Islam

And beam not mean. I haven’t figured out how to edit posts on houzz

A T - are you busting out the peninsula and making that a wider island? All one level without the bar hight seating? Will the island get longer past that post on the right?

Depending on your answer, I think it is probably ok just to wrap it in whatever is your style. It will make that are not as open, but your are is still pretty open.

Can you widen the island and then have an overhang on the end of the island too and put a bar stool around the corner from the post? So 3 stools facing the way they are now and 1 around the corner.

This is just sketch. I can give more detail when I get home tonight. Thank you.

OHHHHH! You're turning the island and ditching the peninsula. I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

I assume the island seating will be facing the kitchen. So from your pics, it seems like the post won't really interfere with the seating or use of the island. I just say go with it. Wrap the post in whatever style you're going with. From what I can tell, shelves or a lot more bulk on the post will just block more of a view from the living area.

Send over the other pic tonight. Your kitchen is going to be amazing! Congrats.

Here are a few more photos. The new island (4 x 8’ more or less) will replace the small existing island and bar seating. There will be wrap around seating in two sides as the morning sunrise comes through the sliding doors. The challenge is leaving enough room between island and fireplace (9.5 feet from beam to fireplace).

So exciting. Here are my questions about flow and island placement.

1. How much new walk space (width) will there be between kitchen and island? Maybe there's wiggle room in where the island goes compared to the post? It's hard to tell from your drawing.

2. Again hard to tell from your drawing, will the post be about a foot in from the long side or the short side of the island? Where do you think the post will be? 1, 2 or 3? Or maybe I am way off?

Thanks again! The island will be parallel to a wall with stovetop on opposite side of pass through. We have 36-48 inches to work with. Extending the island too far out presents a challenges- leaving enough room in front of fireplace, room for two chairs or small table in front of sliding door. It is a very poorly designed addition. Creating a pass through opens the area up but making a longer or wider island makes the surrounding areas not functional for anything.

Layout

And Beam 2 is most likely

Ahhhh I see. I understand why you’re perplexed. Let me ponder on it and I’ll reply back after I pick up my kids. No matter what you do. It’s gonna be amazing!

Since you have 36-48 inches of walkway, I would go as wide as feels comfortable. I would say no narrower than 36, but more like 40 would probably feel better. The closer the island to the kitchen the more the post moves towards the outer edge of the island.

If it is more like #2, that's pretty far in. I can see how you want to make it something practical. I have seen LOTS of pics of posts pretty far into the island. They looked fine. Do you know how big the post has to be. If it's only a 4x4 or 6x6, that won't take up too much visual space.

When you said wrapped seating, I assume you mean the wrapped seat with back to the sliding door? That makes the beam really just there, not in the way, and fine IMO.

If you want to make it into something, I would keep it simple maybe? Not to visually distracting as you look into the kitchen from the living room.

This is cool, though I doubt your post will be this massive.

there was a really popular floorplan discussion on here with many folks building it and they had a post at end of island like you are describing. some kept it some paid for ceiling beam...several posted pictures...anyone remember what i'm talking about? off to search...

Found it! LOL

there are about 1000 posts on that thread [it was popular] so lots to go through. sort oldest first and you'll see pictures in first post with island beam...

lots of pictures scattered throughout. happy digging.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2829974/anyone-built-or-seen-built-frank-betz-s-northfield-manor#n=804