Perhaps a portable dishwisher in order to keep the current kitchen intact.

What about refacing the cabinets? I refaced my ugly cabinets in white, added modern knob s I also invested in pullouts by shelf genie. The pullouts tripled my storage space . The pullouts were worth every penny there are also smaller dishwashers available rhat are so cool now

Have you thought about taking the hanging cabinets down? The cabinets are blocking the light coming from the windows and closing the space in. Cabinet-depth fridge would add to a feeling of openness as well. I'd like to see a different light fixture too, something more airy. Maybe this one? http://www.westelm.com/products/industrial-pendant-glass-w682/?pkey=cpendants&cm_src=pendants||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-

Refacing cabinets usually costs the same as replacements with standard box cabinets. To install a dishwasher you're going to incur plumbing cost and lose base cabinet space. I can't see from the picture but you may be able to make up the base cab space with new base cabs under the peninsula.

We are remoldling our kitchen as we speak. Our kitchen is not as small as your's, but we wanted a penisula in a semi small kitchen. We used 3 - 12in dept cabinet instead of a standard size cabinet with a 11in overhang on the counter top. In your kitchen I would move the sink to where your stove is now with a single sink instead of a double sink like you have now! it would connects with the above penisula given you more open space. The stove under window and diswasher on one side, and a cabinet between fridge and stove. We also Sheet rock around the fridge, living the back of fridge opened. We connected the plug and the water connection for ice maker between the plywood. the 1 in on back of fridge touching the plywood gave us an extra space in front not much but made a difference and it also was more even to the stove.
Microwave seem to be a little high, and it would also look nicer under a cabinet next to penisula and sink.

Not sure about the dishwasher. Even a small portable one looks like it might not fit anywhere.

How about taking down the cabinets by the window and replacing them with open shelves? That would give it a more open look and let more light shine in.

Just had a thought. Could you put in a small drawer dishwasher near the sink? I have never had one, but they look like they might fit in smaller places.

I saw that there are 18" wide dishwashers out there. Maybe we could get one plumbed for the peninsula? With the current configuration, we don't have 18" next to the sink. There are cabinets under the peninsula now that open on the living area side and we don't use that space for anything.

I don't think cabinets are too bad, put full size dishwasher in peninsula, if not possible-put stove in penn. and dw where stove was. get counter depth fridge.

I like the idea of a counter depth fridge that a couple of people have mentioned. I hadn't thought of that.

You could measure your kitchen space. Make a simple drawing of placement of appliances. Take to lowes or Home Depot to see what they have a suggestion to make better use of your space. I did mine that way and it was free advice.

A larger cabinet over fridge would provide storage for large and less used items.

You could put a full size cabinet over the stove and a shelf over the sink. If you do replace cabinets consider using more drawers. I am not sure why the cabinets are facing out on the other side of the peninsula.

You may want to look up some of the "european" standard appliances. Big Box stores don't sell them (bigger is better, right??) but there are lots of compact fridges, dishwashers and some nice 24" wide ranges that would be fine for a beach house (I assume you don't live in it year round).

IKEA also has great ideas for small living - whether or not you buy anything from them, their display areas in the store have excellent examples of TINY apartments including full kitchens that you can get ideas from.

I think the most important thing is to forget "american standard" appliances and cabinets - look to the Europeans and Japanese for how to make small spaces work really well with pullouts instead of cabinets, smaller more efficiently sized appliances, etc.