12 Creative Kitchen Island and Peninsula Seating Ideas
Find inspiration in mismatched, swing-out, built-in and otherwise unconventional island and peninsula seating designs
Seating for a kitchen island or peninsula should suit a family’s needs and fit the kitchen’s style. But there’s no rule that says the seats have to look like everyone else’s — or even like each other. Pull up a bar stool or bench and check out a dozen inspiring examples of offbeat seating styles and arrangements found in these kitchen photos uploaded to Houzz.
2. Attached at the Hip
Designed by Ian Masters of SKA and built by Fresh Start Contracting, the kitchen of this 1874 townhouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a few steps up from the dining room, creating a tricky footprint. The peninsula’s attached metal-and-wood bar stools have two advantages: They can swing out of the way if someone wants to stand at the counter, and they avert the potential danger of a freestanding stool tipping off the narrow landing.
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Designed by Ian Masters of SKA and built by Fresh Start Contracting, the kitchen of this 1874 townhouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a few steps up from the dining room, creating a tricky footprint. The peninsula’s attached metal-and-wood bar stools have two advantages: They can swing out of the way if someone wants to stand at the counter, and they avert the potential danger of a freestanding stool tipping off the narrow landing.
Read more about this house
3. Form-Fitted
This handsome custom walnut two-person bench, which pulls up to an island in an English kitchen by The Secret Drawer, is slightly curved to follow the island’s bowed front. (Check out the island’s built-in chessboard too.)
This handsome custom walnut two-person bench, which pulls up to an island in an English kitchen by The Secret Drawer, is slightly curved to follow the island’s bowed front. (Check out the island’s built-in chessboard too.)
4. Yin and Yang
In this Wyoming kitchen by Nowell Vincent Interiors (cabinetry) and Debby Herber of Finishing Touches (interior design), the white island’s built-in banquette also has a convex shape — a design that complements the adjacent black round dining table both visually and functionally.
Hood and metal hutch inserts: Raw Urth Designs
11 Must-See Kitchen Islands
In this Wyoming kitchen by Nowell Vincent Interiors (cabinetry) and Debby Herber of Finishing Touches (interior design), the white island’s built-in banquette also has a convex shape — a design that complements the adjacent black round dining table both visually and functionally.
Hood and metal hutch inserts: Raw Urth Designs
11 Must-See Kitchen Islands
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5. Banquette Statement
This compact Vancouver, British Columbia, kitchen designed by Rebecca Foster has an L-shaped built-in banquette that provides a comfy seating arrangement around the corner of a spacious island. Meanwhile, two bar stools offer more flexible places to perch.
This compact Vancouver, British Columbia, kitchen designed by Rebecca Foster has an L-shaped built-in banquette that provides a comfy seating arrangement around the corner of a spacious island. Meanwhile, two bar stools offer more flexible places to perch.
6. Custom-Blended
In this Sausalito, California, project by John Lum Architecture, interior designer Nicole Hollis designed custom seats that continue the clean, minimalist look of the white oak cabinets (constructed by Midland Cabinet Co.). The cutouts serve as convenient handholds and also mimic the look of the cabinets’ edge pulls.
In this Sausalito, California, project by John Lum Architecture, interior designer Nicole Hollis designed custom seats that continue the clean, minimalist look of the white oak cabinets (constructed by Midland Cabinet Co.). The cutouts serve as convenient handholds and also mimic the look of the cabinets’ edge pulls.
7. Tucked Down Under
On Australia’s Sunshine Coast, tuck-under upholstered round stools in a house by DCM Building Design & Drafting cut a fun silhouette and keep the floor clear. The configuration around the table-height bar also echoes the corner swimming pool, creating a cohesive overall look.
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On Australia’s Sunshine Coast, tuck-under upholstered round stools in a house by DCM Building Design & Drafting cut a fun silhouette and keep the floor clear. The configuration around the table-height bar also echoes the corner swimming pool, creating a cohesive overall look.
Shop for bar and counter stools
8. Farm-Fresh
Ashley Murphree and Spencer Dobrovolny of Good Bones Design Build used adjustable stools resembling vintage tractor seats to emphasize a modern industrial vibe in this Mill Valley, California, home. For obvious reasons, the style could also work well in a farmhouse- or modern-farmhouse-style kitchen.
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Ashley Murphree and Spencer Dobrovolny of Good Bones Design Build used adjustable stools resembling vintage tractor seats to emphasize a modern industrial vibe in this Mill Valley, California, home. For obvious reasons, the style could also work well in a farmhouse- or modern-farmhouse-style kitchen.
Read more about this kitchen
9. Staying Power
There are two ways to sit at a kitchen island: perching and, less commonly, sinking in and staying awhile. One can really enjoy the latter when bellied up to this Juno Beach, Florida, kitchen island thanks to custom upholstered dining benches from the project’s designer, Krista + Home.
There are two ways to sit at a kitchen island: perching and, less commonly, sinking in and staying awhile. One can really enjoy the latter when bellied up to this Juno Beach, Florida, kitchen island thanks to custom upholstered dining benches from the project’s designer, Krista + Home.
10. Eclectic and Energetic
Who says you can’t mix and match your counter stools? The collection in this London kitchen designed by Roushka Boyd all have a vintage, industrial look, but they vary in silhouette and finish. The variety suits the eclectic feel of the kitchen as well as diners of various heights and seating preferences.
Plan Your Kitchen Island Seating to Suit Your Family’s Needs
Who says you can’t mix and match your counter stools? The collection in this London kitchen designed by Roushka Boyd all have a vintage, industrial look, but they vary in silhouette and finish. The variety suits the eclectic feel of the kitchen as well as diners of various heights and seating preferences.
Plan Your Kitchen Island Seating to Suit Your Family’s Needs
11. Color-Coded
Seating can be an opportunity to add a dash of color — or six dashes, as is the case in this Los Angeles-area midcentury-modern-style kitchen remodeled by South Bay Design Center. In an otherwise white, wood and walnut palette, six Eames molded fiberglass stools create a rainbow around the island.
Seating can be an opportunity to add a dash of color — or six dashes, as is the case in this Los Angeles-area midcentury-modern-style kitchen remodeled by South Bay Design Center. In an otherwise white, wood and walnut palette, six Eames molded fiberglass stools create a rainbow around the island.
12. Clearly Beloved
In this Scandinavian-inspired New York kitchen by 2B Design, transparent counter-height bar stools channel the spirit of Louis XVI chairs with none of the visual or physical heft.
More on Houzz
Kitchen Island Stools and Pendants That Pair Up Perfectly
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In this Scandinavian-inspired New York kitchen by 2B Design, transparent counter-height bar stools channel the spirit of Louis XVI chairs with none of the visual or physical heft.
More on Houzz
Kitchen Island Stools and Pendants That Pair Up Perfectly
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Interior designer Michele Wheeler of Design Collective West outfitted the kitchen island in this Big Sky, Montana, house by Centre Sky Architecture with two hefty bar stools befitting the home’s rustic-luxe look. Constructed by the project’s builder, Lohss Construction, based on a magazine concept photo, the counter-height seats are made from reclaimed timber with hand-carved seat impressions. The metal sled-style bases and strapping are made from hand-forged steel.
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