Hi all!
I have an island vs peninsula debate.
Current space has a peninsula. Its a 60s ranch with an open family room/kitchen combo space. There's sliding glass doors on the top end of the kitchen (opens to a covered patio), an entrance to a dining room/garage door/basement door on the top left side, another sliding door on the right side in the family room area, and a standard doorway sized opening on the left of the bottom end of the family room. The area to the top left is set up as a coffee bar with sink. We looked into moving the coffee bar to the family room area but it's prohibitive because of drain/water access.
The kitchen is 159 inches wide.
Two versions in photos:
-One is basically an updated version of what's existing except the refrigerator is moved (it's currently in the upper right corner to the left of the sink by the sliding patio door), the upper cabinets above the peninsula are removed, and the peninsula is widened to accommodate seating. Space between end of peninsula and refrigerator/pantry/ovens is 40". A large pantry is added where the refrigerator used to live on the top right of the image.
-Second version treats the kitchen as a wide galley with a prep island, no seating. I can't comfortably do a wider island as it makes the aisles too narrow. With a prep island only, the aisles are 42" each. The pantry stays with the fridge and oven on left. The upper and lower cabinets extend to the sliding door wall on the right side.
Both versions have wall ovens and cooktops with freestanding hoods. In both versions, dishwasher is to the left of the sink. Both also utilize lower cabinets with drawers wherever possible and uppers to the ceiling.
I understand why it's a peninsula now...besides being the style in the 60s, the kitchen isn't quite wide enough for a big island. It's a main traffic pass through since there's patio access, garage, basement, dining room etc. I don't love having the cooktop on the peninsula because the corner makes for lame usage and prep space. Removing the visual of the uppers would help but it would still have a hood.
I worry about the island version ; although it offers more prep and storage, its narrow and becomes a barrier to the fridge and ovens. I feel like I'd be circling it constantly.
About us:
My husband and I are empty nesters now and don't do a ton of entertaining, so not super concerned with accommodating large groups, but do like the idea of having a place to sit to have a quick meal or drink our coffees. We could do that in the family room area if we didn't have seating in the kitchen area, so counter seating isn't a deal breaker. I am the main cook and a bread maker.
Is there a clear winner or some other layout that I haven't considered yet?
Thanks for reading and I value all of your wisdom!