Hi everyone, looking for your advice on my kitchen layout please!!
We are a 30s couple with two dogs, currently trying for kids. We like to host parties and BBQs so would like to have a sociable space.
We cook a lot, and enjoy chatting with wine in the kitchen at the moment. Would love a comfy seat/sofa but I couldn't work out how to fit it in. Ideally the bench will be a banquette/bench style dining area, made into a corner bench if we can. Hubby wants a decent seat to watch rugby while I'm cooking (haha), we also have a separate TV room for films etc.
We are considering island vs peninsula, but also having the kitchen vs dining area next to the bifolds/sliding doors to the garden.
Outside the bifolds will be our patio with a corner bench table and chairs and views to the garden. Our garden is SW facing, and we currently have a conservatory here that gets SUPER hot and bright in the summer. This makes me a bit concerned about having TV or dining table there.
There will also be two skylights in the room so whole room will get some light.
My main questions are:
- Should I put dining or kitchen at the garden end?
- Does it matter if I have inside dining table facing outside dining table, or is it better to split them with the kitchen?
- Is it weird to have a corner seat in the back of the room where it is darker, or will this feel more cosy?
- Does anyone have peninsula vs island experience with kids/dogs and can share what's better? Peninsula has more workspace, but the island looks so lovely and open.
I'm driving myself mad going round and round so I'd really appreciate your advice and suggestions! I've added floor plans below...