Talk to me about kitchen peninsulas

[ItGivesMeTheRightHump]

We have a rectangular kitchen, and currently the units run across one of the short walls and part way down a long wall, in an L shape.

A bit more counter space and storage would be nice, so we're thinking in the redesign about adding on a peninsula so the units form a u shape. However, the sticky out peninsula bit would only be 1 unit deep, there wouldn't be an overhang for seating and we wouldn't put a sink or hob on it. Would that be weird?

The room proportions and location of the doors means that even though it's a decent sized room overall there isn't room for an island.

That's exactly what we have so the working kitchen is a full four sides. My peninsula houses the bin cupboard and the dishwasher, then on the opposite side in the corner we have a drawer unit, so it's accessed from the other side. It works really well.

Here's a rubbish drawing! Sorry the blue was a bad choice but if you zoom in you can read it.

In the cupboard under the sink.

I have similar, but mine does have an overhang with 2 bar stools, it used to be 3 but as they’re rarely used I got rid of one, it would be nice to have the extra room in the space we have a table. I’m toying with the idea of having the overhang cut off, but I’m balancing that with how lovely it is to have the massive expanse of counter top, which is anazing for serving up. In reality, I want both and as I’m lazy I’ll probably just leave it, lol

While I’m here, I’ll say the best thing I have in my kitchen is an appliance cupboard or I’ve heard it called an appliance garage. I have nothing out on my work surfaces at all, but they’re easily grabbed and put back. We have a hidden plug tower thing that pops up from our massive plinth work surface where things get plugged in whilst in use and then put away again, god I love it!

I have a peninsular that is 3 cupboards wide (including the death corner as we call it) it is so handy. Rather than have the death corner could you have a door to it on the opposite side to store things you don’t use that often? That’s what I want to do with mine. Hope you can imagine what I mean

I know exactly what you mean about a door on the other side. Will have a think about that.

I have an area of full height cupboards elsewhere in the room that I'm going to use for appliances, although I think in reality the kettle, toaster and air fryer will probably live out on the counter. Although a pop-up plug would bring me such joy.

Top marks for your diagram @Malinia . Do you find having a gap between your sink and your dishwasher is an issue? I always thought you were supposed to have them next to each other. We're always lifting manky dishes out of our sink (where DP has abandoned them mid-cook) and putting them into the dishwasher.

They are only one cupboard door away, I can reach both without moving my feet, I think if it were closer it would be awkward as it would open over the floorspace in front of the sink. As it is I can put everything away from the dishwasher but standing either in front of the sink or the other side of the dishwasher door so it's super quick.

That's what I have with drawers opening the other side, which is so handy.

Actually my kettle does live on the work surface, although I'm not a tea drinker. And I have a Kitchen Aid which is beautiful and brightens things up. In reality it's a very expensive dust collecting kitchen ornament as I rarely use it nowadays, since the DC flew the nest.

I've got one that is about a unit long (one bit of a corner cabinet 30cm and one pull out drawer 30cm wide) and love it. We have a quite small but long and thin kitchen so have bar stools the other side to give seating in the kitchen but even without that it's very useful.

I think it's great not to have a sink or hob on as I tend to keep it free of clutter so it gives me a large space for any prep and is amazing for baking etc as it's so deep.