9 Kitchen Peninsula Ideas

Kitchen • Matt • 0 Comments

You love the idea of an kitchen island but do not have the footprint to support this design in your kitchen?

Then a kitchen peninsular might just be the answer!

So what is a kitchen peninsular exactly?

To break it down to the easiest definition, a peninsular is basically a kind of island that is not freestanding, but rather attached to a wall at one side, giving you three open sides instead of an island’s four.

And why does this suit a smaller kitchen better? Well, on one hand, you simply do not need the vast free floorspace in the middle of your kitchen that is needed to implement a full island. On the other hand, a kitchen peninsula is oftentimes used to double as breakfast bar, and therefore a functional room divider, thus, again, saving you the extra space you would otherwise need to fit those things into your kitchen. Additionally, the peninsula itself can be as big or small as you need it to be and as your available space allows for. There are peninsulas hardly longer than to comfortably seat one breakfaster, and peninsulas spanning the whole kitchen’s length. The choice is all yours.

So, what exactly are the benefits of fitting a peninsula to your kitchen?

• Create space: By simply fitting a (small) peninsula to your already existing kitchen, you create a lot of new space – this might be used for seating, prep, storage, or all of the above.
• Define a room: Particularly in open-plan homes the cunning use of countertops, tables, and shelves is the magic ingredient to creating cosy, enclosed spaces that help reduce the impression of living in a wide open space – and a kitchen peninsula is perfect for creating a half-high “wall” that separates the kitchen workspace from the rest of the (living)room.
• Add seating: Whether you have a family or like to have friends over, you know that a lot of interaction is traditionally happening while at least one person is making use of the kitchen. A peninsular creates the space to seat kids, spouses, or friends during meal-prep or while washing up after cooking – it makes the kitchen a more communicative space.
• Fashion L- or U-shaped kitchen: Your original kitchen is quite nice, but you would kill for more space? By simply adding a peninsula, you can create a stylish L- or U-shaped kitchen out of nowhere, and gain a lot of advantages in the process.

So, to sum it up, and to keep it as simple as possible, a kitchen peninsula is not a freestanding furniture, but (typically) connected to your kitchen unit, and can serve as a multitude of things, among them countertop, breakfast bar, storage space, and room divider.

For those of you toying with the idea of getting a kitchen peninsula, we have collected some of the most beautiful and practical design ideas to inspire your future dream kitchen:

Light and Dark

The dark grey kitchen peninsula with its white marble countertop combines perfectly with the gold details of the drawer’s handles, tap, lights, and bar stools.

This peninsula combines additional work- and storage-space with a small breakfast bar seating two.

White Mini-L

It’s probably the colourful tiles on the wall that have caught your eye first. And that’s the beauty of this particular kitchen peninsula: it’s hardly noticeable.

This white extension to the kitchen unit is so small it hardly registers at a first glance, and yet, it serves its purpos. The mini L-shape creates just enough space to seat a hungry breakfaster or a chat partner while you prepare dinner (and there’s enough space to make them chop veggies or mix sauces, that’s another plus!).

Faux Island

This kitchen peninsula is a great extension to the otherwise small and cramped kitchen. Not only does it create a lot of additional storage and work space, it is also placed in a way that makes the peninsula appear as if it were a kitchen island.

This impression largely comes from the peninsula’s size. If it weren’t attached to the wall on one end, this furniture could easily be a full standalone, and it is further enhanced by the fact that the majority of the kitchen is hidden in a niche behind it, thus giving the peninsula the appearance of a separate island.

Room Divider

The grey-painted wooden kitchen counters with white countertops set in an open kitchen nook would be a looker in and of itself, but the addition of the peninsula spanning two thirds of the length rounds out the room. Literally.

In this case, the kitchen peninsula seating three, acts as a perfect room divider that closes the kitchen visually off from the rest of the room without making it seem like a real barrier. Instead, it creates a space where you’d love to sit, sip coffee, taste the waiting cake, and chat away the afternoon.

Island Combo

This example of a kitchen shows that a peninsula does not necessarily need to be an alternative to having a kitchen island, but that both can co-exist provided that you have enough space.

Additionally, this kitchen peninsula also shows that the construction itself can actually be more than “just” providing more countertop space – in this case, the sink has been transferred to the peninsula in order to open up more space for stoves, grills, fridge, and other appliances in the main kitchen unit.

And on top of being fully functional, it also seats three people in extremely comfortable bar stools.

Bar Counter

In this example of a kitchen peninsula, the peninsula has taken over the space where an interior wall used to be. Instead of locking the kitchen away from the living-room, this remodel allows not only for a bigger, open space, but also creates a counter that rivals that of a bar in size.

The large peninsula is a great way to expand the workspace of the kitchen, and on the other side provides ample additional storage space in the cupboards built into the base, as well as seating for a whole group of people.

Elevated Breakfast Bar

A kitchen peninsula does not necessarily be made up from one even surface, even though most are.

In this case, the kitchen peninsula houses the the stove top and oven on the kitchen side, and has an additional elevated surface serving as breakfast bar on the living-room side.

This distinction not only allows for a clear separation of what is countertop and what is “bar” area, it also helps to visually create a bigger distinction between living quarters and kitchen in an open floor plan.

Arc

If your kitchen is situated in a corner of an open floor home, an arced peninsula is a great way to create a visible divider as well as providing some additional seating that may even double as a dining table.

By using a curved peninsula, you can create a “closed off” space around a corner without having to give up room for a more severe L-shaped construction. The soft lines of this peninsula are what makes the whole set-up work so well, without making sitting at this arched counter an awkward experience.

Dark and Light

This ultra-modern, sleek kitchen peninsula beautifully illustrates how this piece of furniture can be used to build a bridge between two vastly different design elements.

On its own, the dark brown kitchen wall unit would look intimidating and stark, even quite out of place in an otherwise really light and airy room design. But by picking up the same dark brown colour and texture at the base of the peninsula, while adding the gleaming, glossy white countertop that seamlessly blends into the wall, you create a connection between those two vastly different colours that looks natural and as if those two colours were made to go together.

How do you like the idea of having a kitchen peninsula? Did you consider a peninsula an old-fashioned kitchen design component, and if so, have our examples changed your mind? Let us know in the comments below!