For all those wondering when the heck we’ll tackle that kitchen banquette idea that we mentioned a few weeks ago (here and here), well… probably never. Cue the frowny face emoticons.
Here’s the deal. After getting lots of positive feedback on the idea a few weeks ago (over 1,400 comments total!), Sherry and I were certain your collective enthusiasm would push us from “we think this is a good idea” to “this is definitely a good idea.” And it nearly did. But parts of us still questioned the whole commitment-factor when it came to actually doing it (we definitely described it as a half baked idea when we shared it). We worried if it’d really be the most practical solution (would it be a pain to scoot in and out of?) and if it’d really make the most of the space (we couldn’t figure out the right balance of big-enough seats while still maintaining flow around it to keep it from feeling cramped).
So one evening we decided there was a reason that we were stuck in Hesitation City: it just wasn’t The One. So we did what we always do when we get stuck. We went back to the drawing board to see if we could come up with something else that we ended up liking better. We made a few quick sketches of the floorplan, asked ourselves “what are we not thinking of???” and just started sketching ideas – no matter how good or bad our guts told us they were. Kinda like those DON’T THINK, JUST DRAW exercises that they teach you to access your subconscious or something. Of course some of them completely blocked the doorway to the dining room (fail!) and nearly all of them were completely out of scale (so things were too big or too far over) but it definitely got the ol’ wheels turning again…
We tried returning to some version of table in the middle (top left) and even modification to the banquette (top right, bottom left). But somewhere in that mess we had one of those “Ah-ha moments” that ol’ what’s-her-name used to talk about on the TV (this is a joke for my Oprah-loving wife). So allow us to introduce the banquette’s successor: the peninsula! Cue the confused emoticons.
Let’s explain. First, here’s our CURRENT floating-table-in-the-kitchen-and-larger-table-in-the-dining-room arrangement (courtesy of my rough Google Sketch-Up drawing):
Now for the doorway opened, cabinets painted, counters replaced, floor slightly discolored (not intentionally) and (of course) peninsula’d version:
Woo hoo. Before we go any further, we should warn you: we’re 100% sold. The above depiction of it is probably not going to make a believer out of everyone, but from taping it out in the space and moving around it “in person” for a while we giddily came to the following conclusion: it’s The One! So no worries if it’s not your jam or you love Mr. Banquette (he was a lovable guy – and there are always gonna be people who would do things differently if this were their house) but we’re definitely going for it. And we can’t wait to get started.
As for why we didn’t come up with the peninsula idea sooner, we were so stuck on the fact that a peninsula coming off of the cabinetry that we already have would actually hit (or come very very close to hitting) the fridge on the other side of the room. So it wasn’t until we came up with the idea of adding a base cabinet to the right of the cabinetry that we already have to space the peninsula further away (a smidge towards the fireplace) for better flow and even more counter space.
Speaking of counter space, when it comes to executing this whole thing, we’re basically planning to add some base cabinetry (and counters) near the opening itself to create a counter-height peninsula. Which accomplishes a lot, actually:
- It adds additional work surface & cabinet storage to the kitchen side of the room (so it’s easy-access)
- It helps extend and better define the kitchen space without blocking flow or feeling too heavy
- It creates a casual eating space, keeping it distinct from the dining room table, which is just steps away for larger groups and more formal gatherings
- We can most likely seat four people at the peninsula (it’s flexible, so ignore the three chunky chairs shown)
- It can be used as a buffet to set out food (or to seat additional guests) when we have parties
- It can be used for homework, laptop browsing, and general hanging out by the kiddo(s) as they grow
- It even makes sense of our very off-center fireplace by creating a small casual living space that we’ll use as a little “chill corner” of sorts (the peninsula doesn’t block the fireplace, which our banquette friend did from most angles)
That last perk (centering the fireplace) was a nice surprise, since it’s something we’ve struggled with a lot (it’s just in such an odd place, practically shoved in the corner of the room). But you can see from this virtual view through the future doorway how it almost makes the fireplace placement seem intentional (picture it with a nice round mirror above it to balance that doorway next to it). Oh happy day.
We just love that we’ll get to see the fireplace from the dining room (it won’t be blocked by a heavy banquette) and if overflow guests sit at the peninsula, they won’t have their backs to the people seated in the dining room (which would have happened with the banquette).
For those who don’t do well with renderings (or are still scratching your heads), here are some pics we snapped to give you a better idea of how it’ll work in the real world. We moved some existing furniture around to mimic the placement (the table represents the peninsula) and have lived with it for the last week-ish to make sure it actually makes sense. Placements aren’t totally exact, but pretty darn close to what we’re thinking. Here’s the view from the laundry room. Ignore the broken pendant light in the far back (it finally crapped out on us). Instead look, there’s that fireplace nicely framed!
We also traced out the future opening (again, not exact) to show how that’ll work too. We’re thinking there will be a little half-wall (i.e. knee wall) where the peninsula meets the open doorway…
… like we showed in this rendering:
We considered a narrower doorway (where the peninsula doesn’t hang over into the opening) but we think this wider version makes it feel much more open and lets in more light, so it’s the current winner. And of course as previously mentioned, we love how balanced the fireplace and doorway look through the cutout.
Admittedly it took us a little while to figure out what to do with the space in front of the fireplace. It was our biggest hurdle in getting on board with this idea, actually. But after we brought in a placeholder chair, ottoman, rug, and light we realized it was actually completely awesome. There have been approximately 14 hours of reading-with-Clara from that chair in the last week or so. We’re even toying with the addition of some sort of tall built-in bookshelf behind the chair to balance the tall cabinets on the other side of the doorway. Not sure yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
We’ve already discovered it’s a great spot for Clara to play while we’re getting stuff done in the kitchen (since we can’t see her if she’s in the living room, but it’s easy enough to peek over the peninsula to check on her if she’s in the kitchen on the rug).
Sherry’s already making plans for how she’ll relax in front of a fire (we’re contemplating one of those convincing modern-looking electric inserts that Candice Olsen uses – possibly even a double sided one if we can eventually open the back of the fireplace into the living room as planned).
Meanwhile I’m dreaming of a little TV mounted above the mantle so I can watch the news during our morning breakfast routine (Sherry is rolling her eyes as I type this- so we’ll have to see where we land on that). Either way, can you tell we’re getting more than a little excited about this set up? Yup, it’s The One.
The peninsula will also give us 3-ish base cabinets worth of deep functional storage, unlike the largely decorative storage (open 12″ bookshelves) that the banquette would’ve provided. Plus a nice wide 3′ x 5.5′ work surface for prep, serving, eating, and homework is FAR more functional than what we would’ve gained from a distant island or a narrow banquette located a lot further away. And we’re probably gonna use the new counterspace as an excuse to change the countertops in the whole kitchen. We’ve never loved our existing granite color (it has a few pitted/stained parts too), so it seems silly to actually buy more for the new peninsula (we’ve debated a mismatched look, which we like for an island, but for a peninsula it seems like it would look most like it has “always been there” with the same counter to keep things seamless). Of course we plan to craigslist the existing granite and put that money towards whatever we’ll use for the new material (not gonna lie, we’re already talking about DIYing concrete counters).
Oh and for anyone debating a peninsula, we’ve learned that the pros recommend 42″ of walking space between the peninsula and whatever’s on the other side (in our case it’s the fridge, which we hope will sink back a foot or so when we replace it with something that’s counter-depth). So that’s how we arrived at our peninsula length.
In fact, flow through the room is almost better because there’s one straight pathway through the room, whereas the old table (and the once planned banquette) made us walk in a slight circle. Hoorah for ten less steps a day. Haha.
So now that we’re unequivocally sold and geeky-excited about our new plan, it’s just going to come down to working out the logistics. Namely how to find/build perfectly-sized cabinets that match our old ones without breaking the bank. And finally hire a licensed contractor and get the permits needed to bust out that load bearing wall of ours. But that’s a story for another post. Another ten posts, probably…
Update: You can check out the new “cozy corner” behind the future peninsula in action (on video!) over on Young House Life.
Another update: Lots of people are sweetly suggesting some sort of bookcase or built-in feature on the side of the cabinets that face the dining room (instead of a knee-wall) but we’re unsure if that’ll be too much since there are already built-ins in the dining room that are just a few feet away. We’ll keep you posted as we go though! Who knows where we’ll end up…
Psst: Tomorrow I’m going to post my thoughts on trying Google Sketch-Up for the first time (and how it compares to two other 3D rendering tools I’ve used). So stay tuned for that if you’ve got any questions about how I made the 3D graphics for this post.
Joanne says
I like banquettes but in this space it felt forced. The peninsula offers better sight lines, great counter surface and storage. The over hang for stools is the perfect spot for guests/kids to still get their chat on with someone working in the kitchen but not be in their work triangle. A comfy chair area is a complete bonus in the kitchen because there would be nothing better than cuddling up with the little one while waiting for dinner to cook or have a glass of wine and leaf through cook books. I think it is the winner!
Dawn S. says
I LOVE the peninsula idea! I was never a fan of the banquette, but since it isn’t my house, who am I to say? But this, I love! The function, the way it shapes the kitchen, and the practicality for the seating in there now and long-term is just perfect! I can’t wait to see how you guys finish it all off!
Ann says
This is totally random, but I saw this today and immediately thought of your dining room curtain :)
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=17995671&color=045&itemdescription=true&navAction=jump&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=A_FURN_FURNITURE
One thing for sure, UO didn’t get the fabric at a steep discount like you guys did!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that funny? Love it!
xo,
s
Ali says
I’m spatially challenged, so I don’t feel emotionally attached to either option because I still can’t really picture it until it’s there. haha Can’t wait to see the final version!
Ali says
Oh, and I have to say though that I love the cozy corner. I covet.
Brittany Long says
I have to admit that I selfishly hope that you tackle the “double-sided fireplace” somewhat soon…because I want to do this in my house, too! You are much more experienced DIY-ers, so I am looking forward to your tips and success!
Ashlie says
Just a thought (it may have been mentioned in the 800+ comments but I’m not going to read them all like you have to :)) but- on the half wall bump out, it may be a neat idea to put some built in shelving on that end cap there, that way it separates itself from the walkway frame and looks more intentional/pretty rather than it was a bump that had to be there for space issues. Just a though. Either way won’t look bad of course. Enjoy.
YoungHouseLove says
We’re not sure if that will compete with the dining room built ins (one side is just a few feet away). We’ll have to see where we end up!
xo,
s
Petra says
Love this idea! I think the banquette would be better in a much larger kitchen.
Allison says
You’re going to LOVE the cozy corner! We turned our kitchen nook into a similar area with a rug, love seat, chair, small table, lamp and otoman because our dining room opens off the other side of the kitchen and why in the world does a family of three need two tables 12 feet apart? Hubby and our 18 month old hang out here reading books while I’m cooking dinner and it’s a great place for a small group of friends to gather and relax for a more causual atmosphere. Everyone who visits our house comments on what a great idea it is and how much they love it!
I think adding a small bookcase would be a good idea. There are always TONS of books, toys and dog stuff scattered all over the rug. It’s a great gathering place for the family.
Meredith says
I like it! Sorry to be a typo-dictator, but you have “we’re thinking they’ll be a little wall” when I’m pretty sure you mean “there’ll”…unless the little wall will be made out of people…which is fun, too… :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks for the typo tip!
xo,
s
tracy a says
100% LOVE! What a great idea…the space totally works like that. Wanna come to Canada and desing my kitchen too?? :)
Jenny R says
Love it! Makes me wish I had an awkward space in my house to be creative with!
Rachael says
Love the peninsula idea! I bought an island on craigslist, but I’ve been using it as a peninsula to seperate the kithen and dining area. It’s a temporary fix for now until I can build something permanent, but I think that will come when we knock down the half wall that seperates the kitchen/dining area and living room and then replace the kitchen cabinets and counter tops so that way everything jives.
Sarah says
Ha, I guess I better speak up more here, seeing as the overwhelming majority was in favor of the banquette. This looks like a MUCH better idea. I didn’t want to down on the banquette, since it is your house after all, but this looks much more livable. I think you’ll love the results once it’s finished! I can’t wait to get the Google Sketch-up tutorial. Looks awesome!
Michele Ament says
We did something similar at our house with the peninsula. We actually built our cabinets (not as hard as you would think) so we were able to custom size the cabinets. In our case, we did two large cabinets facing the kitchen side and a hidden cabinet that, in your case, would be on the fireplace side. IF you don’t already have deep drawers in your kitchen this could be the perfect spot for them rather than cabinets. Deep drawers are great for pots and pans and all of the lids that come along with them. Please feel free to hit me up via email for pics or check out our blog to see how we did ours.
And I LOVE that you ditched the peninsula idea!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much! We’d love to see pics!
xo,
s
Renee Smith says
Cannot wait to see this plan materialize! It looks like this will accomplish your goals and then some! Have you considered working in a child-sized table for Clara… that’s something we’ve loved for our kids in a similar nook at our house. They have their own space for breakfast/lunch/art/play and other kids and parents LOVE IT when they come over – the kids can do their own thing just steps away from our dining room table while the “grown-ups” are talking about boring house/work stuff… ha!
YoungHouseLove says
That was actually something I tossed out for the cozy corner near the fireplace but then we moved the chair in there and logged so much reading time together it was perfect! At least for now. I’m sure down the line she might be more into drawing and a little table might be a perfect substitute. I love that we can just put different things in that corner since it won’t be permanent like the peninsula!
xo,
s
Nicole says
I never comment, but read your blog daily! I am so glad you are not doing the banquette. I too, am a fan of banquettes and hope to have one in my forever home but I did not think it was very functional. I can’t wait to see your finished kitchen! And thanks so much for posting stories such as this… It helps me realize I am not the only one that sketches and measures out the space, then changes my mind and creates a new plan, in other words thanks for being real!!
Jen D. says
Very excited for you! I especially love the reading area.
Barbara says
I was fascinated with the banquette idea but the peninsula makes more sense. Good luck with the permits and the contractors. A good contractor is very busy in Connecticut.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, a good contractor is so hard to come by!
xo,
s
Amelia says
Hey Guys-
Love the new layout. I didn’t read all the comments but wanted to mention an added benefit is that your kitchen will stay so much cleaner. We just added stools to our kitchen island and our 2 & 5 year old always want to eat there vs the kitchen table. I use to sweep the kitchen 3-4 times a day….now it is only once!! Love it!!! In addition I don’t have to wipe down the table & island after each meal. Can’t wait to see how it turns out:)
XO-
Amelia
Stacey Collins says
in LOVE with this idea! So much better than the Banquette!
Laura C in Indy says
Two words….LOVE IT!!!!
Kristen says
I like the idea but what about making the opening a just a little smaller so the cabinets are against the wall. You’ll still be able to see the fireplace and you won’t have to worry about finishing that side of the cabinet or what to do with the wall.
Molly says
Wow, I didn’t think I was going to be sold on the peninsula, but paint me surprised! I like the ‘view’ from the dining room into the kitchen!
Jillian says
Oh man, you’ve got me feeling all flighty now! I loved the banquet, but I love this too. Hell, you could throw a card table and plastic table cloth in there and add the YHL touch and I’d be sold. You guys rock. Now hurry up and get started! Just kidding…but not really.
kristy says
Looks great! I think it will work much better!
I’m glad you are going to write about Google Sketch-up. I am curious what you think. I am an elementary art teacher and was thinking of using it when I teach 5th graders perspective drawing. They design their dream bedrooms. I think you may have liked the assignment when you were in 5th grade!
Sarah says
love it!! We searched high and low for a kitchen island but the ones we truly loved cost crazy amounts of money and we weren’t brave enough to try building one so we’ve just bought some huge old map drawers and love them. Its awesome having something our kids can sit on the otherside of and chat to us while we’re making dinner. Can’t wait to see what your peninsula ends up like!:)
Meagain says
Wait …I’m confused…are you not getting rif of the old cabinets? I guess you are going to paint them?
YoungHouseLove says
Yep, the plan is to paint them white!
-John
Lauren says
That looks so great! Honestly, I wasn’t sold at first but the more I looked at the layout, the better it looked. My 2 cents (someone may have mentioned this but I didn’t read all 900+ comments) : make the peninsula table height (30 inches?) instead of counter height, but made of the same material. That way it is an easier surface for kids to help cook, set the table, etc, and a table height surface is better for an adult to roll out cookies and pie crusts and knead bread because you can lean into it easier.
Also, I like the “we’re thinking about such and such” posts because it is so fun and interesting to hear someone else’s thought/design process.
Clare says
Love it! When I saw the banquette, it didn’t feel right, but I had no idea what would. This does – it’s fantastic! Looking forward to the materials selection and build-out process.
Kate says
A true Hearth Room. How sweet is that? I love it.
Laurie says
I’d never comment on something if I didn’t like it (especially since I know it’s a goal for both of you to not let those pesky comments get you down) and that’s never been a problem until you talked about the banquet idea. I thought it would disturb the flow of traffic in the room and not be as open and airy as your beautiful style is. That said, I LOVE(!!!!) the peninsula plan. I also love the plan for the wall. Way to go, John and Sherry! You always get it right in the end. I’m impressed by your taste all-around: seriously, on a recent visit to Richmond I definitely hit up all of your recommended restaurants and shops and it was awesome! Who knew the river could be so great? And seriously, those Cuban sandwiches at Kuba Kuba are Heaven-sent.
YoungHouseLove says
So glad you had fun in Richmond. And now you totally have me craving Kuba Kuba…
-John
Vicky says
I love this!!! The kitchen feels so cozy now! Brilliant!!
Tomi Ann says
Love it! The little “chill” area will be such a great hang-out spot for your family. Such a great solution!
Annie says
What’s that you say? Replacing the counters? Really? Can I have them? Wait, lemme guess, I’m going to have to peruse the Restore shops in the Richmond area if I’m interested in snagging those puppies. ::insert poochie lip sad face here::
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we might sell them on craigslist! We’ll be sure to share the link on the ol’ blog if we do to give everyone a fair shot at them!
xo,
s
Jackie says
To be honest, I am completely excited about the peninsula idea! It feels ‘right’ to me. Looking at it, with your awesome google-sketchup-sketches (which I’ve used in the past and love) it really makes better sense with that space. I am especially loving that little retreat corner where you can just put your feet up and read a good book by the fireplace. Ahhh, I am sooo amped about this! Can’t wait to see you guys get started!!!!
Clara says
My parents have a tiny loveseat in their kitchen across from their island. Since the kitchen is the main hangout during parties it is really comfy to have a couple on the couch, kids at the island on stools, and a few people at the breakfast table (they have a huge kitchen). Although I don’t know anyone else with comfy seating in the kitchen, I can say with experience that it is really convenient.
Lyndsey Beecham says
Somebody else may have already said this, but I can picture that being the kid table…we always have one of those at my family gatherings and the adults fight to sit there because you don’t have to act as proper(even though our expectations are already low)and you’re closer to the food so it’s less notceable when you go back for seconds!
Abby says
I feel so much better about this idea! The banquette, while I am sure it would have looked ok, just seemed somewhat awkward. This new idea seems like it will work much better, and like you said, be much more functional. Can’t wait to see it!
Rebecca says
The soft chair in my kitchen is the most popular seat in the house. I think you’ll love having a comfy place to sit and relax in there. The kitchen is where everyone inevitably likes to hang out ;) Good luck with your project!
Jaclyn says
Yay! I love this idea. I have to say, I was pretty skeptical about the banquette, but figured I just couldn’t “see” it the way you could – sometimes an idea just doesn’t click with me but then when I see it done I think, “ohhhh, okay, yes that make sense.” But this idea sounds really cool. I can’t wait to see the posts as it comes together!
Pam C says
So much better. You would have hated the banquette. I love, love the chair in your little “hearth room”.
Samantha says
Have to admit, I think pretty much everything y’all come up with is genius, so I was totally sold on the banquette idea – until I saw this one. LOVE it so much more!!
Kind of funny how many readers actually weren’t sold on the banquette but were too sweet to tell you, huh? ;) You have a lot of polite readers!
Lauren M says
Sorry Sherry, but I am Team John on the TV in the nook idea!
Jessica G in NN says
I FAAAAREAKING LOVE IT.
sorry. that’s a bunch of enthusiasm. as Andrea said earlier, I liked the banquette but something about it didn’t suit(not that suiting me matters). :)
When you did that picture from the dining room looking into the kitchen though- HOLY. CRAP. That looks amazing. SO excited for you guys to get into this next phase…also LOVE the cozy reading corner in the living area of the house…it definitely could bring everybody into one room as future beans come for you all down the line. :)
Lauren says
OMG… That is PERFECT! I love it!!!!!!!! The cozy chair by the fireplace looks like the best place to hang out ever! Nicely done you guys!
jeannette says
i inherited DIY concrete counters — they’re disgusting, i can’t ever get them clean. maybe you will make a better choice, but mine suck.
Lauren says
Hey! I just sent a reader redesign email (yesterday) re: DIYing concrete countertops. :) We did it and LOVED everything about them. I would do it over in a heartbeat. So when I read you were contemplating them, I got all giddy! I hope you decide to go that route so I can swoon over yours too!
Elsaloola says
I love it! I couldn’t get myself to jump on the banquette bandwagon. This is perfect and will allow for a seamless flow from dining to kitchen to family room. So perfect! I can just see the peninsula becoming the “kids table” while the adults eat at the big table!
Jill says
Love the new layout but what I REALLY want to see is a post on Google Sketch!!! Please! I am redoing my bedroom and would love to use something like that… I used to have AutoCAD on my old craptop but it has bit the dust and I’ve not used CAD since like 07. :) So hurry up already! ;) jk, you have until oct 17th. :)