1. Understand the differences between an island and a peninsula.

An island is a freestanding workspace that is not connected to a wall, and usually sits near the center of the space. It breaks up a kitchen into work zones and offers storage, extra countertop space, and a cozy place to gather around the cook. A peninsula offers the versatility and space management of an island, but takes up less floor space because it is connected to a wall at one end.

Both islands and peninsulas can be large scale or small scale, can be installed with sinks and cooktops, and can be used for everything from rolling out pie crust and peeling vegetables to paying bills and eating breakfast.

2. Use online planning tools to visualize your options.

Merillat offers a number of planning tools designed to help you design your space. Our Work Triangle and Kitchen Layouts pages will help you think through your potential layout options in relation to the cooking, cleaning and food storage “work triangle.”  Our Island and Peninsula section includes inspirational photos showing variations on size, design style, and storage options. Our Start Your Floor Plan tool creates a sketch of your dimensions and layout that you can print. And our Step-by-Step Kitchen Planner saves all your favorite door styles and hardware, plus your input about your cooking style, whether you have pets in the kitchen and more, so you can print out a scrapbook of preferences and favorites to take to a designer.

3. Consult with a certified kitchen designer.

After you have done the research above, set up a consultation with a certified kitchen designer who can walk you through the decision process. A designer has the training to help you measure your space, make recommendations based on desires and your square footage, and help you design a space that’s both beautiful and functional.

Leave a comment and let us know if you found these tools useful in planning your dream kitchen!

Kitchen islands and peninsulas add style and beauty, increase efficiency, and define borders while bringing people together in the kitchen. They act as the kitchen’s hub allowing you to prepare, cook and clean up while maintaining conversational and visual contact with family and/or guests nearby.

Islands and peninsulas not only serve as a place for meal preparation, but also a snack bar, extra eating area, self-service buffet area, or even a small office desk space.  If you add plumbing, gas lines and proper wiring, you can then add a sink (or second sink), cooktop, dishwasher, microwave, under-cabinet refrigerator, icemaker or wine cooler.  The possibilities are endless!

In smaller kitchens, islands and peninsulas can increase storage, especially if you choose to put cabinets and drawers on both sides. In larger kitchens, islands and peninsulas are especially useful in minimizing the work triangle, helping define traffic patterns and acting as a room divider. In an extra large kitchen, many find two islands are better than one.

Islands
A kitchen island, as the name implies, is freestanding and in the center of the kitchen.  An island works well in U and L-shape kitchens, decreasing the distance between work centers and directing traffic outside the work area.

Peninsulas
Unlike a freestanding island, a kitchen peninsula has one end attached to a wall or adjoining cabinets, usually at a right angle. A peninsula can be as versatile as an island but doesn’t require as much surrounding floor space.

Islands and Peninsulas Design Tips

• Comfortable work zones that are easy to maneuver in and provide good access are critical to a well-planned kitchen.  Commonly a kitchen work triangle is based on the location of the sink, the cooking area, and the refrigerator. An island often contains the cooking or sink work center. Many kitchens today have additional work zones for a second sink or baking area.
• Recommended aisle spacing for the working side of an island is 42”. Passageway isles should be 36”.  Consider a peninsula if your space is more restricted.
• Consider the location of appliances such as refrigerators, ovens and dishwashers that require space for doors to open completely and allow safe passageways.
• Don’t install an island between kitchen work zones that are on opposite walls. A smart work triangle will minimize distance between work zones not create a barrier.
• In larger kitchens, a second island could be used for task-specific countertops, such as butcher block for chopping or marble for rolling pastry dough.