Kitchen peninsula

Why choose a kitchen with peninsula

The peninsula in the kitchen, in most cases, is simply an aesthetic choice, because maybe we have seen it in a magazine or in an exhibition.

If, in fact, the space available is enough, this is one of the most requested variant in the compositions of kitchens, especially to create a division between the kitchen space and the living room.


It is a solution with many variables. First of all, the main distinction to make is the choice if you make it more functional, equipping it with contenitive bases, or if you leave it free, to act as a simple table top, work or table.

This choice is also linked to the spaces available, in addition to aesthetics that you want to achieve.

How to design a kitchen with peninsula

It is to consider, in fact, the operating space to handle the foundation of the part of the kitchen mounted on the wall, parallel to the peninsula top, and of the bases if necessary to place under the same peninsula.

Starting from a solution with minimum space available, it is obvious to opt for the peninsula only with top, depth 64 cm, finished on all sides, in continuity with the rest of the top, or independent, leaning against the wall.

The material of the top, will be in both cases, the same as the top of the kitchen, to get some uniformity in the material of the horizontal surface.


The height from the ground-floor of the peninsula, in the first case, it is the same as the other tops, then 85-90 cm, depending on the height of the base and the modularity of the articles of the chosen company.

As it is higher than a normal table, there will be stools instead of chairs.

In the second case, when resting on the wall, if one opts for a lower height, then you can put normal chairs.

If, instead of on the wall, the peninsula, lower, leans to the terminal base of the rest of the composition, then the top material can also be different than the one of the top, and return maybe the color of the structure of the kitchen's furniture, or of the tabletop possibly in the dining area.

When you choose to make the appliance peninsula, the depth of the top may be the same, that is 64 cm, or get to 94 cm, if the space allows it.

In the first case the furniture on which it rests will have the same depth of the other bases, that is 60 cm, but without the possibility to exploit the peninsula as table-lunch or snack, or depth of 33-35 cm, as the wall units, leaving about 30 cm protrusion on one side to be able to sit comfortably.

In the second case, with the deep top of 94 cm, the bases have a depth of 60 cm, with the space available for sitting. It will be equipped with drawers, baskets for pots, simple open shelves or closed by doors.

Given that the depth allows it, in fact, there are no problems for the guides and mechanisms that are normally supplied with the furniture.

Indeed, it is possible, in both cases, to place the hob on the peninsula top. It would obviously be preferable to do so only in the case of greater depths, so as to leave more space in front of the hob itself.

Many compositions, in this connection, provide a sort of screen glass or other material, to protect from splashing during use of the hob, in the case of use of the peninsula also as a dining table or snack.

The latest trend is to place a hood support, fixed or retractable, directly on the top, simultaneously as a splash guard.

It goes without saying that, in addition to the hob, on the peninsula you can think to put also the sink, (in case it is possible to bring the plants in that location), which is also the preferred solution, as it is definitely much more comfortable to have the two work areas in the same space.



In these cases, ie with stove and sink, however, I do not recommend to use the peninsula also as a dining table or snack table, despite the glossy magazines are full of photos that illustrate such situations.

These solutions are conceivable only in very large environments, and where the peninsula is very long, so as to allow a rational division, spatially, of the functions that take place on it.

An alternative solution, which solves, at times, problems of space, is to give special shapes to the plane peninsula, in this case, obviously, not equipped with bases.

Besides the classic half-rounded terminals of many years ago, there is the possibility of giving a teardrop shape, that curves inwards, so as to allow more surface available without cluttering too far to the outside, or even to make the peninsula taylored, by sending to the company a design with the desired shape.

There is still a very appreciated choice that is the round peninsula, variable in diameter, which, when in the smallest size, is more of a terminal, normally lower than the rest of the top.

These solutions round or rounded allow the seat of more people, thanks to the lack of sharp edges.

It is always good advice to avoid the canteen effect, that is the insertion of a rectangular peninsula in the same environment where there is already a table.

In this case, if you really want, you can choose to make the peninsula height definitely different from the table's, and it will be peninsula closed under, equipped with bases not too deep, or with simple panels finished as furniture doors of the kitchen, to disguise as much as possible its function, if any, of snack table.

It remains a viable option when the official dining table is positioned away, or at least in a space avowedly other than that in which the peninsula is located.