Yes, we do love an island design, but every now and then we are asked to do something different … such as this beautifully practical peninsula.

For this expansive kitchen, our clients wanted to gain as much work surface space as possible, include some banquette seating, and were open to the idea of a no-island layout. So, we suggested a peninsula layout, which had the effect of integrating the kitchen and dining space and also meant that there was more room for a living area. The fact that the peninsula is connected to the wall means that there can be an L-shaped banquette, plus three individual dining chairs. It also makes it feel more intimate, rather like a traditional dining room.

We were also asked to include some toy storage, so we created an unusual cascade (or waterfall, as it’s sometimes called) drop-down section of Corian work surface to continue down from the kitchen cabinetry into the living area. This provides a lovely toy storage area, using exactly the same design and proportions of the kitchen cabinetry. As this is simply a continuation of the kitchen area it reinforces the streamlined and flowing feel of the whole space. 

Of course, we must also include a mention of the long, slender glass roof light. Without this the new space could feel quite dark, and we were very careful to make sure our kitchen layout followed the lines and proportions suggested by the roof light. This is a very successful project, it looks effortless but it includes a lot of careful consideration to shape, size, and the ergonomics of an easy to use kitchen space.