Not A Peninsula: Joanna Gaines Has A Clever Way To Add More Counter Space To Kitchens

Anyone who uses their kitchen regularly knows that counter space is premium. In recent years, kitchen peninsulas have emerged as sleek alternatives to kitchen islands, allowing for more counter space without sacrificing storage or the square footage an island might take up. However, there are still situations where an island is the way to go. In fact, HGTV superstar Joanna Gaines utilizes a kitchen island in a unique way to add more counter space to a kitchen without making the space feel cramped.

In Season 3, Episode 14 of the hit television show "Fixer Upper", Gaines and her husband/co-host, Chip, set to renovating a 1970s ranch house whose kitchen posed something of a conundrum. The layout was too closed off, so the design power couple turned to knocking down a few walls, then using a long kitchen island as a divider. Without the wall, Gaines realized "the area's workspace was cut in half and left the actual kitchen feeling undefined." 

The extra-long kitchen island actually served two purposes. One, it was a practical way to bring storage and counter space back to the kitchen while still giving it an open feeling. Two, it acting as a defining transition between the kitchen and living room space. Writing for the episode blog, Gaines says "The original kitchen was completely closed off to the rest of the house in typical '70s fashion, and I loved getting to knock down a few walls and open it up to the living and dining spaces."  

While certain kitchen island trends are definitely on their way out, Gaines's renovation makes it obvious that the extra-long kitchen island is at its best when used in an open concept space. Having the island run the length of the kitchen creates clear definition between rooms without completely dominating the space. This doesn't work well in tight, enclosed kitchens, where the peninsula would be a better choice. The reason a peninsula might not work as well in an open kitchen is because it creates a single entry point that can create a bottleneck of traffic, whereas an island allows 360 degrees of movement.

Kitchen islands also offer a lot of flexibility for open spaces. In Gaines's design, she also used it as a place for the sink and under counter storage. She also added a bar top and stools as a seating area for guests. As a result, the island became a multipurpose addition that engages the space, without overpowering it.

Now, just because Gaines designed a more traditional kitchen island for this space doesn't mean that you need to feel bound by it. In fact, you could take another leaf out of her book and repurpose an old antique as a kitchen island to make your own unique statement. Still, if you have an open concept kitchen, or are designing one, a good island will maximize your space and efficiency as opposed to stealing from it.