HGTV's Erin Napier Ditches A Trendy Kitchen Island For A More Functional Alternative

Kitchen islands have long been a staple of home design both in small and spacious houses. But for Erin Napier of HGTV's "Home Town," even the trendiest features sometimes aren't the right fit for every space. There are options where people might want to ditch islands for a chic table instead, or even install a peninsula. In Season 7, Episode 18, Napier decided to remove a kitchen island during a renovation project and instead install a peninsula that would not just make the space more stylish but also add more functionality to the kitchen. The change meant there would be more seating, storage, and space for all the homeowner's kitchen needs.

Napier pointed out that peninsulas offer "lots of entertaining opportunities." Ironically, it turned out that the original layout of the house, which the homeowners inherited from a grandmother, had a peninsula, but the new owners decided to remove it and install a kitchen island instead. Grandmothers definitely know best, and Napier agreed, saying, "Grandmas knew what they were doing as far as having lots of people over to eat!"

When Erin Napier first toured her clients' home, she immediately noticed that the space felt more like a hallway than a kitchen. The kitchen island only further emphasized the elongated layout. Reintroducing a peninsula is the best way to break up the space and would give "a division between the kitchen and the dining room," she said. 

Installing a kitchen peninsula can also improve the capacity of the kitchen and dining area to hold people.  This makes it a great solution for adding extra seating for dining or even entertaining guests, a feature that an island cannot deliver if you have a limited space. Your guests can sit and watch you cook, instead of trying to get out of your way if they're right by a kitchen island.  A peninsula also often has more counter space and storage which could help you declutter your kitchen. 

But reviving the kitchen peninsula isn't just about design nostalgia, it's also a cost-effective way to add more space. Installing one in your kitchen is often more affordable, with an average installation costing an average of $90 per square foot as opposed to $101 for a kitchen island, per Skipp Renovation. This is because a peninsula usually can integrate with existing structures, thus requiring fewer materials. The kitchen peninsula may not be as trendy as the island, but for certain spaces, it can be the more functional and stylish choice.