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1. 
   Carpenter183 | Dec 27, 2010 02:15pm | #1

   Kegerator? Wine fridge?

2. 
   real2x4 | Dec 27, 2010 02:57pm | #2

   Recycling bin, another cabinet, trash can on wheels,

3. 
   rltarch | Dec 27, 2010 03:14pm | #3

   How about removing everything and starting over? The countertops are an inexpensive loss, and the cabinets can be rearranged better...

   You need to do something with the tiny space above the wall cabs - maybe a soffit? Then add a nice cooktop on the peninsula with a hood above.

   Or maybe an island instead of the peninsula for improved traffic flow and less wasted cabinet space.

   Take all the upper cabinets off the outside wall, and put them on the left-side wall. Put in three windows instead of two.

   Could probably do that with all the same cabinets!

4. 
   MarkAReed | Dec 28, 2010 08:33am | #4

   How about putting a dishwasher back in it? Are you trying to eliminate it? Why? Where else could you put it without relocating the sink?

   No drywall soffits! They are ugly, out of style and reduce the illusion of space in a small kitchen.

   No cooktop on pennensula! You have a space for the stove and microwave. Put your money into a nice SS stove. I just bought a Kitchenaid SS stove for 1300.00 from ABT. My wife loves it. We have the same size kitchen and opted to put in a SS commercial looking hood vent from HD for 300.00 and built in a smaller ss microwave next to the fridge.
   Vent hood through roof. Dont just circulate the air.

   We opened the space between the uppers to 36" behind the 30" stove and installed really nice tile with a picture frame pattern.

   We also removed the upper cabs on each side of the sink window and installed a 5 ft/ bay window with oak sill and puck lights. We put 16 small plants and cactis in it and it looks great. Nice view while you wash the dishes. A TV in the right corner on a swivel would be nice.

   Dont change pennensula to an island! You cant afford to lose the cabinets or ctop space. Plus you will have to fix the floor and remove old DW electrical/plumbing which can get expensive.

   I would put in 6-8 5" cans on a dimmer, in the ceiling and loose the fixtures, add a valance to bottom of uppers from cab factory to match and install undermount zenon fixtures if you dont have already.

   Add back wall tile and eliminate the 4" backsplash.

   Paint the walls darker.

   Install granite or solid surface counter tops. Not tile. Grout lines crack and are a bitch to keep clean. Use the old tops in your garage or the basement.

   I design, build, and install kitchens. I hope this helps.
   Good luck and have fun.

5. 
   denshandyman | Dec 29, 2010 10:47am | #5

   Put the dishwasher back, trust me it will keep hormone in the family also value for resale. I think that some lighting above the cabinets would give the kitchen some added style.

6. 
   KevinW | Jan 24, 2011 03:37pm | #6

   We put an undercounter size freezer in the gap where we took the dishwasher out (never used it). Really convenient as the outlet is right there in the empty space.

7. 
   Kobash | Jan 24, 2011 03:44pm | #7

   Well, it's hard to say (we're not seeing the whole picture) What is to the rt. in the picture, and what's at the camera point of view?

   I'd pull all the cabinets build an island with a cook top, micro, and convection oven stacked on the wall.

   Cabinets should be (for me) white or light colored wood (maple), and for the uppers to the ceiling w/ molding casing all of it, and under cabinet lighting. A pull out spice rack is a must, just below, and to the rt. of the cook top. Centered on the cook top "Lagre" full extention drawers, pot's, and pan's.

   Floor to ceiling pantry w/ pull out racks.

   Put in a bigger window, and go w/ granite tops. Double deep well sink, w/ a hanging sprinkler head is always nice to wash them pots.

8. 
   Jimbo_S | Mar 21, 2011 02:13pm | #8

   If you want to make use of the space without redoing your kitchen, and leave the opening for a future owner to put a dishwasher in (or yourselves later), I suggest building something a bit like those wheeled microwave carts you see.

   Size it to just fit the space under the counter, and put it on wheels so you can pull it out as extra workspace. Put either doors with shelves or drawers in it, and orient them so you can open them while the cart is tucked into its home space. You could leave it as open shelving, but you would want to cover the 3 sides (left, right, back) so that when it is tucked in, you do not see the white melamine sides of your current cabinets.

   Depending on your needs, you could do the top as butcher block (for chopping or bread baking), or tile or solid granite if you want it to be heat-resistant. If someone is a big baker, you could design the drawers/shelves to make it a special baking unit.