Just after you step inside, this is what you see.

You're fooling yourself if you think 6" of higher counter will hide more than a frying pan. The better option is to really think through the layout so that everything has a place to be put away.

I know, and you know, that the higher bar top will hide very little.

Lord willing, this place will be spotless when we go to show it. There will be room for proper storage when the cupboards are done.

My question should include: Will a buyer feel more secure buying a house with a raised bar that they *think* will hide more than a frying pan? or to put it differently: Will a single level island deter buyers?

I think the transparent front door will make folks uncomfortable.

If you are putting the house on the market as soon as it is done, I would consider something more conventional like a wall, even if it had several openings in it, to screen the direct view of the kitchen. I think you live in a rural area and maybe that means more informal, generally, but I think the amount of "wide open" you have here, right at the front door would be off-putting to a lot of potential buyers.

Look at the overall layout of the home. It appears that you perhaps need an actual entry to the home that shields the view of the visitor from the whole house, not just the kitchen. Perhaps a small gabled entry could be created while you are making changes? Or create some internal walls to create a foyer? Or you could manage to use some built ins or more of a wall in another place to shield the space from sight of the entry.

I would put beadboard on the island and paint it. Either white or maybe a soft green. Go vintage....it's popular and it works with your style. But, put everything away except for a few retro pieces so people can imagine themselves in the space. Flowers help too...and bake something like apple cinnamon bars or chocolate chip cookies, right before the open house. Worked for my mom :)

Here is a picture of the front, front of the house that was taken in the fall before we redid the upper roof. There is a bit of an entryway room that is 6' x8', The glass door is between the entryway and the interior of the house.

I see. So the entryway is a mudroom of sorts, right?

Might you consider removing the interior door and converting the mudroom to a foyer? That would give you some more room to add a wall or furniture or something to provide some separation in the public living space.

I would not take off the glass door. I live in the country and an airlock is what I want to put ON the house! LOL

Love your red door...so cheerful :)

We have a glass door between the entryway and the kitchen. We chose ribbed glass instead of clear. Gives a blurred image but lets in light. You can purchase stick ons for glass that will make it look textured and give you a blurred image.

I've been searching for less expensive sink options and stumbled upon this site. Has anyone used them?

http://www.mrdirectint.com/503r-reverse-offset-stainless-steel-sink.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Mr. Direct

Hey Lavender,
I certainly get that the airlock is a nice feature, but if you had to choose, would you trade your foyer for one?

Thanks for your input, everyone.

The entryway is of the airlock type, Guacho and Lavender, which is good at helping modulate these frigid temps. It is not insulated, and will not be insulated before we move. That can be someone else's project. ; ) I'm trying to figure out how I might add furniture to shield the view, but honestly, I'm coming up blank.

Thanks for the positive vote for the red door, Lavender. My first shot at painting it was a dark gray--ick, ick, ick. I lived with it less than a week before switching it to the red, which I'm much happier with. Beadboard on the island? Check. Clutter gone. Can't wait! A few well placed decos. Yes, ma'am. Something yummy fresh out of the oven for the showing? You bet! : ) I'd take either one of your suggestions right now, please. LOL Oh, and can you remind DH to bring home some of those flowers? ; )

Debrak, the textured stick-on glass cover is an intriguing idea. I've seen those before, but it never occurred to me to install it on our door. I'm thinking that one through. Anyone else think this might be helpful?

Caidan, did you misplace your post, or are you spamming this thread? If it's misplaced, I hope you find your proper spot. If you're spamming, you may leave now. Thank you.

So, knowing what you know about our entry into the house, do you think buyers would want a big flat expanse of island, or a raised bar that would at least shield the kitchen side of the island from view?

I think you want to add some separation with respect to the kitchen OR living room, but there isn't enough space for both, so you have to choose. Looks really hard to put something between the door and island, so I'd consider the other, which of course means you wouldn't address your original problem statement. What's to the right in the pic above?

I'd want the larger prep zone of one level since there doesn't appear to be much counter space.

Go to Country Curtains and get some sheers for the glass door and put a ribbon around the middle. Don't lose the door.

Gordo- Both would be nice, but if I had to choose....airlock over foyer, in a minute! Don't have either right now, kind of walk right into living room.

Laughable- If you had a sink or cooktop on the island, I'd vote for two levels....but if it's all prep-only, then one level. Makes it easier to set things down from any side...and just seems more inviting, somehow.

Maybe a nice jadite(?) or other vintage bowl (think thrift shop LOL) with a bunch of fruit, for the staging? That would look great and give you a nice focal point.

This post was edited by lavender_lass on Tue, Jan 21, 14 at 23:18

We use the area to the right, (approx. 14' x 15') as an informal dining area, Gaucho. It could just as easily be used as a family room if someone wanted to go that route. We love to eat in there as it's very bright and cheery with 4 tall windows on the 2 outside walls. There is a dining area in the middle of the house where you see the 2 big windows to the left of the red door.

Yes, I was really looking forward to a giant island for prep, with a prep sink in it. I just don't know what potential buyers will value most. Thanks for chiming in for the big island, May Flowers.

Vedazu, that's a great, simple solution to put some sheers in.

Hmmm, I think I have some bowls that might work, already, Lavender. (Aw, shucks! I like to check things out at the thrift store, too.) They're not jadite, but they're this lovely shade of blue-green. I also received some giant white bowls for Christmas that might work, too, if the fruit would give enough color. I'm looking forward to getting to the staging process, rather than the tear out the contents and try to keep them clean in the midst of construction stage.

If I were buying your home, I would definately want that much needed one level prep space. My answer to the problem of hiding the view from the front door when the kitchen is messy is to have mini-blinds.

I also like the idea of the sheers on the door.

I attached a link to the glass film from Lowes. Its $20 a box (I don't know how much it covers)

Here is a link that might be useful: artscape inc

Can you post a picture of the view of the door looking from the kitchen and a picture of the space beyond the glass door? Is it like a sunroom porch space that is enclosed but unheated?

I grew up in a house that had a porch/entry space enclosed like I think you are describing. While it was never utilized as a nice space it had the potential to be a nice entry with mud bench and chairs to make it inviting like a entry.

Cute house!

If I am understanding you correctly you are removing the counter that is to the left of the door, correct? Once that is removed put a slim table and mirror on that wall to continue the entry a bit.

I vote for the island one level.

Perhaps removing the glass door just for showing the house, make sure the realtor mentions that the door is available if they want to put it back up. Make that entry space in to a nice inviting space then it will not feel like they are walking directly into the kitchen/dining space.

[Farmhouse Porch[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/farmhouse-porch-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_726~s_2114) by Hilton Head Island Architects & Designers Group 3

[Farmhouse Entry[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/farmhouse-entryway-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_741~s_2114) by Millbrook Architects & Designers Crisp Architects

I would not remove the door. Those pics rtwilliams posted are beautiful.

I love glass doors of all kinds both exterior and interior. They provide character to a home and give you separation while inviting you in to see whats beyond.

I wouldn't remove the door either, but I would try to "decorate" the front portion along the lines of the second picture rtwilliams posted -- it looks very inviting. (and other than that, I second and third keeping the island one level - so much more functional)

It's not a mudroom--it's an Entry Vestibule. It does need the door!

Right side of entry with left side in reflection. (Mr. Mustache light has since been replaced.) There is still molding to come around the door. There's also room for a bench on the left wall under the kiddy coats. I just haven't found it yet, so I have a low storage unit there right now.

Thanks for weighing in, Texaspenny. I like the idea of one level, too. I love to spread out when I'm working in the kitchen. We rigged bottom up shades for a little extra privacy. ; )

Thanks, Debrak for the vote for the sheers. I really like the film you linked too! I forgot that I used to have sheers on that door. We took them down to paint it, and never put them back up again. The door is really pretty bare. Plus, our little ones loved to wrap themselves in the sheers, so it was tough to keep those curtains looking nice! Therefore, the film might solve a few problems. Still thinking.....

Rtwilliams, thank you for your insights and inspiring pictures. You made DH's day when you said it was a cute house. : )

I've attached a picture of the entry. It's a little tough to get a good shot of it since it's so small. I'll have to see if I can hunt down a picture of the eating area. With the reno going on, it's rather trashed at the moment.

Sjhockeyfan and Fori, the door definitely stays. We would FREEEEZE without it there. And there is only a storm door for the front entry, so we need something more lockable to the house.

I think you're all persuading me, ONE level island. It's what I always wanted. We'll see how long I get to use it.

Mega shoe shelves. : )