I like the look, more like in the photo you posted (with the raised section going all the way across) or the last photo Olivesmom posted as opposed to the first photo Olivesmom posted with only a small raised section. Many will say you would appreciate the increased work space/depth of a single level island better for prep. I'm still not 100% sold on the 100% openness of kitchens for everyone. As island desribed, you could also consider 30" of lower space and only 6" deep higher space. Your glass cabs would be 12" deep most of the way but only 6" at the top. You may have more luck getting visual inspiration searching for the words "pony wall" or "half wall" although it will turn up peninsula, not island photos. Here is a link that might be useful: Houzz - pony wall This post was edited by robotropolis on Mon, Mar 4, 13 at 12:06

We have very much what you are describing, a wood bar at bar height with granite on the rest of the counters. Our peninsula is open to the eating area/family room around a corner. I admit, this is one area that was about form over function. I liked the way it highlights the open corner and separates the family room from the kitchen. Plus it is in my primary prep and cooking area (range adjacent) and I was afraid I'd feel like I was cooking in the family room without it. It also hides my little prep sink. The 25" counter depth does not seem too small to me, but I have lots of room to spread out side to side. We've never been a family to eat at an island or peninsula, and we don't use it that way now. In fact, we still haven't gotten any stools and I'm not entirely sure we will because people seem to enjoy just leaning against it or we use it to set up buffet style - whether it is a large family meal, or just snacks/hors d'oeuvres for visitors. From kitchen side: From family room side

OK, here are some options. [Note: Door & stair opening/landing measurements were taken from your older post.] BTW...is the Living Room wall a true, completely enclosed wall or is it partially open (like a pass-through or with spindles interspersed for the entire length of the wall)? I wasn't sure b/c it was not "filled in" like the other walls. On the off chance the wall is not solid, I created solid walls in some of the layouts -- if the wall is already solid, then no need to build one out. ++++++++++ All but two layouts have the refrigerator in the same place -- the bottom right -- to accommodate a table. The only ones that have the refrigerator elsewhere have banquette seating; not my favorite for the only table seating, but it's an option. The banquette is the only way the refrigerator can realistically fit anywhere else than along the far right wall, assuming you want decent aisles, that is! Note that I mixed things up. I did this to show you what options you have. In many cases, you can "mix & match", just be sure you keep decent aisles, a fairly open space around the door, and at least two Prep Zones, preferably with water next to both of them. If you have a question as to whether some options can be mixed, just ask! I'll work it up to show you yes or no. Walls...Note that while I did not modify the 4'5" wall (bottom right), I did modify the left side a bit in most cases, some more than others. Hopefully, you can modify that wall b/c it's one of the biggest reasons you have such a traffic jam -- it forces people to go into the middle of the room to go from the exterior door on the left to the rest of the home. One last thing, the Cooking Zone (with the range) should be the most protected Zone from traffic -- so if traffic is directed away from it or it's in a "dead end" area, it will work better. ++++++++++ Layout #1: Long "L" with China "hutch" for storing your good chin as well as a buffet for staging/serving food. There are three variations; all three share the same Work Zone Map, so only Zone map is included. Layout #1a has a shallow built-in pantry with 12"D shelves floor-to-ceiling. It still has two 24" pantry cabinets. I'm actually not a fan of pantry cabinets this wide and originally put in three 18" wide pullout pantries, but they didn't quite fit b/w the wall and window (you need some filler b/w the wall and the first pantry cabinet). Two didn't provide enough "buffer" to the door. Layout #1b has a tall cabinet with a MW alcove. See a later layout with two 18" pantries & a 12" Utility pullout. What I think is best, is a reach-in pantry (Layout 1a) or shallow pantry cabinets (Layout 3). ++++++++++ Layout #2: Similar to Layout #1 except it has two sinks -- one where the current one is as a prep sink and one in the old Dining Room for Cleanup. This provides two or three very nice Prep Zones -- all with their own counterspace as well as sink access for all three. It also creates a Prep Zone separate from the Cleanup Zone, very helpful if someone is trying to load/unload the DW while someone else is preparing a meal or snack. ++++++++++ Layout #3: Short "L" + small island + Shallow Pantry cabinets and a China cabinet ++++++++++ Layout #4: It has banquette for table seating, a small island, and the refrigerator is on the top wall b/w the windows. The MW is in a tall cabinet to the right of the range. ++++++++++ Layout #5: As with Layout #4, it has banquette for table seating, a small island, and the refrigerator is on the top wall b/w the windows. In this case, there's a prep sink along the right wall creating a Prep Zone separate from the Cleanup Zone, very helpful if someone is trying to load/unload the DW while someone else is preparing a meal or snack.

Do you or dh have DYI skills or family to help? Its not hard to paint cabinets. The age and layout of your cabinets are not worth the refacing or paying for professional cabinet painters. You would do better saving up to remodel in the future. But for now you want pretty so paint and a new laminate countertop can give you updated nice kitchen. Go to Facebook Kitchen Cabinet Experts. They have step by step dyi and what paints primers to use. I would do the 1 level countertops if you have enough space from stove that a kids can eat at bar and not touch stove. If there is not the space keep the 2 level once you paint the upper cabinets it will all look better. The orangy cabinets being seen from your pretty living room is a eyesore