I think it is a great idea to open up the pass through. One of the things that always bugs me, and I'm short, is to have cabinets or a wall looming between me and what I want to see or people I want to talk with. If I understand your second point correctly you are asking whether or not it is a good idea to have your pass through counter at the same level as your sink/inside the kitchen counter. Some people like to hide the kitchen clutter with the raised ledge and others like to have the bigger area that a one level counter provides for serving and clearing. Extending the granite on the other side sounds like a way of getting more serving and clearing area if you are worried about the clutter or even if you envision someone sitting on the other side chatting while dishes are washed. Hope I'm interpreting your questions correctly. We don't have a pass through but we did opt for a one level island facing the great room because we liked the idea of a big area for prepping, serving, clearing and are hoping we'll be diligent about cleaning our messes so no one is subjected to it.

flseadog,

Thank you! You completely understood what I was talking about. I was nervous that I didn't describe it well enough for anyone to understand.

I'm hoping I can find someone at this forum that has something similar so I can see what it might look like before we decide. It will cost us more and we're already a little over budget but we're thinking it might be worth it.

I'm unclear of the surroundings, so I'll describe what I grew up with, which sounds like all your options. :)

My mother has:

A small, rectangular pass through between the kitchen and breakfast room. It's about the width of the dishwasher, and maybe 18" high? It's trimmed out like a window, and is just in the middle of the breakfast room wall. There are shutters, but they're rarely closed. This passthrough is invaluable. We can clear the table right onto the sinkboard. Also, we can pass through items to put on the table, and when a couple of us need to work at opposite ends of the baking board, one stands in front of the DW, and the other leans in the passthrough. From the sink one can lean down and see through the BR into the den.

The above is great.

There's a similar sized passthrough with a sliding pocket door in the wall between the breakfast room and dining room. It almost never gets used. It's counter level in both rooms, so serving items could go through from the BR counter to the DR buffet. Both have upper cupboards. It's generally more convenient to just carry things through the door, which isn't far.

There's also a large, picture window sized passthrough between the BR and den. It has a small counter (12"?) which sits above the main counter level, and also has rarely closed shutters. It works as wet bar for parties, if people actually walk up to it, though they usually just crowd into the BR and help themselves. The counter provides a convenient ledge for this and that from the den side where there is otherwise just the wall. It is a great way to open up the house while still keeping defined spaces. The opening is well taller than my father (approx. same height as your husband), and he has been known to watch the game through it, but it's not a great way to view TV.

My conclusion is that a passthrough can be very good, and works best when there's a blank wall on one side and a counter on the other, especially when that counter is next to a sink. I think you're on the right track.

Thanks everyone. Still hoping that someone out there has a picture of what we're thinking of doing! Would love a visual! Anyone??? =)