If you do a raised peninsula for seating (though I'm not a fan), that's a great place to use wood. Stone tends to be cold on your arms and hands when you're resting on it.

I'm still not getting the Formica. I don't see how that has to do with the kind of country look you keep posting about. You did post one inspiration pic with Formica but it still had a very 50s vibe to me (not all 50s is remotely midcentry modern).

Have you actually gone out looking at any marble? You need to do that. Go look at lots of marble (and don't rule out those quartzites either!) You will either find something you love, and nothing else will do, and you will have to have it, or that won't happen. If it doesn't happen, you will at least find a pretty piece to use in your baking area, and that will make you very happy :o). You can't say "I want/don't want marble" at this point - you need to go see if there's one you actually want at a price you are willing to pay - nobody can answer that for you. For instance, I assumed "I want granite" - looked for 6 months - saw MANY beautiful slabs, but they just weren't for me (I'm ending up with quartzite and soapstone). If you don't find marble you have to have, see if there is a formica you love, since that has been your safety net all along, and you said it suites you durability wise. Then you could do what Marcolo suggested and if you do go with the raised peninsula, put your wood there, then you will have a piece of all three surfaces. If you go with a single level peninsula, you could get yourself a big, beautiful wood cutting board instead - another way to get yourself all 3 surfaces, as you still seem to be hesitant about wood/marble durability in your house for the way you live. If that's what you decide, that is ok. There are folks here that love their wood, love thier marble, and love their formica. No one can make that decision for you.

On the height of the peninsula: If you're not planning on having a cooktop or sink on the kitchen side of the peninsula, you could go with a single level. This has the advantage of giving you an excellent work space for those cooking projects that seem to take up lots of room like cooling racks for cookies or all the Thanksgiving pies-that sort of thing. In this particular picture the higher level looks squishy because of the illusion of it being too close to the top of the arch, which I'm sure it's not. A higher bit can hide dirty dishes in the sink and stuff on the stove from the immediate view of diners seated at the round table. A single level looks more "country" and gives more work space. A higher side keeps the grubby little helper hands out of the food-to-be, a single level invites grubby little helpers to "help," or at least "supervise." A single level also encourages all family member to drop all possessions right there for some reason.

Based on my experience - I'm probably your mom's age - I liked having the kids on the other side of the single level peninsula to help or talk or do homework or whatever. In the end though, both configurations would work just fine, they just give a little different feel to the room. Which one is "you"?

I'm starting to think the single level might look more country, too. I also like that it gives more room for the kids to work, without things falling down to the lower level (just thought about that the other day).

As for finishes, I'm not really sure what would be best, although I can picture a butcherblock peninsula with a marble inset, for rolling dough. As for the other countertops around the sink and stove...maybe butcher block, maybe something else. Any ideas (but I want something easy to maintain) so that's why I mentioned formica. I'm not in love with it, but not against it, either.

For the little countertop next to the wall oven, I'd like to do something different there...maybe even a granite that looks more like marble. A little 'fancier' with maybe some glassware above. I had drawn in a bar sink, but now I'm wondering if a prep sink, in the corner, between the peninsula and stove would be a better idea!

I feel like I'm getting really close to a solution...thanks for sticking with me through all this! :)

My two cents: as we get older, we tend to find lower chairs/stools easier to clamber into. There's a reason some of us had aunts and grandmothers with tables and chairs rather than bar stools in the kitchen : ). I don't mind hiking myself up onto a bar chair nowadays, and sometimes it even reminds me of my misspent youth, but my preference nowadays is for something lower, for me, and for family and friends.

I've also never understand the "hiding a mess" rationale -- first, anyone who's in your house is likely a friend and knows you and your habits (if it's the plumber or an insurance salesman, who cares about the mess on the island anyway?); second, they don't have to be *that* close to the higher level to see over it and on to the lower level. I don't know that one is really fooling anyone other than oneself with that idea!

Becky

Becky- LOL! That is so funny...I never thought about it, but you're probably right. Besides, my mess is usually taller than the few inches difference in the bar height :)

Any ideas for countertop materials? I want something that says country, but kind of a casually elegant country...if that makes any sense!

hi lavender!

well you got me with the April Fool's! ;)

casually elegant country, eh? well i think the type of wood you end up choosing can make a big difference in the elegance.

i posted this in another thread, so i don't know if you saw it. it uses mahogany with marble.

i really like your inspiration kitchen above. i agree that one level is better.

Here is a link that might be useful: Farmhouse Kitchen Style in Your Home

Countertops: Had we been able to add on to our inherited house and build a whole new kitchen, we would have gone with granite for sure, and maybe some butcher block. For some reason we live in granite yard heaven and can see at least 10 granite yards within 40 minutes of our house. I didn't know I'd like it so much until we actually spent time looking. Of course the ones I liked best were not ones I might have put down for counters. Think sunrise pale blue & pink, rainforest in the brown version, etc. I don't much care for the slab out front at Lowe's on special or many I see put in by builders.

Quartz: I've seen some installed. My sister has a sparkly midnight blue counter that is spectacular, but I don't think I'd go so dark. My friend has one that looks kind of like the on-special granite at Lowe's. I have a hard time visualizing what a 4 inch sample square would look like as a full counter.

Marble: I don't think it qualifies as "low maintenance." On the other hand, it's great for baking. You might just do a piece in your baking area anyway and live with its "patina."

Formica/laminate: Don't cross it out just because it's not especially fashionable at the moment. As I've said before, the white laminate countertops that were here when we bought our house 37 years ago are still in place. It's only this past year that I've thought maybe we should change them out. Unless someone is looking with a super-critical eye, they're still next to perfect. Considering their hard use for anything requiring a large flat surface in our house (I recently was doing a carving project there), they're the most cost effective thing going. And they look good.

Butcher block: cost effective, looks way cool, practical. If you keep them oiled or sealed or whatever, they should remain sanitary and looking good for a long time. I'm not so sure about around the sink though. If you are serious about it, you should search for discussions and see what people who've done it advise.

Are you going to build in the spring and summer? Do I remember that you have a canning kitchen separate from this kitchen area? Those fruit and veggies just keep coming whether you're busy on something else or not! I always struggle with the ollieberries getting ripe just in time for our big Memorial Day camping trip. It's not like they kindly wait a couple of days.

Ironcook- I am hoping it's my last countertop question!

Thanks for the picture...I really like the lights, the faucet, and the wood countertops and flooring. I'm not a fan of stainless steel, but it's hard to find much else right now. I'm still thinking white might be easy and fun to mix and match with other colors.

I like the wall color. I've seen some interesting painted cabinets lately, in light blues, greens and yellow and I keep thinking...how much more fun than all white. Maybe that's one reason I'm liking the butcher block or marble/light granites. They would all look good with a painted cabinet...I really need to focus! LOL

Anyway, I feel like I have more options, with the wood stove and seating area in another room. Somehow, the smaller kitchen/dining room seems to open up more possibilities with color and pattern. Time to look for more pictures...and thanks for the link! :)

yeah, i'm in that white vs. stainless dilemma too.

i don't know what "spending category" you're in, but have you considered a range that comes in colors? (i'm sure someone has asked you this already, sorry.) the bertazzoni are in the more reasonable "splurge" range than a aga, viking or lacanche would be for me. fortunately, i don't cook with gas! ;)

but back to countertops... brazillian cherry is very hard and can look elegant, imho.

scottielee's kitchen

i can't remember if you want to cut on your countertops, though. have you already seen Pete Stein's walnut island? he uses part of it to cut on. he used the face-grain (plank) walnut.

Here is a link that might be useful: Walnut Island top used as cutting board

Well, after much debate...and looking at magazines, books, web, etc...I'm thinking basic neutrals. Many people have recommended this, but I've always thought...I want color! Well I do love color, but it's usually on walls, cushions, pillows, table cloths, lots of flowers and plants, china, dishes, etc.

If I have the white cabinets and appliances, with the vinyl 'wood' floors and wood (butcher block?) countertops...I can still use a little marble and maybe a little light granite...and it will work with anything! Plus, I like that it bounces so much light around the room.

For accents, I can either paint the hutch and some accents cabinetry...or leave it a natural light wood color. Hopefully it will seem very country cottage eclectic and I can add any details I want. Maybe english cottage in the kitchen and french country in the sunroom...now that would be fun! :)

lavender, I hope was hoping to stay out of the countertop materials part of the discussion by distracting you with countertop heights : ).

I think you need to price the different possibilities in your neck of the wood, caress them if necessary, and decide what you like and can afford, and what works best where in your final layout. Since you are talking about "little" pieces of marble and granite, you might want to check the stone yards and architectural salvage places around to see what they have. You might end up with the perfect little piece to make your own marble-topped island/table, or baking corner, etc.

Becky

If all you want is a small piece of marble for a pastry slab, you might even be able to pick up an older coffee/end table (Craigslist?) that has a marble top and inset it into your counter. I like the idea of neutral cabs with a painted hutch too. : ) Can't offer much countertop help, as all I've ever had is laminate (except for a stint with true linoleum counters- not good), which has been fine for us.

Laughable- CL...that's a good idea! What are you using in your new kitchen, for countertops? I like laminate because it's so darn easy to keep clean, but I like the wood, too. I guess it's time to do some shopping!

Becky- Thanks for the distraction...because it really helped me think about what mess would I be hiding? Plus, I got a sudden vision of my nephew pushing his glass off the raised counter and onto the lower counter. All one height is probably a MUCH better idea :)