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How do you like your peninsula or island bi-level counter height

10 years ago

One of the reasons that I really want an island is to be able to use wood as the counter material. However, my kitchen is narrow and I just may not be able to do an island that includes seating so I am rethinking the peninsula layout. I am considering a raised "bar" section so I can use a wood material. What is an appropriate depth for the raised counter to allow for eating? Is your lower counter a 25" depth? Do you like this split height?

Featured Answer

ControlfreakECS

10 years ago

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

Comments (7)

LE
10 years ago
The conventional wisdom is that the depth depends on the seating height (you need less knee room when you are sitting taller.) We have a peninsula with a 13" overhang where we've had most of our meals for 25 years (counter height), but I've read many times that is not "enough." I don't know if we just don't "belly up" to the edge, or what, but it's plenty.

(We considered doing a bi-level bar to hide kitchen messes better, but concluded that it just compromises both the countertop function and the dining function by splitting them up.)
3boysandadog
10 years ago
Hi - We have both an 8 x 34 island - 10" knee room... and a dual height peninsula with 12" knee room... we have 3 boys ranging from 6'1 to 6'5" - and the knee room is seems adequate. I like having both an island and a peninsula! I like the split height for eating.
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Count me among the others who urge you to make the decision based on what you really want in your space. I have both. In my home I have a granite island that has nothing breaking it up - no prep sink, cooktop, etc. In addition to using it for prep, it seats 4 and we eat 80% of our meals on it. It suits the kitchen and I love it. In our lakehouse I have a long island with a raised countertop (also soapstone). In that house, where we entertain a lot of overnight guests, I would not want the island to be a single level. When people come down for breakfast, for instance, they can sit at the island with their coffee or juice and chat with me while I prepare breakfast. The spaces are clearly defined, and I don't feel like they're right in my space while I'm cracking eggs and rolling out scones, etc. A tip I got here was to make sure the raised counter had ample enough width to comfortably fit a placemat & dish setting. Having the counter raised enhances the view from the 3-bay window and many casual meals are enjoyed sitting at the island watching the sun rise over the mountains. I would never want to change it out for a single counter-height island. I could offer many examples of why one style works better than the other in each of the houses, but they are subjective and have a lot to do with the flow of each place. That's why my best recommendation is to go with your gut - what you want, and how you'll use it.
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Here are some pictures of my bi-level island. Please forgive the mess on lower part - just got 2 new drawers added and trying to organize stuff, I have things out waiting to buy trays. The top doesn't collect stuff now that DD has a drawer for her art supplies. Though I do need a better place for tomatoes and bananas (empty hanger for now). And wish I could think of a better spot for coffeemaker. Breakfast bar (though I eat dinner there with kids when DH is away - as soon as I finish 4th stool maybe we'll all eat there) From FR (had to shut door to mudroom b/c the bench there collects our things - ignore junk on counter by fridge - more organizing to do, put her art stuff in our old "junk" drawer) Lower level (blue tape marking studs so we can nail in trim under plugmold - I'm finishing side pieces now)
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Thanks for all the great feedback! I hadn't thought about using the island as a serving buffet for parties, but I can see how that would be very useful. Also, the point about the comfort of the counter height stools vs. higher ones. My husband is tall, but I'm 5'5" and our son is only 14 months old. So probably lower seating would be more comfortable for us (and the grandparents). Right now we're not entertaining much, since we are busy chasing after the toddler, but pre-baby we entertained a lot and I'm hoping to again, once he gets a little older. I'm trying to plan for that. And I assume that down the road, he'll be doing homework in the kitchen and having friends over after school, etc. We do have a huge table in the diningroom, but that space doubles as our home office, so it's always covered with clutter (2 laptops, mail, paperwork, printing supplies, etc.). It would be nice to have an open expanse of space in the kitchen for actual kitchen projects, but I guess I'm afraid that we'll just fill that space up with clutter, too. ;) For those with the single-level island, how do you light your workspace? We were thinking of installing task lighting under the overhang from the bar to light the counter. Now we'll have to rely solely on pendant lighting, I guess. Is that sufficient? Also, do you have power outlets on the island? If we don't have a vertical surface behind the counter, it seems to limit us in terms of where we can plug in appliances.
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melissaki5
10 years ago
We cut down the wall in our house to use as an "island". It is bi-level the lower counter is 25" and the upper is about 16" with 10 inches being overhang. It definitely allows enough room for eating but not enough to keep "family style" plates of food in front of you for serving. Just make sure you don't mind sitting on tall stools, some people find them uncomfortable and it would be an expensive change to make if you end up not liking the height.
leela4
10 years ago
We did something similar. We have a two level ''peninsula'' with the higher level, which is on the dining room side, in wood, and the lower counter level, kitchen side, is the same as our other counters which is soapstone. The top level is 19.5 '' with the over hang at ~13.5'', and the lower level is also only ~19.5''. The higher level is plenty of room for eating, but as our table is also right there, we pretty much use that area for our laptops.
From kitchen side (right hand side of photo):

From dining room side:
terri1234
10 years ago
I posted this in another forum but does not look active since 2011.. so here it is again.

I'm just finishing my remodel. I put in two Islands. One is "counter" height with the sink in it with an overhang for seating. The second one is all "Bar height" with seating on one side with the overhang-the other side has a beverage center and three bar height cabinets. Can't sit on that side with chairs (cuz of cabinets) but great to lean on with food and drinks...like a bar. I did not want two levels on the Bar island since: 1) everyone has it,,,and I wanted a different look and 2) one can never really entertain on the small level without drinks and snacks falling off. I really want this to be a "bar". Now that it is done, the Bar looks massive since all one level at bar height. I hope I don't regret this ..we are not moved in yet but hope i find this great to entertain? I will post pics if interested.
LE
10 years ago
yes, Terri-- pix would be worth a few thousand words!

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