2 tier peninsula/bar with soapstone and/or wood?
I will have a peninsula counter at one level in the kitchen and then on the other side will be a small ledge for perching and watching the cook, not dining. It will be sort of like this, but not an island, no sink and the sides will be thinner:
My original idea was to do soapstone on the kitchen counter section and an irregular piece of rustic wood for the ledge, sort of like this:
But since we had to change the design to wrap around and have the sides, I don't think an irregular shape would work and I would have to go with something more traditional like the first photo. Or should I keep it simple and do both in soapstone?
Comments (13)
ControlfreakECS
9 years agoHere's the bar from my kitchen remodel. I wanted the bar to feel less like kitchen and more like the great room. Our counter is not soapstone, but leathered black pearl granite. We were strongly considering soapstone, though. I am really happy how it came out. We don't even have stools, people seem to enjoy standing at the bar, so we never got any.
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9 years agoRelated Discussions
two-tier folding bar on pony wall
Comments (1)You might want to post on the discussions side as you will get more responses....See MorePros/cons of counter height vs 2 tier bar height island?
Comments (4)I have 2 tiered at our lake house and counter height at home. I love each of them in their respective spaces, and I think a lot depends on your layout & how you plan to use the island. Our home island seats four - not all lined up, but 2 stools on each of a short & long end. It is a single top slab -no prep sink/cooktop - and is essentially our everyday eating spot. It's open to a sunroom/seating area so I can chat with anyone sitting there without them being on top of me while I work. At the lake house the bar height helps denote the space between the kitchen & LR in the open floor plan. We entertain casually there and the higher tier works well as a place to put out appetizers and drinks while still allowing the counter height level to continue to be used for food prep. One thing to consider is whether small children will be sitting at the island regularly. Bar height stools can be hard to climb onto and rather high up for toddlers & pre schoolers. My Dad who is in his mid 80's finds my counter height seating easier to manage than bar height. Just some thoughts to consider....See MoreDimensions of a 2-tiered island?
Comments (10)Angela12345's pic...Note there is a wall behind the island, not cabinets/counter/appliances/another table. If you have counters, etc. behind the seating, you need more space - closer to 60" as is mentioned above. Also, note the pic shows dead-end seating, not a major thoroughfare through the room. When an aisle is a major thoroughfare, you need more than the minimum recommended width. Note: NKBA guidelines are minimums, not "average" or "maximum". I don't know the details of your plan, but if don't have anything on the wall behind the island, you might be able to use a 42" deep island with 51" behind the island for traffic. 1.5" counter overhang + 24" deep cabinets + 1" decorative door or finished panel + 15" overhang = 41.5" That's still a nice chunk of work space - especially if it's all one level. You have to be careful with a bi-level island. With two levels (raised seating), it means you need to be able to reach the entire depth and the raised wall from the front of the island b/c you won't be able to reach over from the raised side for wiping down the counter. Keep in mind, that raised seating is not very comfortable for an extended length of time without a boot rail or stools that comfortably allow someone to rest their feet on. It's also more difficult for the very young and older folks to climb into and out of the taller stools. My mother and in-laws won't even sit at my counter-height peninsula b/c they don't find it comfortable or easy to get into/out of the stools or sit at it for any length of time - they head straight for the table in our DR (it's open to the kitchen and our only table space). Lastly, with a raised counter, you can only access the workspace from three sides - the raised bar blocks access from the back of the island. So, you can't have people gathered around helping with things like decorating cookies, etc. I love that we can all sit around our peninsula coloring eggs, decorating cookies, etc.! (Only one short side is inaccessible - both long sides are accessible.)...See MoreWill this be too many different patterns for one kitchen?
Comments (10)Thanks all. I'll try to get some photos together. Bat, I just have boring slate on the floor. I didn't think of doing ceramic in there and it's too late now (but the slate is so delightfully CHEAP compared to the ceramic!). This isn't a working counter, so I'm not concerned about grout lines. Actually the kitchen I just removed had a tile counter and it was fine. If I'd been able to find the perfect tile-under sink, the entire thing would be tiled. I looked! Anyway, right now, everything is in (or currently being fabricated) except this bit of counter and backsplash. I think they should be the same to avoid it getting too busy. I could see sneaking in a wood countertop (since it wouldn't really be a new element) but introducing a stone or something else would probably be too much. So yeah, I guess the squishy hex would be the highlight and out of lack of other materials, it would be the same on the counter. I'm just not sure if I should put the same shape on the counter or go with square or rectangle on the counter. I WOULD get the same color on both, regardless of shape. Also thinking of painting backsplash and plywood counter and calling it done. I'm getting tired of this project and hey! It's not a working counter! :)...See More
amck2
9 years agoI have a two tiered island with soapstone on both levels. I'm happy with it in our space. I often set out appetizers on the top level. A pro is that we don't have to be concerned about coasters, spills, hot pans, etc. A con is that for a surface to perch & lean against, soapstone can, literally, be cool/cold.
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texaspenny
9 years agoI used my soapstone for my backsplash and also the cap of the raised area. However, mine it not for sitting or dining at - it's about 9 inches wide.
ediblekitchen thanked texaspenny
cookncarpenter
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoHard to go wrong with any wood with soapstone, it's like a pair of jeans...
I used mesquite for my upper countertops. The rustic grain plays well with the veins in the soapstone. It also contrasts and compliments the knotty pine, used brick, and oak floors.
BTW gorgeous kitchens texaspenny, amck2, and leela4! ...can you tell I'm a soapie? ;)
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9 years agoediblekitchen
9 years ago
oldbat2be
9 years ago
leela4