My island/work table is 34". I would make the pantry counter work table height, rather than dining table height of 30". If it was just a shelf, I don't think it would make any difference.

Is it a shelf or a work surface? Kitchen/dining tables are 30", if you are looking for a work surface, test drive it on your table. :)

Thanks guys. It is a work surface. There will be pull out bins underneath and open shelving above the counter.

I will try test driving but now that you reminded me that dining table height is 30", that does seem to low.

Thanks again!

If you have full-depth counters under your pantry shelves, it will be difficult to reach them without a ladder or step stool (maybe more than a step stool) b/c of your height. At 5'10", I would still have problems reaching over a full-depth counter to shelves much higher than 3/4 of the way up. With counters, you have to stand farther away and reach farther forward just to get to the shelving area.

Is there a reason you're trying to create workspace inside a pantry? Could you just put the counters/workspace on the short end of the pantry so you have better access to most of the pantry storage on the longer (9') side?

I have also linked the pantry picture thread below - it has not only pictures, but also pantry planning information and other tips.

Pantry photos/ pics of pantries

My counters won't be full depth counters, they will be 18-20".

Everything for my kids lunches is stored there and I want them to be able to get their school lunch ready in the morning.

I want to get a bread machine and have somewhere for it to be used that doesn't take up kitchen space.

I decorate cakes on the side and when one is finished, I always have to find somewhere to set it and I want to have counter space where I can set it in the pantry.

Plus I don't have that many things to store in a pantry that I need floor to ceiling shelves, a counter surface is more useful for me.

I will check out your link, thanks buehl!

I don’t know what height counter would suit you best, however I love the idea of a counter in the pantry.

We have a walk-in pantry adjacent to the kitchen, apx 6’6” x 8’8”, so similar in size to yours. After 20 years with this kitchen and pantry we're finally remodeling. On considering how could the pantry be improved, I realized that what had been missing was a decent counter -- some place to set boxes and/or bags as we bring them in from Costco or the grocery store, or some place to hide the rice cooker when needed. Something more substantial than a shelf, a well-supported counter. We’ll likely use a base cabinet for this purpose. (Perhaps drawers for storing cake decorating tools?). Having this setup will make putting pantry items away so much easier than hauling them in an armload at a time from our kitchen counters, and honestly a few drawers will be nice in there too.

Above the counter we’ll place two shelves, 12” to 15” deep, with a 18' - 20" between counter and bottom of first shelf. That makes the relationship of counter to shelves above, much like the average kitchen counter and wall cabinet.

Adding an electrical outlet convenient to the counter height would be a wonderful bonus. The reason I’ll opt for a full 24” deep counter is that I may want to have an appliance operating there. I feel more comfortable having that appliance pulled forward on the counter to supply lots of open air above it, so not to heat the bottom of the shelf above.

It may not be as easy to reach items on the top shelf above the counter (I’m 5’ 5”), however that shelf can serve as space for seldom used items. The other three pantry walls will have shallower shelving all the way from nearly floor to ceiling.

I forgot to mention that this corner of my kitchen is where the original stove and sink were so I already have outlets at counter height and used the existing water line to hook up the ice maker for my fridge.

I've had the space for over a year now, but I've just had the fridge and some cheap bookshelves in there for shelving.

Athomesewing- yes, the counter for unloading groceries was another reason for it, thanks for reminding me!

I'm thinking putting the counter at 34" height sounds like a good idea.

Thanks again everyone for the tips and ideas.

I had another diagram similar to this one bookmarked, but couldn't find it. It's how I arrived at 34" for my island.

Kitchen Design By The Numbers: 6 Key Measurements

It sounds like the shelf will serve a few functions. I am 5'3"' so I understand. If you want a landing spot for your cakes a couple inches doesn't matter. If you are using a bread machine on it, the height matters more, and the more you use the bread machine at that height, the more it matters. But you don't have the bread machine yet, so you need to figure out if the height of the bread machine offsets the height of the counter. Don't forget about the placement of shelves above the counter.. How often will you access those shelves? Which will provide for a less irritant overall?