You won't find many pics of this because table height is too low for a working counter. If you actually want this as prep space, then compromise with a dual height island, or counter height seating. Killing your back working at table height shouldnt even be in the picture.

Are you going to ever work at this space? If so, ditto Sophie. If not, may we ask your reasoning on this? :)

Ok, thanks for explaining daisy. I'm interested, so do you just sit at it when you are working on it? And why could you not do without it for baking? Curious!

I'm curious too. Personally, I would curse a table height base cabinet and rip it out immediately. I'm 5'8", though, maybe it's a height thing?

Sure, different heights work for different tasks. But unless you are substantially under 5' or knead bread for 8 hours of the day, using a 30''H counter instead of a 36'' H counter for the majority of your kitchen work is ergonomically unsound. It will lead to back pain. A better choice is a dual height area, or a 6''H (and LARGE) cutting board that is placed over the lower surface. A properly ergonomic prep space is 36'' of open space, at 36'' H, preferably next to water, usually between the sink and range.

Well, we do have our main prep spaces beside the sink and range which are not on the island. so maybe that is where things differ for us.

When you bake you need things lower. Mixing in bowls, kneading, rolling dough all need a lower counter. That's why many kitchens have a separate lower counter for baking.

Weird, I really wasn't expecting people to be opposed to the idea - it's never been even a minor issue for us and I'm 5' 8. Interesting.

Maybe I do need to rethink as the island we are planning will be bigger and we will possibly be doing more prep on it. I just hate the look of multi height islands.

Thanks for explanaing daisy. It just goes to show, we are not all the same. People tend to look at things (rightly or wrongly) from their own personal perspective/what they know. I've never known anyone with, nor have ever even seen an island such as yours, hence my initial answer. But obviously you built it and it has most certainly worked for you! Whether you change your mind or not with the new one, you definitely had a legitimate reason to make an enquiry, based on your perspective. ;)

We compromised by adding feet to a marble-topped dining table. It's right at 34", and comfortable for rolling dough, kneading bread, using the pasta roller. I don't care for multi-height islands, especially in small kitchens.

Hmmm, I think if I wanted a table-height island, I'd rather just have a table. It can serve for your baking needs, be a place to sit and/or dine, and it's movable. Do you require that it have storage space?

Why not have the best of both worlds by doing the working portion as standard counter height with storage and just pull a table tight to it? That lets the table section be much more versatile in seating capacity and gives you a much more eronomic prep zone for the majority of kitchen tasks.

Ditto linelle. We have a table in the middle of our kitchen, works fine for prep (especially shelling peas), homework, eating, or hanging out. It is on casters so easy to move. Is "baking table" or "baker's table" maybe a better description of what you envision? Houzz has lots of images of small and large tables with that description, most of the look like a table with drawers and/or a lower shelf, most topped with wood or marble?

Did you decide to open up the wall?

I do a lot of baking and I totally get the lower island. If I had the room I would do a classic eat-in kitchen with a big country table in the centre. Older folks especially don't necessarily like getting up on big stools, so a table is more grandparent-friendly.

Argh. Just lost a whole long post by trying to add a houzz photo.

Linelle, that's basically what we have now - a table that can move, but it has storage shelves at one end and a long shelf underneath that has baskets on it for potatoes, etc. I'd just stick with this except that we want to take down a wall and will lose a fair bit of storage.

oak town we have pretty much decided to open it up with a bigger doorway (6-8 ft) altho it's not set in stone yet. I can't get in today as they are working, but I'll try to go by tonight and get some measurements.

pro source, I really wish we had the room for both, but it is a small space and, as always, I'm trying to the get the biggest bang for the buck.

I like the idea of casters or wheels and bringing it up a little bit but not as high as the counters. Just have to figure out how to get stools the right height.

My dream/inspiration island is on industrial wheels. Maybe we could build it to table height and then have it on wheels to bring it up.

Mama goose, thank you so much for that visual. It is very useful.

Oddly, the only ergonomic problem we've ever had with our set up was when the new cabs and granite went in and they somehow ended up being 1 1/2 inches higher than our old ones. It took me forever to get used to and I still find it a bit uncomfortable.

At the risk of starting a riot, I think that at the moment kitchen design has a bit of an "islands rule" mentality. I agree islands are super functional and solve many design issues, but they aren't the be all/end all.

I give up trying to insert the pic, but here is a link to another thread where I posted a pic of my dream island dream island

I actually wanted to do that after visiting the 2013 CL showhouse. Loved that kitchen island, I just didn't have the room in this kitchen to do it.

2013 Coastal Living Showhouse · More Info

Option 1: Save the picture to your hard drive and then upload it to the thread using the "Photo" option.

Option 2: Use the "Houzz Photo" option.

OK, the Houzz option doesn't work - probably b/c it's actually a GW picture.

But, the first option should work.

If this is the one, it's gorgeous. My table/island is kind of a hybrid between this one and your current island. In theory, it's movable, but with the stone top, it's really heavy.

Heeeeyyyy .... How'd you do that?

I know not everyone is comfortable posting pics of their own stuff on the inter web, but if you are mama goose or have a link to your finished kitchen, I would love to see it.

The more I look at that island, the more I think I could build it. Someone stop me, I'm heading over to table legs.com right now.

So, I am really not a stalker, but I found your kitchen (and story) as posted by marti. I am in awe of your kitchen superpowers and love your island (and about a million other things about your kitchen).

Glad to find this post. I want a table height mobile island or cart with some drawers and storage because I am disabled and can not stand to work. I live in a studio apartment in my daughter's home and just need a small area for simple meals and snacks. I wanted to include this because I have been looking for a long time. A custom build is possible but may be more expensive than I can afford.