Is this a one story house or two?

If the beam is at 7 ft a typical adult is still going to have 2 feet of head clearance at counter height seating, this is assuming the beam is directly over their head.

If you regularly entertain NBA players it might be more of an issue but wouldn't worry about it.

It's one story. The ceiling over the beam will have a shallow pitch.

I do have beams but they're higher than that. The one in the kitchen we painted the same colour as the ceiling which would be an option for you. We don't even notice it.

I think it helps to define the space.

We live in a loft that has [grandfathered] very low ceilings in two bathrooms and the loft rooms. I'm going to put a bar stool in there tonight and check this out for you!

I do have a solid beam in a similar position (but a bit higher), and it is not a problem.

Not a great picture, but here is mine:

I hope it won't be a problem, but in both of the last two pictures, the beam is over the bar, not over the stools (which is the case for the OP, as I read it).

I realized that sjhockey, but my reason for posting was to show that no, I don't think it will be a problem. My whole kitchen was a foot lower.

Um, one thing? Kim what is your aisle spacing between your cooktop and your island? It looks narrow?

I know - I just wanted to point out that it's a little bit different where the header/beam is low but in front of you vs right over your head.

cpartist -- I knew someone was going to call me on that! ;-) Yes, the aisle is a little narrower than standard, but that's on purpose. It's 39" countertop-to-countertop. I want a more efficient work aisle on that side of the island, and the standard 42-48" is wider than I like. I've been obsessively measuring aisles in every kitchen I walk into, and I think 39" will be ok.

We have a similar beam across the LR, which was originally built as two rooms. Most of the seating is on one side of the room, with a chair that always sits under the beam, but when we have a large group, we pull in a couple of extra chairs. No one seems to notice, or to feel uncomfortable sitting under the beam, which is only 82" from the floor. I sat in one of the extra chairs on Sunday, and didn't even think about it. Dedicated practitioners of Feng Shui might not agree, but I wouldn't worry about it.

Kim, just to assure you, I had a 39" aisle in my previous home, and it was fine (not ideal for me, but fine).

Our living room and kitchen is similar to yours. I elected not to do counter seating since we've never previously had or wanted. Children are adults. Breakfast room is right there, so seating at table. I also did not want to see stools from LR. Kitchen ceiling is 9ft, LR is 28'. The beam between the spaces does not feel looming in any way

DH is 6'6" - I'm pretty sure he'd be more bothered by walking under it than sitting under it (he pretty much nixed any house that had beams this low in them!). I don't think anyone else will really care. It looks like you would be sitting directly under it so it wouldn't really be in your field of view.

I'm six foot one. I'd be fine with this beam. The whole ceiling that low, well that would be a different story. (In my current den because of plumbing from overhead, a small section of the den is seven feet above floor. I'm fine with that, too.) And a beam is much better than what I have!!!