That is good room for stools. I would do some backless stools that can go under the counter when not in use.

I told my wife it would probably be best if we use backless stools too. Thanks for your input. I wish we just would have added another 1' onto our design. No regrets, though!

we have backless stools and I don't mind. They are out of the way when we are not using them.

Yes to stools IF you choose some with straight vertical legs rather than splayed legs (stumble hazards).

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/manchester-barstool/?catalogId=84&sku=1417802&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Furniture%20%3E%20Barstools&na_id=2018011408020885235881613205&kwid=productads-adid^202405455838-device^c-plaid^297351633523-sku^1417802-adType^PLA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm4fg9N7n2gIVgjuBCh10_QMcEAQYBSABEgL3QvD_BwE&cm_ite=[1417802]

Options you might consider, depending upon how many people you anticipate sitting at your island bar and how often, include

leaving one or both ends of the countertop overhang as well as one side;

having a drop leaf overhang rather than a fixed countertop overhang;

having your island on wheels so that it could be pushed out onto your patio or deck as needed.

how many stools do you need? i find a room has more room to breathe if you are understooled. if there is room for 4 and you go with 3 its better. i have room for 3, only using 1, easy to shift out of the way.

a backless stool is great to unload grocery bags onto the island from.

The island is about 84" long, just the overhang on the one side. We will put 3 stools there, as there isn't quite room for 4. It is just my wife and I, and entertaining at times, maybe every couple weekends, maybe more often. I can see just the 2 of us using it the majority of the time that it would be used. Our dining table will be very large, so seating there in the kitchen is a low priority.

I like those kind of stools, suezbell. Thanks for that link.

The NKBA guidelines recommend that each seat be 24 inches wide. But the depth, or knee space, required varies with countertop height. For a 30-inch-high island, knee depth should be 18 inches; for a 36-inch height, it should be 15 inches; and it should be 12 inches for a 42-inch-high island.

36” high counter

The standard kitchen counter height is 36" in most regions, although it’s not uncommon for it to vary an inch higher or lower at the request of homeowners. Seating at kitchen counter height is very handy because the uninterrupted counter spacecan be reclaimed as kitchen work surface when needed.

You should allow a minimum of 15" of clear depth for comfortable seating. In large islands, storage cabinets for occasional use items are sometimes designed into the seating knee space.

I would go 15" overhang, but that would reduce the space between our counters to only 39.5" if I split the difference. I am thinking that might be a bit too tight. Since I already have the 24" deep cabinets and they are assembled, I am kinda stuck. There are some good guidelines in that, leelee. I talked with my countertop guy and he said in most cases we would be fine with 10" overhang. I am still contemplating 12".

We have 12" on our counter height island and that is plenty of room. 1-2" either way is not going to be that critical. I think going to 15" would make the walkways way too narrow and that to me would be a bigger issue than how comfortable your knee space is sitting at the counter. Those are just "guidelines" not hard fast rules or code.

You're welcome. Those with the scoop shaped seat are usually called saddle stools. You can get solid wood or upholstered versions, including in leather, and in different heights. Similar stools, usually those without the scoop seat, are called stationary stools or bar stool or counter stool.

I really appreciate everyone's advice. I was able to provide some additional info to my wife, now we just need to make a final decision.

One small concern might be if the refrigerator isn't a cabinet depth unit, some of those newer refrigerators can end up 8" to 10" past the cabinets and it might get tight for traffic at the far end of the island.

You could make the overhang larger by reducing the size of the cabinets below. Your kitchen doesn't seem to be lacking storage. Give your knees some room. They'll thank you.

TJP, yep going with the cabinet depth fridge. And we made our door opening 36" wide, too. That goes back into a back entry for our garage, so access through there is very open, just a bit over 42" between counter and fridge. And leelee, unfortunately, our cabinets are assembled and attached, just not fully attached to floor, so we are stuck with what we have.