Lyban - I'm not sure how you'd do a box pleat skirt either with a round cushion. Maybe box pleat isn't the word I should be using since it won't be a BOX. Round pleat? ha You like the 4" drop where I'm showing it with the material? Not the tape measure? I don't know much about sewing either. I'm sure she will be able to answer my questions but the decisions will be of course of to me and I would hate to have them look all out of proportion.

4" or so? More important is the comfort of the height of the seat to the countertop. Seat too low causes the elbows to be too high. Sit at a comfortable table/desk and measure seat to top distance. Use that for shortening the stools. To shorten the stools, do not measure from the ends of the legs up. Too easy to make a mistake. Determine the new leg length and lake a story stick of that length. Be sure to cut the correct angles on each end. Then, mark the two outside surfaces of each leg---keeping the correct positioning of the story stick. Then, mark the inside surfaces. All the four lines on each leg should meet at the correct angle to now cut off the amount necessary. Be sure to allow for casters/etc.

I agree 12" is too narrow to eat at, however, the raised counter may not be useless. It could depend on what is on the kitchen side of that peninsula - Is it a cooktop?, or a sink? We have two sections of raised counter, and both work well for us. One is 23" by about five and a half feet fits two barstools comfortably, that we enjoy and use often. The other raised counter section is only 11" wide and about five feet long, but it separates the range from the dining area, so it is very useful for serving up meals, (think short order chef), also buffet dishes for gatherings. While some may not prefer them, for our circumstances, the raised counters help to separate and define a small kitchen from the adjoining dining area and family room, and are also very useful.

Minimum counter overhangs: Table-height (30" off the floor)...18" clear leg/knee space Counter-height (36" off the floor)...15" clear leg/knee space Bar-height (42" off the floor)...12" clear leg/knee space. However, if it's a counter raised above the counter on the other side of the seats (i.e., a bi-level island/peninsula), then you should have an 18"D surface to fit plate, glass, etc., without running the risk of knocking the glass or plate off the counter. Note that these are for short-to-average height people. If you or your family are tall or have long legs, then consider adding 3" to each of the above overhangs. . Something else to keep in mind is the aisle width behind the seats. What will be behind the seats?