thoughts on this idea for a kitchen island

[bhnumbers]

I love just about everything about my kitchen, but I've always wished I had a bit more counter space. It's pretty compact, but it's well-designed and great to cook in, but for entertaining, it can be a challenge. This spring, DH and I are tentatively planning to replace the countertops to brighten up the space and have one of those drawer-type microwaves installed under the counter of the island. Also, we'll be getting rid of the bead board (which I hate here) around the outside of the island.

SIL was visiting awhile back and suggested that we bring our two-level island, down to all counter height to really maximize the work space. I love this idea and in a perfect world, I'd go for it, but we're not perfect and our kitchen island often looks like this.


And we have no foyer, so you see the kitchen (like this) right when you walk in the front door. 


So we kind of gave up on that idea because we need that little raised area to help hide our clutter.  We decided to still replace the countertops and install the microwave, but stick with basically the same foot print--except we are going to widen everything a little to build in shelves and wine storage on each end.

THEN I was scrolled through pinterest and found a photo (that now I can't find) of an asymetrical bar that starts out raised on one side, then drops to all counter height on the other side. I kept thinking about it and how it might be the solution for us. I finally mocked it all up in a design program and I just want to bounce it off of some other people to see what I'm not thinking of. A couple of questions are:

-does it matter that the bar wouldn't be symmetrical when the cabinets on the wall are.
-is this just really freaking weird and when we try to sell it one day someone will be like "WTF is wrong with this island?!"

Here is my rough design, it's mostly to scale (I'm a graphic designer, not any kind of kitchen designer, so this might be crazy cakes):

I think that big lower area would really come in handy when cooking and for entertaining, which we do a lot of. What am I not thinking of?

Here is the view of the kitchen from the family room on other side of it:

[bhnumbers]

oh! I found the pinterest photo! obviously, my kitchen and island are both far smaller and less cool, haha, but this was the general idea:

[aprilsails]

I don’t see a problem with it. That being said we have all counter height island and it is a hot mess 90% of the time with kid crap and random things on it. It doesn’t bother me. When we entertain, everything goes away and we take advantage of the huge space. Otherwise I just make sure half the island is clear for food prep and the other half can be all crayons and colouring books for all I care.

[mrsukyankee]

I think it would be fine but we also have a counter height island and we just sweep everything away when we have guests (not for a friend dropping by, they don't care). I love having all the prep space.

[simpsongal]

I think 2 heights could work, but I think your inspiration pic works particularly well bc of the different counter materials. I think you’re right to think of practical concerns. However, in this case I’d really want the lower, single height. I think it would help open up the visual space and you’ll love the extra prep room. I think this is especially important if you make the island bigger, it’s goong to be an even greater behemoth.

Could you do a larger sink so there’s extra space to put things? I have 2 basins and I use one for my drying rack. I’d probably do a built in soap dispenser in your space too.

[lessel]

Personally, I would go all one level. We had that in our last house and I miss it SO MUCH. I think what you're proposing would work if you had more space, but to do the two levels isn't really maximizing the real estate of the island still. Sure, it gives you a little nook to hide things behind...but I think you need to kind of choose function or form. I don't know that the raised bar really gets you anything other than that hiding space.

I like the idea of the larger sink.

I also think the inspiration works because there is seating on the side of the bar. Would you have bar-height and counter-height seating? Or just one or the other?

[kath16]

Our downstairs is mostly open and our peninsula is visible as soon as you walk in. Despite my best efforts, it is the natural drop zone for papers.

I keep them in organized piles and then if anyone other than my Mom is coming over, I sort through and put things away. It's no big deal.

All that to say that I think a two-tiered island would annoy me. I want the workspace, even if I don't use it all the time.

[Mrs.flang]

I personally don't like it. It still seems like a waste of usable space when you could have just one flat surface. My island is also wide open and even more visible from the front door and collects a lot of crap, but we don't really entertain all that much. I just try to keep it as clear as I can.

[carmenere]

I’d start with thinking about how you’ll really use the space.
- How often do you entertain? Is it really worth planning your island design around that or could you just clean up the clutter when people are coming over?

- If you had a counter-height island, would clutter accumulate and prevent you from fully utilizing the space? If so, it sounds like you might do better to look for organization solutions. A bigger or double sink would help with dishes piling up on the counter. Keep all the soaps and sponges on a cute tray so they don’t look like clutter.

- Is the bar height seating important to you? Would you miss it if you didn’t have it anymore?

I think the inspiration picture looks nice but I don’t know that you’ll get a whole lot more functionality with that design.

[devonpow]

I agree with others that I would go for just one level surface. The island in the inspiration pic is pretty big which is one of the reasons it works. We have an all one level island and I love it for the workspace. I keep a nice looking tray on it and I collect the clutter on that- coasters, salt and pepper, the random open bottle of red wine etc - it’s easy to move when i need to space or don’t want someone to see the stuff.

[bullygirl979]

Do you actually use the seating at the island? If you do, I wouldn't split it up like that. Unless the pictures are deceiving, the island in your inspiration picture looks a lot bigger than yours, which is why I think it works. Because it allows for a lot of seating at the higher level, and some prep space at the one lower level. But you have three stools. So would you take one away and just have two seats? If no, then I think it would be super awkward looking to have two seats at bar height and one at counter height.

[Deleted]

I think that it works in your inspiration picture because of the size of the island. Honestly I don't think that your island is big enough for this to work. Personally, I would just do a counter height work space for the entire surface. You would maintain the amount of seating and have the bigger workspace when you need it. I also second the person who recommended a larger sink (to hide the dirty dishes LOL) and an in counter soap dispenser to help really maximize the space.

[bhnumbers]

Sept 30, 2019 7:18:00 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I think 2 heights could work, but I think your inspiration pic works particularly well bc of the different counter materials. I think you’re right to think of practical concerns. However, in this case I’d really want the lower, single height. I think it would help open up the visual space and you’ll love the extra prep room. I think this is especially important if you make the island bigger, it’s goong to be an even greater behemoth.

Could you do a larger sink so there’s extra space to put things? I have 2 basins and I use one for my drying rack. I’d probably do a built in soap dispenser in your space too.

The sink is actually a really good size, but even if it wasn't, there isn't much room to change that because of the placement of the dishwasher. But the sink stuff is another reason for the raised area. I think that the dish soap and the little container we keep the dish brush in would look kind of messy on an open surface? Maybe i'm just over thinking it, but I feel like that would bother me and i know it would bother my husband, lol. Do the built in soap dispensers work? I haven't heard good things about them.

to answer some other questions:

-yes, we do entertain quite a bit. We have neighbors and friends over pretty regularly and I host a lot of family dinners. In thinking of the two heights, I'm picturing people standing/sitting at the bar area with drinks or appetizers, while I (and whoever might be helping) is using the work space on one end to prepare food. But the same thing could be achieved with all one level...

-for seating, my kids usually eat breakfast at the bar and I like our bar stools, so I figured we'd keep two of those. That space would fit two stools comfortably. but if we went all one level, I'd be fine with getting counter height stools. 

thanks for bringing up lots of good points...lots to consider. we're not actually starting on this until February at the very earliest, so we have a lot of time to think on it.

[simpsongal]

I could be wrong, but is the high, 2 tier island something that was popular in the 2000s? I think the counter height is more comfortable, even for gathering w/guests.

There are mixed reviews on built in soap dispensers, I think this board came down 50/50 on whether it's a good thing. You can get them built into the sink too, so that may be a good option.

I like devonpow, suggestion to have a gather basket/container for items - I've done something similar on our island.

[bhnumbers]

Sept 30, 2019 13:02:36 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I could be wrong, but is the high, 2 tier island something that was popular in the 2000s? I think the counter height is more comfortable, even for gathering w/guests.

There are mixed reviews on built in soap dispensers, I think this board came down 50/50 on whether it's a good thing. You can get them built into the sink too, so that may be a good option.

I like devonpow , suggestion to have a gather basket/container for items - I've done something similar on our island.

yes, I like this, too! 

and this kitchen was built (previous owner) around 2006-2007 so the timing of the trend makes sense. I can't think of anyone I know who has a recently built home with a two-tier bar/island in their kitchen.

[lilac05]

I’d definitely do one level. You won’t believe how much more space you have...and likely how much bigger your kitchen will look/feel!

For dishwashing stuff, you could buy a cute soap dispenser or just add a hanging rack on the inside of your cabinet that would hold your dish soap and anything else necessary. My mom keeps her dish soap below the sink, and it was really easy to adjust to it. I buy Meyer’s dish soap mostly because I like the look of the bottle better than Dawn! LOL.

[lolalolalola]

Similar to the other posters - the 2 level island is a dated look and much less functional than a solid surface. We have a very open layout and my island is visible from the entire main floor. I don’t think it’s a big deal if some of my cooking clutter is visible :-)

[lolalolalola]

Sept 30, 2019 22:38:27 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

For dishwashing stuff, you could buy a cute soap dispenser or just add a hanging rack on the inside of your cabinet that would hold your dish soap and anything else necessary. My mom keeps her dish soap below the sink, and it was really easy to adjust to it. I buy Meyer’s dish soap mostly because I like the look of the bottle better than Dawn! LOL.

I just have a nice hand soap dispenser filled with dawn. It works great and looks nice.

[mrsukyankee]

Oct 1, 2019 15:46:42 GMT -5 lolalolalola said:

Similar to the other posters - the 2 level island is a dated look and much less functional than a solid surface. We have a very open layout and my island is visible from the entire main floor. I don’t think it’s a big deal if some of my cooking clutter is visible :-)

+1

[sandandsea]

I would do all one level. My parents and a cousin have huge one level islands that double as a kitchen table. They are amazing. We have a pony bar now and honestly it’s just wasted space. Yes it hides junk but the bar isn’t actually useful in any way. And I’d prefer no junk anyway.