[Randall55]

My wife and I built a custom, open-floor plan home with a beautiful, one slab island in the center of the kitchen. Much like the ones in most of the newer models. We sold the home and are now living in a smaller home that has a double counter (pony counter) which we love! If we ever build another home, we will not have a large center island because we find them to be a pain. What are your thoughts? Do you like a flat and large center island?

[bcsnave]

I like the one level island

[margaretmattson]

11q

Originally Posted by Randall55

My wife and I built a custom, open-floor plan home with a beautiful, one-slab island in the center of the kitchen. Much like the ones in most of the newer models. We sold the home and are now living in a smaller home that has a double counter (pony counter) which we love! If we ever build another home, we will not have a large center island because we find them to be a pain. What are your thoughts? Do you like a flat and large center island?

I have a bilevel (pony) counter. I find it easier to entertain guests because dirty dishes can easily be placed out of the way. I enjoy the additional outlets for crock pots and warmers, and, of course, more above cabinets for storage and easy access. When I am cooking, guests comfortably gather around a mess-free counter. I also find there is more room to maneuver.

Funny, a friend was just remarking about how she regrets buying a newer home with a flat, large center island. She said she is constantly trying to keep it mess free. She especially hates her sink and wishes it was divided because doing dishes is quite a chore. Her countertop is white and she has to worry about stains. She is seriously thinking about remodeling it.

[coffeebean]

I posted my thoughts in a thread I started nearly four years ago. I would like to add one more reason I much prefer the bi-level kitchen counter tops.........

Hubby and I were at a friend's home and several of us were standing around the kitchen counter which was a one level slab type counter. I never realized this but there is no where comfortable to rest an arm on when "bellying up to the bar" because there is no bar. LOL.

Hubby and I have had gatherings at our home and people seem to always gather around the kitchen. Sure enough, folks lean on the end of the second tier of the counter top when conversing. It's just a natural thing to do and makes standing there more comfortable.

Here is the link to the thread I started back in 2019.........
Kitchen Island Counter Height vs Bar Height

[asianthree]

We usually entertain with 30-49 plus people

Pony counter

Positive….One of our homes in TV has a pony, bar height chairs. Entertaining is easy because of 2 levels to place items. One can “hide” stuff, but no matter what it’s still crap on the counter.

Negative…counter takes more room away from living area, so if you want more living space pony is not the way to go.
While entertaining a red wine bottle was misplaced on the top on pony, it fell on lower counter, red wine in food below, plus the stain. Had this happen couple of times.

Large wasted unused space between your appliances and pony, in kitchen area

Second one must use bar height. One of us has miss judged the height and stumbled getting on or off chair. I don’t
like dangling feet, or or that thin bar on the chair, and sitting at that level with feet not on the ground is uncomfortable after awhile. Can use 4 chairs comfortably any more then it’s crowded. As one ages, bar height stools or chairs are not your friend. Once your neighbor slips off one you will find that out.

Chair Height one level counter ( at new build)

Pro…clean lines, can put food and drinks all around the counter, with something to decorate down the middle (think holiday birthday cake presents), will accommodate 4 to 5 chairs or stools. If you have a table in the kitchen that is also chair height, you can bring chairs on the ends of the counter adding more conversation room. Or incorporate the table since it’s the same height.

More living space, make your entertainment and basic living area larger, while giving enough room for multiple people to be cooking or baking.

Cons….if you didn’t add a double sink in any counter it’s a pain but (personal preference.)
No place to hide junk so one must put stuff away..( pony can hide but only from the living side, kitchen it’s just junk on a counter)
For short people it’s harder to clean the counter because of distance.

Our up north home built in 1992:has one large counter no pony, chair height. Changed to quartz’s still love it.

So when we remodel the pony kitchen in TV, what counter are we going with?

One large counter, I hate junk and with pony it tends to accumulate junk. Plus the bar height chairs can be dangerous for balance issues, older individuals, short stature, those with Parkinson’s. If you have grandchildren, pony isn’t ideal.

All in all pony is a young person’s kitchen, so they can clean up what fell off the top counter, and if they slip off the chair rarely will they break something.

So ask yourself, if you go to a restaurant to have a meal you can eat at the high top table, or regular table, which to you prefer? Whichever you choose, That’s the counter you should put in.

[Rzepecki]

My kitchen sink is located on an outside wall and the cooking mess stays near the sink. This leaves my counter height island free for people to comfortably sit and visit or for a buffet meal. I love it!

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by asianthree

We usually entertain with 30-49 plus people

Pony counter

Positive….One of our homes in TV has a pony, bar height chairs. Entertaining is easy because of 2 levels to place items. One can “hide” stuff, but no matter what it’s still crap on the counter.

Negative…counter takes more room away from living area, so if you want more living space pony is not the way to go.
While entertaining a red wine bottle was misplaced on the top on pony, it fell on lower counter, red wine in food below, plus the stain. Had this happen couple of times.

Large wasted unused space between your appliances and pony, in kitchen area

Second one must use bar height. One of us has miss judged the height and stumbled getting on or off chair. I don’t
like dangling feet, or or that thin bar on the chair, and sitting at that level with feet not on the ground is uncomfortable after awhile. Can use 4 chairs comfortably any more then it’s crowded. As one ages, bar height stools or chairs are not your friend. Once your neighbor slips off one you will find that out.

Chair Height one level counter ( at new build)

Pro…clean lines, can put food and drinks all around the counter, with something to decorate down the middle (think holiday birthday cake presents), will accommodate 4 to 5 chairs or stools. If you have a table in the kitchen that is also chair height, you can bring chairs on the ends of the counter adding more conversation room. Or incorporate the table since it’s the same height.

More living space, make your entertainment and basic living area larger, while giving enough room for multiple people to be cooking or baking.

Cons….if you didn’t add a double sink in any counter it’s a pain but (personal preference.)
No place to hide junk so one must put stuff away..( pony can hide but only from the living side, kitchen it’s just junk on a counter)
For short people it’s harder to clean the counter because of distance.

Our up north home built in 1992:has one large counter no pony, chair height. Changed to quartz’s still love it.

So when we remodel the pony kitchen in TV, what counter are we going with?

One large counter, I hate junk and with pony it tends to accumulate junk. Plus the bar height chairs can be dangerous for balance issues, older individuals, short stature, those with Parkinson’s. If you have grandchildren, pony isn’t ideal.

All in all pony is a young person’s kitchen, so they can clean up what fell off the top counter, and if they slip off the chair rarely will they break something.

So ask yourself, if you go to a restaurant to have a meal you can eat at the high top table, or regular table, which to you prefer? Whichever you choose, That’s the counter you should put in.

You make an excellent point about which type of table I prefer to be seated at in a restaurant. Most certainly, I do not want to sit at a high top and much prefer the standard table. Having said that, when I sit at the bar in my kitchen, that is a special time for enjoying a cocktail and appys with friends for just my husband. As for eating a meal in our home, we always dine at the breakfast room table or the dining room table if we have a group of guests for a meal.

I have just one question regarding your comment that the one level counter has "more living space" than the two tier counter. Are you referring to the FLOOR space or the space on the counter top for preparation and for serving buffet style? Doesn't that depend on how deep you make the one level counter top? The world is you oyster with that and the floor space one has is what determines how deep you make the one level counter top.

The two tier counter top is pretty much standard at 24" for the bottom tier and up to 18" or more for the top tier. I had our top tier made 18" deep so there is plenty of room to place a dinner plate with room to spare. I have plenty of walk space beyond the counter top and that was determined by how large the entire space is.

The single tier slab counter top is beautiful but I still prefer the "imagined" separation of the space the two tier counter top gives with my very open floor plan. You did give me food for thought though about our aging population being able to get up and down off of a bar stool. That may be a problem in the future but I haven't had a problem with that yet but I'm sure that day will come.

Most of the time, when I entertain, the bar is not used for sitting at so I remove the bar stools and place them in a bedroom. I like to place the platters of appys on the top tier and use the bottom tier as a self serve bar. This set up works great for us and our guests.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Most of the time, when I entertain, the bar is not used for sitting at so I remove the bar stools and place them in a bedroom. I like to place the platters of appys on the top tier and use the bottom tier as a self serve bar. This set up works great for us and our guests.

We do not use stools around our two-tier counter either. When entertaining, we use it the same way you do - appetizers on top tier, self serve bar on the lower. Guests sit comfortably at our table. I can't imagine having a low one-slab counter like those in the newer homes. Too much clutter! Not to mention, the lack of cabinets.

[BlueStarAirlines]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

I can't imagine having a low one-slab counter like those in the newer homes. Too much clutter! Not to mention, the lack of cabinets.

Lack of cabinets? LOL. Your comment makes me think you've never actually seen those counters as they have way more cabinet space that the older two-tier cabinets.

Putting aside our personal likes, the fact is that the two tier counters are dated. For your personal use it doesn't matter, but when it comes to resale the two tier cabinets scream "dated kitchen". Why You Should Avoid Double-Tiered Kitchen Countertops

[Stu from NYC]

Two levels go well with our bar stools

[coffeebean]

~~~

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by BlueStarAirlines

Lack of cabinets? LOL. Your comment makes me think you've never actually seen those counters as they have way more cabinet space that the older two-tier cabinets.

Putting aside our personal likes, the fact is that the two tier counters are dated. For your personal use it doesn't matter, but when it comes to resale the two tier cabinets scream "dated kitchen". Why You Should Avoid Double-Tiered Kitchen Countertops

I agree with the fact that there is more cabinet space with a one level counter top. Usually, isn't there access to cabinets on both sides of the island because the cabinets are as deep as the slab counter top? I looked at the article you linked. Yes, the slab counter top is certainly the new modern look. But.......it will never be for me. I adore the dated look and even more importantly, the function, of the two tier counter tops. I'm old so I'm dated too. LOL.

[Kenswing]

This is hilarious. First we have the “My northern village is better than your southern village” thread. Now we have the my kitchen is better than your kitchen, thread. What’s next, my water heater is better than your water heater?

[vintageogauge]

we had the large flat island in our last home and didn't care for it, constantly cleaning splashes from the sink and could not keep anything on it that didn't belong there. We now have the 2-tier which I like better and personally feel that there is a lot more floor space than if we would have went with the flat island. Also, the space between the two tiers keeps splashes off of the upper surface. We don't use bar stools, we have a table in the kitchen eating area and a table in the dining room area which is plenty for quests but they generally hang around the island which is a comfortable height. My vote is for the pony and I'm not concerned about re-sale, we have plenty of other upgrades that would help in that area if we ever were to sell.

[Velvet]

I have a flat large counter - no sink, the sink is on another counter under the window. No mess anywhere, I use the dishwasher for putting away dirtied items. Very happy with set up.