We just purchased a new home and are doing some cosmetic updates before we move in. I'm not a big fan of this layout, but we are not changing anything more than countertops in the kitchen.

I would appreciate feedback on thoughts on making the part where the sink is that has the elevated shelf all just one level or keeping it as two levels. Our last house at the big island with one level and it looks great and looked and was very functional.

Would y'all keep that counter as the two-level bar area or make it one bigger lower level?

Gracias!

I personally would only make it one level if the sink was not there. I would prefer to hide the sink a little bit in that location, based on the views you have provided. As a compromise of sorts, you could end the upper level at the column between the sink and the opening to the living room and make the rest one level.

Agreed. I would keep it 2 levels. Our counters are much like yours, so we don't a lot of room behind the sink. We used Keystone Granite over near Garden Ridge. We did both bathrooms and kitchen. They had a program they uploaded with all of our dimensions/sinks. Once we picked the slabs. They overlaid our counters onto the slabs, so it allowed us to move the counters on the slab to select what parts we we would end up with. It was very cool, and the result got us what we wanted. Hope this helps!

Practical: two levels give a screen to junk & to-be-washed sink items + lots of outlets + preferred serving to a higher buffet from a lower one stocking it + adults get taller stools of confort; that said we design these with much deeper knee space and always a hard kick wall (e.g.tile, etc.)

Vogue: tendency toward the one level when designing new or remodeling and content that the outlets have a long reach Or pop-ups if rich and if they work, don't get wet/dangerous; since you had one, you miss it as many would.

What options
A. You could introduce a lower outer level "bar" w/ more generous knee space & ANY height suited for family.
B. You could rip out the higher bar, then overlay what's there with something deeper, cutting out for sink (now a recessed look) OR the SOP rip all out and repeat solution you had prior
C. As for me, if not left alone, would replace or overlay the upper bar with something more generous and appealing in harmony with existing materials or something raw stone, polished only on top surface or exotic wood if EZier to find

One level

Some AI images for reference. Anymore thoughts?

We took ours from the tiered 2 level to all one level. It opened up so much more countertop space, it's been great.

I would buy countertop support brackets and where you want to sit have that overhang as much as possible. I want to say ours overhangs 16 inches.

https://www.amazon.com/BATODA-Countertop-Support-Brackets-Granite/dp/B0CP9JRYWK

Thank you!

we have the same thing - 2 level. The 2nd level is about 12" wide, so it serves as a little bar type look.

My wife wants it all leveled out, I like it 2 levels - just separates things more but doesn't block viewing of anything. On the inside, we have outlets that sit counter heigh under the second level so you would lose those if you have them.

I prefer it because the sink is a corner sink and I fee it just encloses the work area better.

Thank you. Good points to consider.

I wouldn't change it at all. Seems like a waste of money for such a minor change. I would not change even the countertops. Love the light color. I had a similar setup in my last house and everything was black granite and getting rid of that was the best thing I ever did. The wife hated it. I hated it. lol.

I like two levels for all reasons stated above and we also ate at ours as a bar.

The only change we would make, and I can't see your sink, is going to an undergoing single basin oversized sink, with disposal.

Either way, the kitchen is the wife's world so we design it for her and her cooking, whatever she wants.

I appreciate the feedback and don't disagree but we bought this house because we lost our house to a fire in January. We had done a bunch of remodeling to it recently (FML!!!) including a whole new kitchen so it's a tough pill to swallow to not have things the way we want them.

Rebuilding was cost prohibitive and we were dreading being in a rental over the next year plus so this is our best option. Have a guy who is doing good work at a very reasonable price so we are doing quite a bit before we move in.

No worries. It's your home. Make it yours! Life is too short short to not do it how you like it. Good luck with it no matter how you decide to design it.