Ease of Use Idea #7 - Multi-level Island
Who doesn't like to sit down once in a while? When in the kitchen, it is almost impossible to sit down for any task as the countertops are typically 34" - 36" high with raised bar counters at 42" high. Personally, being height challenged, I would like to have a work surface that is lowered for activities such as kneeding dough, chopping, using some small appliances such as mixer and blender, etc. Consider this for your next kitchen - a section of countertop at a table height with space below for sitting. Here is an example of an island in an award winning kitchen with two heights:
Where ever the lowered counter is placed I think it will be one of the most used areas of the kitchen. Be sure to plan some space around the lowered counter for chairs and clear walking (rolling) space.