The kitchen with a counter is a very popular choice for Italians. It is a truly convenient and above all functional configuration. It is in fact a middle way between a classic kitchen and a kitchen with a peninsula or island, and therefore retains the advantages of both solutions.
It is undoubtedly useful if you like to invite friends home, but also if you are always in a hurry and want to have somewhere to eat meals quickly. To say kitchen with a counter is often reductive because there are so many models and the choice is very wide. Let us see together how best to design the kitchen counter.
Kitchen with snack counter or breakfast bar
The kitchen counter is often likened to what is called a snack or breakfast counter. It is usually a countertop that protrudes relative to the base units below the peninsula and can be made of the same material as the kitchen countertop, or one can play on contrasts and choose a totally different material.
In the kitchen snack top, measurements are crucial for it to be comfortable and functional. The projection from the base units below must be sufficient to allow you to sit and not have discomfort to your legs. The kitchen snack table must therefore protrude at least 30 cm from the base units below.
It is therefore to all intents and purposes an extra countertop that is used with stools for eating breakfast or quick meals. The snack top is therefore usually positioned in kitchens with a peninsula.
Table use
The counter in the kitchen can also be made as a real table. It can be made at table height to be used with normal chairs, or again at counter height. Even in this case the solutions are different. It can start at the base of the kitchen or island and extend into the centre of the room, or it can be set against the wall, acting as a divider between the kitchen and living area and forming a sort of peninsula.
Kitchen counters of this type have no storage bases underneath, but the space is completely free for the legs of diners.
Kitchens with bar counter
For those who like to invite friends to dinner, bar counter is synonymous with bar. So why not create a bar counter at home where you can sip fine wine in good company? In this case, the design of the counter must be done with the needs that one usually has in a bar in mind. Therefore it is a good idea to have a high counter on one side where guests can be seated with stools, and on the other side a lower counter, usually at kitchen height and therefore about 90 cm, where preparations can be made. Indispensable is a wine cellar and a wine rack, as well as a rack for glasses and glasses.
Kitchen counter height
Depending on the choice of counter type, there may be different heights. If we start with the lowest solution, i.e. the table that protrudes from the kitchen composition, it is the same height as the tables, i.e. approximately 75 cm. In this case, normal kitchen chairs are used for everyday use.
In the case of the kitchen with a snack counter top, however, the height of the counter top is about 90 cm, because in this case it depends on the height of the kitchen base units. The height range is therefore between a minimum of 87 cm and a maximum of 95 cm in the taller versions. Finally, for the bar counter, one can play on greater heights and thus go as high as 110 cm. In the last two cases, stools are used to sit on the top. It is important to choose stools carefully to combine aesthetics and comfort: for more information you can read our article on how to choose stools for the peninsula.
Kitchen counter lighting
When designing a kitchen peninsula or kitchen counter, it is important to pay attention to lighting.
Classic lighting involves a couple of points of light with pendant chandeliers, but you can also play with several pendant bulbs, perhaps attached to an old beam. Or why not think of something more contemporary by placing a minimalist but visually striking LED strip. In any case, it is a good idea to provide some targeted lighting for the counter and not rely on diffuse light throughout the room.
If you have any questions or would like any advice on finding the ‘tailor-made’ solution for you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
