[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.