Can you put breakfast bar type seating at a bank of cabinets?
We are planning to do some kitchen renovations soon and are in the beginning planning stages. We have a typical L shaped kitchen with a pass through window into the living room. The pass through is about 6 ft long and I want to put another bank of cabinets beneath the pass through, top it with granite that will match what we’re replacing our laminate with for the rest of the countertops, but I also want to add breakfast bar type seating for 3 at this bank of cabinets. I have never seen this done before except for this one picture that _kind of_ is similar to what we have: http://www.ikeafans.com/galleries/images/39322/large/1_Breakfast_Bar_Overlooking_Kitchen._Notice_the__Pass-Through_Wall_is_Gone_.jpg The difference is that the picture is more of a bar where ours is an actual pass through. I know it will be awkward to have to move bar stools to get at my cabinets but I am planning on storing things that aren’t used every day in there so not such a big deal. How far does the bar have to extend to overhang enough to be used as bar type seating? I know it’s usually about a foot or so but this picture makes it look like a lot less. Any experts have an opinion on this?
Yeah I wouldn’t be doing glass cabinets like in the picture, they would be wood. In another part of the house we have a regular bar and I did some measuring, it’s 16 inches front to back on the top surface, but only 8 inches of that is actual overhang and we sit at it very comfortably. Our regular countertops are 25 inches front to back, so if we got custom cabinets that were say just 15 inches front to back, just deep enough for some pots and pans and misc rarely used appliances etc, then we could still have a 10 inch overhang. Not too worried about feet hittting the cabinets since we are a no-shoes house. The seating would be mostly for the teenager to sit at for homework, breakfast etc. or for the 3 of us to sit and eat while we watch a movie or something, which hardly ever happens lol. But the pass thru faces a 60 inch screen so it just seems like a great idea to have seating there. I just wanted to pass it by someone with a good idea of these things to see if it’s a crazy idea.
Seamstress you are sooo inside my head! I also am going with the 36 in cabinets because the pass thru has a trim around it that I don’t want to disturb and it won’t allow for the taller cabinets. I also thought to leave off hardware and go with the easy open cabinets. We already have the bar stools from a previous seating set-up but they are a smidge high. We were thinking of taken them down a couple inches ourselves by cutting and finishing a few inches off the bottom of the legs. I’m glad to know I"m not the only one with this idea of cabinets AND seating.
Tagged with: appliances • bar stools • breakfast bar • countertops • custom cabinets • glass cabinets • granite • homework • images • laminate • living room • lol • overhang • planning stages • pots and pans • scre • shoes • teenager
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I am also in the process of designing the exact same situation of cabinets under a pass through with a counter and bar stools.
I have decided to get 12" wall cabinets and have them retrofitted to sit on a frame on the floor. I am not tall, so the higher bar stools are uncomfortable for me to climb on and jump off of so I will not be going with the 42" high cabinets, but the 36" high ones. I am currently figuring out how high to set the cabinets with the bar stools I have in mind. I may go with the 42" cabinets and have the 12" depth of the cabinets be a higher counter with a step down for the overhang. I am considering this so food stuff does not end up over the edge in the other room. Something to consider.
I could get away with a 12" overhang, but decided on 14" just to give more knee/foot room. My cabinets will have raised panels and no knobs or handle hardware, only press magnetic closures for a streamlined look. Like you, these cabinets will be overflow storage and not used daily. Great minds think alike. Good luck.
The counter top should overhang 16" for good knee room and adequate space to place a plate & a glass etc.
Yes, you could do something like that, although I would be concerned with folks kicking the doors of the cabinets. Btw, the glass is pretty but totally inappropriate so near the floor.
Also the depth of the cabinets, as well as the height need to be considered.
Countertop overhang is usually 12 inches but can be as much or as little as you want.