I just came across this kitchen and love, love, love what they did with the peninsula here. IMO, it's a brilliant "compromise" on the counter height peninsula versus the split peninsula counter at two different heights.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

My husband is a carpenter and we are doing a very low budget remodel with RTA cabinets to update our house's original 1947 no counter space kitchen. This is the latest floorplan variation, but I'd love to be able to do what they did above for our peninsula. Is there any way we do this so it doesn't look funny--our base cabinets only come in the standard height.

There are 2 reasons that I can think of right now of why I'd love to do this. 1) For some unknown reason, our counters are 40" high and we've lived here for 10+ years. I am very used to the extra height and feel like a giant when I stand at regular counters. ;-) I dabble in cake decorating and feel the taller counters make it a bit easier to do stuff like that.

The second reason is that with our low budget remodel, it also means a low budget countertop. About 9 years ago as a facelift we covered the old gross gold flecked formica with concrete backer board and 12" marble tiles. It cost us $60 for the marble. New sheets of formica would have been $180 so we went with the marble for the heck of it and I've loved it. I've etched it in places with vinegar/lemons and I've abused the hell out of it but it's held up fantastically. I will never ever go back to laminate again. But there is no way we can afford (nor is common in our little rural area) regular granite counters. The plan has been to do 12" granite tiles with a minimal grout line. If we did this raised peninsula thing, we could probably go with some preformed granite countertop slabs that a discount store sells here with a seam at the sink, and a seam in the left corner. Then there'd be a small run after the range before the raised peninsula. They also sell precut island slabs that are 36" x 64". Obviously, I'd have to ditch the lazy susan and reconfigure the length of the peninsula, but that is fine.

So, is there any way, with standard dimension cabinets, to mimic the above pictures? Thank you!