With a sink there I would do 2 tier

Everyone I know that had two tier has it ripped out in no time, easier to serve off of flat and larger area too

Two tier reduces the space efficiency on both sides, narrow eating area and narrow food prep area. Two tier also divides the room unnecessarily as opposed to allowing the eye to easily take in the expanse. I prefer one level, it's also more comfortable unless everyone is very tall and likes high bar stools.

I also the two tier looks builder grade

Just look at those support brackets, already need to be upgraded

I have always preferred flat. I don't know why but I just don't like two tier. Maybe for some of the reasons mentioned above. Enjoy your new kitchen!

One tier generally looks better. With that said, I personally prefer two tier because it blocks the view into the kitchen.

Flat . More useable and more current.

I think It is all in how you use it. It is nice to hide things away, but my personal opinion is all one level. When you are entertaining it allows others to flow around it easily. I love a large space to lay out food!

Flat gives you more space. Two tier gives you a barrier for sight lines. Which is more important to you?

We went with flat and ours has been used for board games, card games, dining, and is a great surface for dropping off grocery bags.

Flat, all the way....love, love mine. Ditto the reasons mentioned above. It's hard to hide mess either way because company tends to hangout at the island. We eat in dining room when we want to get away from it.

Flat

Flat and unless everyone that comes to your house never stands near the kitchen the upper teir hides nothing.

When given a choice, I opt for simpler, clean lines. One level surface, more space, easier to clean. Go for it.

Flat. Gives you more counter space, and doesn't make the room look smaller.

TTT...oh my! Flat.

;)

Trebbletrouble...don't cross the line;/

Flat gives much more working counter space. I actually think it looks much nicer.

Home Interiors with Ease. Do not cross the line. There are many on this forum who tell it like it is. I am thinking of someone who is so blunt I have to think twice before I appreciate her point.

Humor, Humor!

Today, the news feed stated DO NOT POST ANYTHING YOU COULD NOT SAY TO THAT PERSON IN PERSON.

I like the humor, I am not a stand up comedian, I need a break from the stress of the my renovation world.

I did raised greater than 20 years ago. I would do flat due to increase in counter space.

I don't know what you read into it. Humour is like art, it's in the eye of the beholder.

We have one tier on our peninsula with the stove top (instead of the sink). Folks enjoy watching hubby cook and the flat surface comes in handy when dishing out food, or bringing dishes in from the dining room.

Tribbletrouble...would appreciate that..thank you

Definately flat. I have a two tier and there is never enough room to put out food when entertaining.

2 tier behind sink,( to contain splashes ) & flat either side for ease of serving & leaning. ;) I have that design & love it.

Could you make the second tier wider therefore creating more space for serving? We have a two tier peninsula and it works great. We entertain a lot and guests love to sit at the "bar" and watch my husband cook. The second tier also partially blocks view into the open concept kitchen which is nice when I've made a mess and not gotten it cleaned up yet.

I vote flat

flat!

Flat

Flat. When we had a two tier kitchen I hated it. It chopped up the counter space terribly and I couldn't spread out a cooking project.

Flat with a really large DEEP sink to hide most dirty dishes. :-)

We are having granite installed tomorrow and had a two tier bar in our morning room. I made my husband rip it out to make it flat and I am already so in love with the look! It really opens the kitchen up to the morning room and makes that space much more user friendly. We never used it before and now we can have kids eat there or use it as a desk.

Houzzers. This is an old (maybe 20yrs+) dining suite in excellent condition. My style is Hamptons-ish or modern farmstyle. How would you modernize it, without painting the wood. Changing the stain is possible but not paint. It's actually a round table that extends to oval. Any ideas?! Let's get very interesting.

I have two tiered, and I agree with susanb92, that guests love to sit at the bar when we entertain. My kitchen is visible from the entry, so I appreciate the tier to block what is often a messy cooking area.

@paula7658 you need to start your own thread rather than just attaching it to an unrelated discussion.

It's beautiful...just add super cute slipcovers onto the chairs!

Do you have to have the sink in there? Would prefer to have an island without.

Oh and I have a Hugh flat island...counter height so you don't need tier but still can have guests sit at the counter and enjoy a much more comfortable height stool. So wonderful for entertaining and gives you so much more practical counter space...

My mom had a two-tier and it was always worthless. I had a flat in my last house and am putting flat in now. It is so nice to have the kids across the counter instead of underfoot.