If it works for your family then keep it. A desk area became popular when home computers became popular. The area was a good central place to keep an eye on a child on the computer or get some work done. The increase in laptops and decrease in large, less moveable computers has decreased the need for such a space in some homes. I have a similar type area in my family room and use it for sewing and painting.

I for one would never think a desk in a kitchen to be outdated. I would love to be able to fit a desk in my kitchen. However, I just do not have the space. I've always envied others that have one in their kitchen. If I could fit one it would be highly functional for our family. We have several desks in our home yet everyone is always doing their stuff at the kitchen table.

pearl1976,

Yes, everyone has a desk in their room at my house...yet they always end up in the kitchen. Thanks for your perspective. I am leaning toward keeping it, I just wish it was the shorter side of the counter on this wall.

Have you thought about making the desk counter height? That is what I am planning for our new kitchen. My laptop is on my current kitchen desk and I am constantly bending over to quickly check a recipe or look up something on the internet. Making the desk a bit higher at counter height allows me to be at a more comfortable standing height.

Not sure what you are wanting to do since the granite template guy is on his way which I'm thinking doesn't give you time to do any re-do except for maybe some suggestions like a bulletin board. But lots of ideas if you have time to make some changes other than cosmetic.

It sounds like you use it. There's no reason to get rid of something you use just because some other people think it's outdated.

It also sounds like you have plenty of counter space elsewhere; you mentioned a butlers pantry and I spy a large island.

Maybe you're worried that in a decade or so when your son no longer uses it but you're not quite ready to replace the counter you'll regret not making it higher. But that's not really useful because at this point it's too late to raise it anyway; there's no base cabinet to support a higher counter. So you could do one of two things that I can see.

1. Have the counter templated with a little waterfall edge where the height drop is, seam on the top rather than the side. That way when you want to lift it, you can just remove the waterfall, insert the higher base, and reuse the counter without having a lip to deal with.

2. Possibly use a less expensive surface for the desk, and when you don't want it anymore take it all out. You could add vertical storage there like a pantry or open shelves.

You could raise it to counter height and tuck a couple of stools underneath it. That would give your more counter space while preserving the functionality. If/when you no longer need it as a desk, you have a breakfast bar or at least a place to tuck trash and recycling. You could increase functionality by adding a place for messages, mail, keys under the cabinets, inside mounted on the doors, etc.

It's not too late to remove it. If no one actually uses it as a desk, you should. Have your craftsman measure for your new countertop all the way to the wall to the right of the desk as if the desk were not there.

If you can remove the support for the desk countertop in a way that doesn't destroy it -- if it is attached to the cabinet on the left and the wall on the right with screws -- you can simply raise the support before your new countertop arrives.

If, however, the support for the desk cannot be removed without destroying it, you can build new supports for the new countertop: three support boards one trim board across the front even with the front of the other cabinets. If you cannot match the finish of the existing cabinets, you could always paint that new front trim board black.

With or without the drawers that are within the support for the desk top, you'll still have the opening beneath the countertop rather than a base cabinet but, importantly, your new countertop will be all one height, giving you a lot more food prep space and/or a better place for countertop appliances.

As to the empty space below the new countertop ... build something useful with wheels that you can roll beneath the new countertop or move it wherever you need it -- perhaps a cabinet that you can roll outside to the porch or deck or patio as needed that contains your picnic supplies; perhaps a wood cabinet or bin that hides your trash can. Be creative: what do you need that would fit there.

what did you end up doing? post a pic of your new counters :) Thanks!

We have a very similar layout to yours but our desk is shorter. We changed the countertop years ago but kept the desk. The top of it is a dumping ground for mail, stuff, etc. Our kids never used it as a desk--even 20+ years ago

I do use it once in awhile for sewing. Below it is where our dog dishes are. It keeps them out of the way so it works for us.

ETA--sorry didn't realize this was an old post.

Here are a couple of photos from the wall where the desk is located. Backsplash is Santa Monica white from tilebar.com .