a picture of the peninsula would help

Ugh sorry! Thought it uploaded

Looks like you'd have to remove the countertops and the cabinet with the stickers on it to get it all 1 height. Then have a new counter top made

Don’t you use your outlets built into the countertop?

I love the way it is. I think it can hide dirty dishes and the granite is gorgeous. I also love your faucet and deep sink.. I am probably no help because I think it is just so pretty. I am sure if you change it, it will look wonderful too.

It's not going to give more space to the kids' work area because their stuff would be shoved right up against the sink and its soap brigade. Either their papers will get soapy wet or the soap will fall into the sink.

Your question is to change or not to change. My vote is not to change. It is beautiful as is.

Thank you all for your comments! I was having second thoughts about not having a big open island space for work and or entertaining but I appreciate your lovely comments :)

You would incur the expense of new island cabinets and granite.

I am with others that it looks lovely and also acts as a visual demarcation for kitchen detritus.

The bar area actually operates as a better work space than you would have if it were one level since the prep/wet/messy area would not be separated from the paperwork area if it were one level.

Of course I am going from a place where I deliberately kept the bilevel counter in my current remodel rather than going to one level because I wanted to have a visual barrier separating my kitchen from my living area.

If you know what your granite is, possibly you could get a new piece that would make the upper portion deeper (with all the necessary supports) - depending on how much space is behind the current seats. Might be able to fit more then 2 stools if the whole thing was deeper (since on the corners the cabinets are fully under the counters)

I don't care for 2 level islands, but you are asking whether 1 level will give you a better homework and entertaining area. I think the answer is no. Your island isn't very deep, and as someone else noted, the raised height makes it better for keeping homework dry. You would probably pick up a bit of room for when you entertain and you'd definitely have more prep space.

I agree with the others, in your case it would not give a lot more room and issues with the sink as well! I changed out my high low counter to a low island for my remodel but they had to build a whole new base and I don’t have a sink in the island.