I need to see ato scale floor plan and where does that pass through go to. BTW a few more pics would help too.

From what I can see in the photo, I honestly can't figure out what you would accomplish by lowering the height of that pass though. And, I can't at all envision how having a counter top opening with a few chairs stuck there would make this appear to be more of an island. It's not an island and is never going to be an island. JMHO.

Good Feedback. Thank you!

@KC I yes, definitely need to see what’s on that other side of your kitchen to give you an opinion. What I see looks like a stairway there…what’s that room? And, what’s on the kitchen side in that counter - nothing or is it a work surface with sink? it will look great with matching flooring on both sides of wall!

Ok, Here are some more pictures

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@KC I - Ok! Great space and when your kitchen flooring is changed to match the great room flooring - wow! Here’s my immediate thoughts & questions - lowering that bar won’t give you more counter work space because of the location - looking right out into great room & the whole area isn’t one big space as if wall wasn’t there. It will give you some work space though. You will need to move those outlets into the columns & keep the sink area decluttered because it’s so visible into a non kitchen space. Are you prepared to do new counters all around if you can’t match what’s there? Do you want a new sink & faucet? May as well since you’ll need new counter. Question - when you have guests, do they hang around the opening talking? Would the extra two seats you could have at bar create a conversation area? I’m asking to determine if your lifestyle would benefit from the extra seating & open feeling. It looks like your dining area has a nice flow into great room area for larger gatherings.

ETA - if you did lower the bar, I think it should be extended to each outside edge of the columns. On the Great room side, the bar would be same length as wall.

Hi KW,

Thank you for your comments 😊
New counters: Well…yes, planning to paint walls and cabinets and switch out the granite to something lighter , want a new sink and faucet as well. No one hangs around the bar thing opening, it hasn’t been very functional. It just accumulates stuff 🙃. My main driver would be to unify the space more i suppose. I only started seriously thinking about this because I am on the verge of replacing the counter tops. So I had to answer the question: one bigger slab there or two?

bmorepanic: correct regarding different hights/shapes. Good callout. Interesting thoughts regarding the island. Will need to look at some pictures. Like you pointed out, it would probably only work if I did something to the arches and columns

ETA chewing on the swapping of the spaces

Yes, I'll need to examine what's on the opposite side of your kitchen before I can offer an opinion. What I see there appears to be a stairwell... What is the name of that room? Is there anything on the kitchen side of the counter, or is it a work surface with a sink? With similar flooring on both sides of the wall, it will look fantastic!

I'd drywall that closed and pre-wire it for TV. I'd also see about lowering the arch left of it to match the one in the dining room.

HU- I added more pictures. On the other side with the stairs is my living room. On the kitchen side is the sinks. Thank you regarding flooring. I am starting to think it wasn’t a good idea to stop where I did :-)