What if you put another material for the countertop in that area? I would want more drawer storage if possible rather than a bench. Good luck!

Kooky idea: what if you installed a flip-up counter under the window trim to be used when needed. Plus, once you get rid of that ridiculous ”decor” on the island, you'll have plenty of room.

without seeing it up close... I would see if you could stack another Drawer Box (side by side) on top and finish with a similar counter slab or butcherblock material, even if it were lower, (under the existing window sill) you could call it a Bakers Counter. I tried.

You can put a nice BB counter there. Have it tucked under the stone counter overhang. It'll still be useful.

As for the bench? I would remove the cushions and enjoy it as a nice bookshelf with two big drawers underneath it.

Of course, it's a large kitchen and probably doesn't NEED more counter.

I like the window bench and if it were me I'd leave it alone. What a lovely little niche to relax in while something is simmering on the stove.

It looks like a nice kitchen with ample counter space. If you like the house, I’d leave the bench alone for now. Its a little odd, but maybe a comfortable place to sit and read a cookbook isn't such a bad idea.

I think the window bench is a charming addition to the kitchen.

I would fill it with houseplants and/or a cat/dog bed.

My first guess would be that this kitchen was moved/remodeled and they couldn't be bothered to replace the window with a shorter one, so they came up with the bench idea.

Is the house brick on the outside?

Granyed the island is generous but if you’re either a cook or a baker that’s a huge amount of workspace to give up. If that’s the only issue with house for you (I mean me in your place) it wouldn’t stop me from buying but I’d be planning to add drawers & counter for work surface there. Maybe even take that section out & have a free standing piece there depending on floor situation underneath. It’s a chance to be creative!

If you bake a lot, I agree with installing another set of drawers on top of the bench and adding a countertop there. It will be a good height for dealing with baked goods, rolling dough, etc. Just do your research on Baking Areas.

Very pretty kitchen. I would suggest you use it for a while and see how it functions. If it doesn't function well I would probably rip it out, put full cabinets in and a counter at a lower level (gasp!) and make it my baking center, replete with Kitchen Aid mixer. Rolling pies is much more comfortable for me at a lower than counter height! Beautiful kitchen though. Congratulations!

It’s the mark of a poorly thought out budget remodel where the kitchen took over the breakfast room or dining room. The poorly done island is a dead giveaway about how badly this all was done. It’s a big red sign to look for the other poorly thought out and executed home projects that were done. Is this a flip?

To me that is where the sink was in the original kitchen. Not sure why anyone thought people would sit on the back side of the island in a work zone. Agree with Magnifico Profounde - poor design

What about the island is poorly done?

I don’t mind the bench!

The whole kitchen would have been much better if the island was facing the stove/refrigerator wall instead of the bench wall. Was the flooring installed before the island? Could you just rotate it?

the perimeter cabs and counter should have ended to the right of window. the island should be aligned the other way...you would gain overhang on either end . So if you care to undertake removal of bench....removal of stuff between window and patio door...do up an island the better way for what the available sq footage is crying out to have done then you'll have a nice project in a couple yrs when you can do these things. You can put some cabinetry 12 in deep for storage between window and patio door. Its kind of a hassle to get this all corrected. On the surface it seems just a couple things but when you add it up the cost to fix may be not so minor. It can be a great island kitchen. Its a nice open space with a functional kitchen for the most part but not great by any stretch.

We are house-hunting and saw a house that has an odd window bench in the middle of the kitchen. Just curious what others think.

OP is going to regret posting this. LOL.

If you're not tall, it's the perfect place for a lower counter top (I can't live without one) whether you bake or not. It can be butcher block or whatever you can find that compliments the existing counters. I think the bench is odd and would never, ever use it but I do agree that were you to buy the house it's best to live with the space for a while before changing it. You might come to love that bench.

I'm not a fan of islands with bar height backless stools anyhow. I'd probably use the short side of the island as my workspace. I CERTAINLY would not enjoy sitting with my back to the oven or the windows. Just throwing in another viewpoint.

Live with it until you are ready to redo entire kitchen to a much better layout.

Decision made? Buy the bench or keep looking? Good luck either way.

I agree a great spot for a baking area you could just do a different cabinet space underneath or even just shelve for baking supplies and a buthcher block counter . I have a huge butcher block piece I use for baking it is awesome