I would do a solid piece of wood, painted white to match the columns. Paint grade wood will be less expensive than wood you can stain.

Thanks so much for quick reply! Walls are actually Grant Beige, a mid-tone greige.

It seems too low to ever use as a serving service for parties, etc. Is it? What about an upholstered cushion to turn it into a bench for extra seating? Add a back? Build it up so that it makes sense as a serving area and top it with countertop material like the kitchen or wood
.

Or just take it out and finish the columns.

Personally, I’d wait to take it out and just have the columns, but if the flooring doesn’t extend under it, that becomes another problem. I think just putting a wood top on it and painting it the wall color might be the best option.

This is a tough one. I think my preference would be a tile or stone slab top, with no wood trim.

I’d use it for plants and your bird sculpture, and for plants, a tile top works well.

If no plants, I’d have an all wood top, painted the wall or trim color.

What did you have on it before?

I like this idea of having bookshelves, but yours probably isn’t tall enough.

Build it up more and it’s furniture. :)

Building a partial shelving unit (one side) would look cool:

Wow ... thank you so much for the ideas and photos. I wasn't expecting nearly as thoughtful replies. It's hugely helpful. Couple more photos because someone asked what I had on there before I cleared it. The colors are a bit off. The walls are a true greige ... no yellow undertones. (Try not to judge us on the carpet ... we're older so the carpet is a safe surface. We'll be replacing it with ... yes carpeting ... in a richer greige/pecan.) You've given me some great ideas to ponder. Many, many thanks for taking the time.

I like how you decorated it! Looks very nice.

I like carpet, too. :)

Solid color solid surface. No competition with the floor and with seams inconspicuous enought to make it around the columns.

The floor tile is available in different shapes, isn't it? If so, I'd do little squares of the floor tile.

Otherwise, all maple. Maybe even with a "live edge" (something I never thought I'd say, but I think it would be neat here).

Fori ... your comment made me laugh. I have the same feelings about live edge ... both in general and here.

I know the structure itself is dated, but I can live with it and don't have budget for construction, so I'll be leaving as is.

I would remove it. If it is framed (which I am assuming), the cost to remove it will be close to zero. The receptacles can be relocated to one or the other of the columns, or both. Less than $30 (at the very most) of drywall supplies. Carefully remove the base so it can be reused.

Floor space gained, no $ spent for a new top. Problem solved. Except for the floor covering. Which is not a problem since you are replacing the carpet.

This is a no brainer. The cost to get rid of it so small compared to the cost of the new floor coverings that is makes zero sense to invest money in a new top to keep it.

ETA: You will be kicking yourself bruised and bloody for the next 15 years if you don't get rid of it before the new floor coverings go in. If it costs way more to remove than I think it will, then I would choose to put off changing the foyer tile until later.

First of all ... love your Houzz user name. And I completely agree with you on it being more cost effective and definitely doing it before carpet. ( We never ever use that outlet.) The thought just never crossed my mind. I wanted to avoid people telling me to build a wall, which I would never consider. But taking it down -- now that it's been suggested -- is really intriguing. Thanks!

I'm with ci_lantro. If you're redoing the flooring, then now would be the time to remove that wall. I like the inspiration photos of other people's pony walls, but all of those examples are rectangular. Yours has angular shapes that make it look very dated.

The bottom of the columns will need to be resurfaced, so there's that. Who knows, maybe removing it and repairing the columns would cost less than a custom stone slab top? It never hurts to get a quote. (Are the columns load bearing? If not, remove those too.)

Delayed response. To those of you who suggested removing the wall ... good call. Never occurred to me. We bought house new and it was there. It's always been there. Structural engineer confirmed it is non-load bearing and HVAC company confirmed air return can be seals. It's coming down! This is Houzz discussions at its best. Thank you all.

I would install the surrounding moulding where missing arout the top edge, install a wood plank on the top, mouldings on the sides to give some detail, and paint everything white. I'm not sure if you can give some detail to the top and bottom of the columns because the edges look rounded in your picture (unless you cover them with wood). But here is the general idea...

Thanks, Liz. I love the rendering! If I were going to keep it, that would definitely work ... although we'd have to repeat it in a number of actual support columns that separate the kitchen and living room. We're going to take the recommendations of some of the other posters and just remove it.

although we'd have to repeat it in a number of actual support columns that separate the kitchen and living room.

Does this mean that you are able to remove the pony wall AND those two columns?

Double/ triple Yippee!!

Yes, Ma'am/Sir! Wrote it above just to thank those of you who suggested it. Never crossed my mind.

Ok, I had understood you couldn't remove it orwouldn't because of cost.