If it stands now with the over hang and no legs why do you think a different configuration would require different support? When DH expanded our counter so knees fit nicely he put in heavy duty metal brackets no one sees except the dog. Legs or corbels aren't the only option. A new counter top is called for if "keeping up with the Jones' " is the goal. The raised portion has gone out of favor too. Frankly the grossness of a cook top and sitting/eating at the counter would require it for me. Do what works for YOU don't chase the latest fad--it too will pass. I find the raised counter hiding the messiness of a working kitchen--when people are cooking-- to be a great thing for those hanging out in the adjacent space. To each their own!!

It's an odd shape as it is. I would replace it with a rectangular island and get some more attractive bar stools as the black detracts from the appearance of the island.

The first thing ? Hold off on this until you can do enough to get the cooker off the island completely.

You live in the kitchen? You gather to the point of using it as the living room? You don't want the cooker on it.

If you do a scaled drawing of the kitchen to the exact feet and inches, walls , windows, all you will get a lot of help, and potentially much better ways to enjoy your space. Mark adjacent spaces as well passages as from garage.

I agree the worst part is the cooktop in the island and really if 3 yrs is the plan for moving I would leave it as . There are many dated items in this space . If this is amust then we need to know the size of the space to figure out what can be done . IMO if new counters are the plan then figure out how to squarer off amnd lower that island there are steel supports that owk vwery well with 15" over hangs which is all you need no corbels and a nice all one level island so much nicer even for seating .. Maybe insraed of the expense of changing all the counters why not just a new one for the new island .

I'm not convinced new countertops will really help at resale if that's why you're thinking about doing it. I was house hunting four years ago and I find new counters on old cabinets to be a deterent. I would hate to landfill new counters to be able to replace the cabinets. While cooktops on islands aren't popular, it sounds like the kitchen really works for you now the way it is. So don't change it, or just put a new counter on the island only, flattening it and squaring it off. If you square it and it is less deep afterwards you will still have the same surface area. It is acceptable to have a different surface on the island from the perimeter cabinets. However, while bi-level islands aren't popular now, when you have a cooktop there I actually think the bi-level makes some sense. What is the motivation for making a change?

To add to my earlier post

"I can’t do anything with the countertops until I figure out the island… Any advice would be SO appreciated."

Can't help with that, either, .........not until a full measure of the kitchen space in total: ) Including the side of the kitchen you aren't showing, and the breakfast area and open to family room as well.

I can’t replace the cabinets so that’s not an option. The perimeter countertops are laminate, and I really don’t want to look at them for another 3 years! The current overhang is sagging due to the weight and improper support. Are there brackets that can hold an overhang this large?

what are the cabinets made out of?

I believe the cabinets are made of wood.

get new cabs for the island and drop it down to one level. yes there are metal supports. or they can use 'table' legs for the opposite side.

This is double the width of your current cabs which is what you would need to do. (you need to add on the depth w/more cabinets if you want to extend the countertop)

both of these examples are double the depth of yours. simple to add on another, add some trimwork and paint

honestly though, you need to upgrade that lighting. are those florescents? do everyone a favor and change those out to some recessed lights.

If you can't afford that, then at least change them out to semi flush mount LED ceiling lights. lots of tutorials on how to do this for minimum expense. (but the recessed lighting would be worth every cent, especially on resale )

I have to agree about the cooktop though. I know you can't stand the laminate, but changing it out to nice countertops is only going to make everything else more dated.

You're ripping out countertops and tile, now would be the perfect opportunity to move the stove!

You could easily do a stovetop here! they would modify those lower cabs and cut the hole for the new stovetop. it's electric, so not a big deal. then you could install a proper vent hood.

this is mine.

With that done, all you need now is a new island. you could buy ready made cabs, or raw wood ones that you have painted. the island would be squared off and brought down to one level.

Something like this (btw, here are the 'table legs' as support)

You have an electric cooktop in the center island with no exhaust system. (unless it's a downdraft that goes down and out somehow??) No buyer wants this.

will you be getting a new stove w/a vent hood? If you keep it in the island:

If you don't want to add more cabs to the island to balance out the one level overhang, you could keep the two tier

Thank you for the suggestions. The lighting will be replaced, and yes, the stove is a downdraft.

Don't put lipstick on the pig. That kitchen is badly laid out, and currently dangerous. It needs a complete redo. If you don't want to do that, use a floor jack to move the island top back up, and get a post and a couple of supports radiusing out from it, to support it. And that's it. You'd be wasting several tens of thousands to do something halfway. No one wants that at resale. They want the functional problems fixed, or a big discount. Not lipstick on them.

trisha, the stove is a downdraft? to where? is there ducting under the island/floor that leads somewhere?

Yes, we have an unfinished basement and the ducting leads down to the basement and then outside. I’m a little deflated that it seems like I’ll have to do all or nothing in this kitchen. I was hoping new countertops, backsplash, lights, and stools would be a nice improvement, but it sounds like the kitchen needs a total redo.

The kitchen looks fine. There are tons of designers who are always saying to get the cook top off the island, but there are a lot of folks who have it and they like it. Since you are not doing a full remodel and just want to update the tops for yourself - then go for it ( although I would do a nice new cooktop ) .

Remove the curved top and use granite brackets for support. I would make the top more rectangular ( you can still have the curve ) .

Good luck

First things first.

You do realize that any money you spend on the current kitchen is going to reduce what you have to spend on your next home in 3 - 4 years. You won't increase the sales price enough to cover the expenses unless you are fixing a noticeable defect (the counter that is bowed due to not being properly supported).

https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2023/

I would look at having the island top replaced and properly supported and leave the rest. It isn't a bad kitchen and is functioning well for you and your family. What is so important that it is worth spending the money on now and having less to spend on the next home when moving is imminent?

agree w/above.

as a cheaper suggestion for countertops, are you in a state that has access to pre-fab? So Cal and places near the coast have great selections for pre-fab (quartz, granite, marble, whatever). they come in 24"X6',9' or even island prefabs at 3X5

we did a flip/rental house 10 yrs ago. The granite was pre fab and total cost was $1700, cut and installed. did an L shape countertop and an island.

I always mention these because a lot of people don't know about them.

something like this simple white quartz can cost about $500 for the 2'X9' pre fab. they cut it on site to fit your space. Usually another 500-1K depending on how much fabricating they must do.

This is one spot at my tile place. all these 'countertops' are pre fabs.

I totally understand your wanting to replace the laminate counter tops on the perimeter, and not wanting to do a total makeover. You say that the kitchen functions well, but you think the island looks "dated." I wouldn't be too worried about that, since it's possible that anyone buying your house in 3-4 years may want to do a total gut makeover. So if all you want is something new and fresh, why not just replace the old laminate with one of the new ones? I know most people here have a knee-jerk reaction against laminate, but the newer ones are very nice, and don't cost an arm and a leg. This way you keep the parts of the kitchen that work for you and still have something new, AND reserve funds for your next move. Just a thought.

If you would do a drawing of the kitchen and simply do the walls ? Please?

Why do I ask? Because I am going to ask this:

Rate the use of your island, as compared with the daily use of your breakfast bump and table.

I do know many families where the table and chairs are virtually never used.

I am going to ask, because if you are going to fix an island to a more useful aspect of the kitchen? Bigger and a different shape would be nice, Should you do it? Should you do anything for three or four years of stay? Well..........if I said you were going to prison for four years, that would seem a long time.

If I said:

You need to allow 1.5 k for a lighting upgrade

8.0 for tops*

2.5 for a new cook top

1.0 new sink/faucet

5.0 for island cabinetry

10.0 for all the labor etc

Including electrical, plumbing, ceiling repair, paint etc and I am guessing all as I can't see the other side of the kitchen.......

Do you want to "enjoy" 7 k per year, for four years? Then you will come back with a drawing.

I asked all, because there is no " just" in any project, usually. Or would you prefer to have that money for the next kitchen or bath in the next house?

I just want to change the tops, I just want to do fill in the blank......There rarely is lets "just" do this.

You'll grab that pencil, paper, measuring tape and return...or not: )

down below in a comment box. A jpeg, bold.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6411000/how-to-houzz-how-to-ask-questions-how-to-get-helpful-answers-and-e#28780842