I like the idea of extending the countertop you're showing with the stools.

I love the bench with table. If you extended the counter for seating you’d be staring at a wall.

Consider keeping the bench, with a thicker cushion and using more contemporary white chairs and table.

The nook looks cozy and charming. I don't want to sit at a counter and eat a meal.

Plus I don't think turning an outside corner is not conducive for counter space.

I would remove the bench and run the countertop under the window all the way to the end of the room. the dining room wall is only a foot deep so I would just extend the AI countertop idea you posted under the window (you already walk around a table, so filling in that space with a usable countertop shouldn't interfere with access) cabinet below with two deep drawers full extension and shallow ones for flatware.

That is not really solving your counter issue if you plan on having stools there. Can you take a picture from further back? What are the dimensions of this area? Do you know if the floor goes under that piece of wall that is sticking out since it is removed in the second picture? What do you need the extra counter space for?

Need some more pictures of this area to really say what is the best move.

How about a bigger table?

Humans used tables as 'counter space' for many years, and successfully survived.

There are things I definitely prefer doing at table height, like mixing and kneading, and things that it doesn't matter, like a place to put a bowl before the cooked pasta goes in it.

Here’s a larger view that includes the dining room table. Our kitchen is approximately the size of a closet…. Ha. Hence why I’m trying to see if I really need two tables, or more counter space for serving and prepping!

You have a nice dining room right there - you should use it! I would use the nook area to add more counter area + more storage.

As previously said, the nook is cozy and comfy, the additional counterspace seems very modest, and the new bar area looks shallow and only marginally comfortable. If you extend the counter, can it go farther? What is on the opposite side?

The nook is cosy but if you're looking for additional counter space and storage maybe this is something you can consider.

Yes, eliminate the nook seating, but don't do your AI version of extra counter space. Show all sides of your kitchen in pictures and a drawing with more details. I'd take up the entire seating area with a bank of lower drawers and countertop. Do not make it an eating area.

Your entire kitchen counter is taken up by a monster espresso machine and drying area. I think a lot about your kitchen needs to be reworked. I worry that your new found counterspace is going to be taken up with stuff and not be good prep area either. You have to be thoughtful about this.

I'd remove the bench under the window...leaving the one side bench only. maybe smaller scale chairs. then I'd change the opening to dining.....its extra wide. how much wall from the corner would you have if you made a 39 or 42 inch opening into dining room? make a coffee bar or something there. its a step away from kitchen but counter appliances / coffee center etc seems about right and leave you with cleaned off counter in the kitchen. i think leaving the table and chairs is what I'd prefer but adjust that bench.

from corner across existing dining room passage...narrow the opening and create some wall there for something practical . Also-provide dimension of window wall of nook and the general area.

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adjusting the opening to dining area [shown below....] will give you wall on kitchen side to create a new zone.....and leave the small seating nook w some tweak to chair sizes/ bench etc.

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It'd be best to consider the entire kitchen layout in evaluating your best change. If you post a floorplan you'll get comprehensive ideas.

Can we see the otherside of the kitchen?

I suspect your kitchen counter is too high to fit under the windowsill. AI ignores problems like that and produces lovely images that can't be implemented in real life. Further, if you want a counter with useable seating, you'll need the counter to stick out far enough for the stools to fit underneath. Then, the counter will be useable as extra counter and the seating will be a comfortable place to eat.

Here’s the kitchen in her entirety (the dining room photo I found was older, before we turned that back window into an outswing door so we could finally access the backyard!). To the left is a doorway leading to a hallway/bedrooms. The AI image definitely isn’t perfect - we would need to make the window slightly smaller, and the countertop would definitely need to overhand the cabinets more, it was more of a jumping off point. I do love the benches and table that we added, but as you can see counter space is limited when you’re trying to cook for a family of four and host the occasional holidays!

It seems you have a decent amount of countertop. The main issue to me is the DW should move to the right of the sink to free up the prep space between sink and fridge

What is on the far side of the stove near the magazine wall racks? A shallow pantry? A door to basement?

Itching for more counterspace…to do what with it? Roll out pie dough? Leave the mixer and air fryer out? Satisfy a vague desire to have a project to think about? I’d think determining an honest answer would help you decide either option and chart a course of having the function determine the form

What are you going to do with your counterspace that you can't do on the table? I don't think you need a bunch of eating spaces close to each other, but a quick breakfast is easier in the kitchen. You could try versitile spaces --- a counter that pulls out/drops down, a rolling butcher block cart, etc. You'd have to remove one of your benches. When you use the table, do you use both benches?

These are all pretty high-end, because that's who posts their kitchen projects on Houzz.

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Some philosophical remarks about seeing the situation differently: Try pretending you are on a yacht where nothing can be left on a counter while at sea. Or pretend you are dealing with an ant invasion.

The thing about small galley kitchens is that we can't leave stuff out on the counters. Almost everything has to be put away after every meal and before starting to cook. Washing the kids' plastic stuff by hand, drying it, and putting it away can add 10 or 20 minutes to cleanup compared to the pre-kid days when every thing went in the dishwasher. Take a photo of the counters before starting to fix dinner. Take another photo of your dishrack after dinner to show what kinds of things you are hand washing. Switch to dishwasher-proof sippy cups, water bottles, mixing bowls and so on. There are clips that will hold plastic cups in place and lidded baskets that hold small stuff. There are pots and pans that are okay to put in the dishwasher. As you replace things, look for dishwasher-proof versions. If you have to run a full dishwasher after every meal, that's fine. Some families run both a load of dishes and a load of pots and pans after dinner every night. The quick cycle is worth trying. It is perfectly okay to put away hand washable pans for a few years and use dishwasher-proof pans instead.

Every six inches is a significant chunk of space in a small galley kitchen. Hang the paper towels under the counter. Move fruit basket and banana holder to the table. Put the olive oil bottle in a cupboard on an upturned lid to catch the drips.

what is on the stove wall between what is shown and dining room..the area you have not shown? the other thing to consider is a straight counter run...dont turn the corner by the window.......remove the table /chairs/ and banquette...install counter straight down the space either w support legs.......or a base cabinet or 2....?? [do you want storage at all?] stool w backs to window....or stools facing window....or a bit of each? dimensions of the area between the kitchen and dining room are still unknown. there's probably clever things to do but dimensions are needed to know how much area can be worked .

you can find stools that skooch under if most of time you desire working counter....install this straight out/remove bench ......2nd pic...do you want cabinets? fewer stools is the difference/and backs to window ... what are your measurements??

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Herb is correct, we need a diagram of the kitchen with measurements. Check out the New to Kitchens thread for details. I also think Sigrid is correct, your window is probably not counter height.

If you are in need of counter space, consider putting in more lower cabinets with drawers and counters in the whole space. Your house juts out in that space, so your counter would jog back as well.

But if all you need is occasional additional counter space you could invest in a piece like this one that rolls away when you don’t need it.

When our kids were living here, we were a family of five and we have three small workable surfaces: 16, 28 and 40 inches. What helped a lot is a counter height table with a pull out extension that really comes in handy when prepping. Suggest losing the bench and you’ll gain valuable prep and even storage space. Look on line for ideas and you could also have one made to match the kitchen (white base, black granite/soapstone top).

The charm of your nook is overwhelmed by the visual mass of your dining set.

I would definitely cosider expanding your kitchen prep area to encompass the nook space to bslance things out.

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I don't think you'll gain enough making any changes. When making bigger meals just use the table (and even the benches) for extra food space.

In a heartbeat, I would eliminate that dining nook and use the dining room for all eating. And then turn the nook into an area for prep and storage. If you had to get a shorter window, it would be worth it.

Good-bye kitchen table. I'd add base drawers and countertop in an L configuration that follows where your L bench is currently located. (Or imagine what AI drew but no stools and it continues across beneath your windows.) Lots of storage. Space for your coffee maker. Space to set things aside to cool that come out of the oven.

If you don't usually have 6 at your table, then remove the end chairs for daily use and store elsewhere. You dining room will feel more open to the kitchen without the idea of someone sitting with their back to the kitchen.

If you painted the two rooms in more coordinated colors and with coordinated light fixtures, it would flow nicely had have the feeling of near to the kitchen seating and eating area.

The round table is just screaming wasting seating space. a trestle table there would let you seat 6.

I think arcy_gw 's suggestion for a trestle table is good. Maybe even one of those transformer tables that go from a console size to seat 12. You could have a bench under the table so you could sit to look out the window with coffee, but also use the table as extra counter space. You could even set up a buffet for parties.

We have a galley kitchen but a penninsula on the end. Before we remodeled the kitchen I didn't have much counter space either. The thing that helped us the most was removing the over the range microwave. We didn't have enough workable space for using the stove and microwave at the same time. It was especially bad for holidays. If you remove the bench and table have you considered putting in a microwave drawer in that spot. It would give you more counter space and more area for cooking.

Can certainly understand that you might want more counter space and cabinet storage but turning the corner in the 2nd photo just wouldn't do it for me. If you have a galley kitchen IMO it would be better to have a straight run of countertop and cabinets. I also don't like the way the countertop runs into the window.

Building on the suggestion of not turning the corner I'll suggest two things to visualize. Extending the existing counter straight without the knee wall adding full depth back to the window to create a deep island like work zone. The added depth for prep is one reason islands are functional additions. The second is a mod of the first. Take down the knee wall and do the same straight additional counter. Recess it 12-18 inches to give you a standing space out of the traffic flow.

Would it be possible to take down pony wall and extend countertop as table top with a pedestal or shelves supporting the other end? The bench under the window could be raised for table sitting and maybe a couple counter height stools or chairs to slide under the other side. then it could function as prep or serving space for big events or daily breakfast table.

But I think a good trestle table or expanding pub table (especially one with a shelf or drawer under it) could work the same with less remodeling.

What about some wall shelving on the wall between pony wall and window to house coffee making. it would restore the counterspace where the expresso machine is.

Also clear counters by installing paper towel holder and other storage under cabinets.

So grateful for all the feedback and suggestions! The desire for counter space really comes from food prep. We are very into cooking - making bread, homemade pizza dough and pie crusts, rolling out cookies, pasta, all the things. I would never have thought to run the counter all the way to the window. Granted this AI picture has some issues, but the idea for something like this is really appealing. Room for a couple of people to sit if needed (and not staring at a wall!), but extra storage and space to work that isn’t in the middle of a super narrow space. I’ll keep tinkering with ideas, but I do think the extra seating and table isn’t as functional for our family as more counter space is. I appreciate all the advice!

This seems like a great improvement. I like what you just posted. I'd make sure your counter is deep enough and stool footprint small enough that they can be pushed all the way underneath the counter when not in use. That will enable you to really use that extra counters pace in front of the window as both causal eating AND prep space. No back stools.

How about a picture across that one wall? And some dimensions? How high is the window above the floor? You could take out the knee wall and do the top a couple of inches lower so you don't have to change the window and you don't have to change the existing counter. That lower level would be great for baking and mixing.

You still need to address the flooring if you remove that knee wall.

Why dont you skip the part under the window and use the one side at deeper dimension.. with drawers….much more useful… a corner set up w shallow counter @ 12 inches isnt so great for your stated needs. . could maybe still place a small bistro table w 2 stools