I think it really depends on your height I am 5’10” and find I like my counters to be 39” high but I also realize that for resale 36” is the norm. I also like baking counters where you will roll out dough or knead bread should be lower
if you are taller and feel a bit bent with a 36" counter you might consider a large thick chopping block for vegetable prep. if you have a grid in the bottom of your sink that raises the sink floor about an inch, would be interesting to know if they make custom taller grids.
i'd be wary of anything other than 36" for a kitchen which you plan to sell still in good condition. a separate lower zone for baking is a great idea IF its a large kitchen and you are leaving ample counters at standard height.
i'm 5'2 and a 36" counter is at the top of my comfort zone. if i were looking to buy a house with a kitchen with a 39" counter its no different than if the house had no kitchen at all; if the counters were at 39" that would raise the uppers as well (or else sacrifice the magic 18" standard height for counter workspace).
This is a kitchen going into a dog kennel building so I'm not too worried about resale. My dogs are raw fed and so I spend quite a bit of time prepping food, washing bowls, etc. I'm only 5'6" but I've been doing these tasks in our house... in our current kitchen which has counters at 35 1/2"... and my back is constantly killing me after I get done. I've purchased a long stainless steel counter top for the kennel (with built in sinks) but plan on the cabinets underneath being custom built. Just can't figure out what height. I was wondering... if I'm sitting at a table (which is comfortable for me to work at for hours on end) and I measure where the table top "hits" on my body and then stand and measure the distance to the floor, it's about 41". I'm wondering if that is an indication as to where my counters in the kennel should be! Seems awfully high! I may need to take the counter top I've bought and put it on some saw horses and varying heights and work on it to see what is best before I make the call!
Patricia Colwell Consulting
Judy Mishkin
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mallory5nzOriginal Author