Walls and Ceilings - wall height for breakfast bar counter

We have a separating wall between our dining room and our kitchen. We are planning to create an opening in the wall approx breakfast bar height to the normal door header height so we can at least see through to the rest of the house. On the kitchen side is the gas stove that butts up against that wall. I'm wondering what an appropriate height would be to make the counter? Would it be high enough to hide the pots and pans on the stove? Be tall enough to hand a pot over to someone in the dining room? Are there recommendations or codes for breakfast bar height counters?

I suggest that you find a set of stools that you will use with this breakfast bar, then design the height of the bar to accomodate them. Breakfast bars are mostly in the 30" to 42" height range, but adjusting the heeight to a given set of stools is much easier than finding stools to match a specific height.

There are codes for every aspect of building. Where you live may make a difference in codes. In the northeast we use B.O.C.A. codes and there are some very important codes for counter and breakfast bar hights. Call or visit your local building inspector to get the required hight. They will have the code for your town, city or state!

i've been dreaming up a breakfast bar to run along one wall of my kitchen, and corner around a bit on the intersecting wall up to the sliding glass window...

i want to do it in wood, with a simple worn look, about 4-5 4inch pieces across, then i will either stain it or color wash it with a nice green/blue color wash.

as to the height, im glad to hear the tip to get the stools before building the bar! and i was so worried about what height i would invest in...great to know!

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