Wouldn’t it be nice to create a small eating bar while you install your new RTA kitchen cabinets? A breakfast bar is a great place for the family to gather each morning before work or school, it is easy to keep clean and if your kitchen opens into the dining room or living room it may be easier to build what you think.

Simple steps to build a breakfast bar

1. Locate your base cabinets in the open space between the kitchen and the living room. The backs of the cabinets will face the living room and serve as the base for the breakfast bar. Two 36-inch base cabinets work well, or you may want to add a 24-inch cabinet to create an eight-foot bar

2. Build a buttress wall out of wood framing lumber that rests on the base cabinets. A knee wall is a short wall that does not go up to the ceiling. The knee wall will be the width of the breakfast bar and should extend just beyond the base cabinet with the exposed side. The height can vary depending on the bar stools you plan to use, but in most cases, the height that works best is 42 inches before the counter is installed.

3. Many building inspectors may consider the knee wall to be a wall gap, so you may need electrical wiring to install and inspect the outlets.

4. Cover exposed knee wall surfaces with a wallcovering of your choice, such as drywall, paneling, or RTA cabinet end panels.

5. The material of the countertop is usually the same as the rest of the countertops in the kitchen. Opinions vary as to how much overhang your countertop should have on the dining side, but you want enough space so you can eat comfortably without your knees hitting the wall. In most cases, a 12- to 16-inch overhang works well.

6. The overhang should be supported with brackets that are available at most home improvement stores. Improper support can create a safety risk with heavy materials like granite.

7. The countertop backsplash must cover the exposed knee wall on the kitchen side.

These are general guidelines and may vary based on your specific application. If you have any questions or concerns, please call a building professional.