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Counter height... Standard height for kitchen countertops (in the United States) is 36" above the floor when using a 1-1/2" thick top. Appliance manufacturers have adopted this standard and design under counter appliances to conform to 34-1/2" for items like dishwashers, beverage centers, wine coolers, ice makers and mini refrigerators. ADA specifications (often called handicap specifications) calls for less (usually 34") to facilitate the use of a wheelchair. there are a few appliances made for these ADA standards. My wife sometimes touches the hot frying pan accidentally as she says the kitchen tops in China are lower. I noticed that when staying at a hotel in Nanning, the kitchenette was lower than I'm accustomed to. Tonight, I was surfing and saw a photo of a kitchen that I believe is in China as the top is low, ceramic tiles on the wall and the absence of upper cabinetry... something I've seen a lot of in photos. I'm working on a project with a who is using raised 'vessel' sinks in the bathroom and I've lowered the cabinet height to account for the difference in sink height, other wise if I used the standard height, the sinks would be too high. |
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Trusty, around here vanities used to be 31-1/2" cabinets and 33" with a countertop for all bathrooms. In the last 15 years we've been supplying 34-1/2" vanity cabinets that are the same as kitchen height ending up 36" with a countertop. On the west coast (of Florida) they call them 'comfort height' as the retired people preferred the higher sinks. When a client/designer wants a tall toekick I use a 31-1/2" vanity ordered without a toe and have the installer build a 7-1/2" base so it ends up at 36" with the countertop. That's the most practical way for me.
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Foots... I'm with you on the theory of shorter people, hence lower countertops. My wife is 5'-7" (170cm) making her very tall for a Chinese woman, but she isn't used to 36" high stove tops. I would consider recutting the cabinets and lowering the oven if she were 5'-0" (152cm) tall. She will have to get used to the different height that's standard here. If we move to another house it would be the same. Small adjustment or I'll buy her some fire retardant gloves! 
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