I think the best way to avoid putting mails and other things there is to fill it with something else. Either some big baskets, or else just treat it like a mantel and add som decorative items (such as vases, a lamp and a mirror etc) there.

Good luck!

I's like to see a bigger picture, as it's hard to see exactly what the space looks like, but my first thought is shelves. If you have a lot of cookbooks or attractive pottery you could leave it open. Otherwise you could add doors and use it for seldom used appliances and large pots, bulk storage, etc . . .

First I see nothing wrong with making it an organized mini office with papers, keys etc. Although if you already have that and don't want it I'd just put decorative things there. A mirror to open the space up, decorative cookware - vases, platters etc. What about installing a cabinet on the underside for storage. Also cookbooks would look good.

I second Rainarana's suggestion of book shelves or maybe cabinetry. Almost like a butler's pantry. The upper cabinet could be glass fronted and lighted for pretty storage. The lower cabinets closed storage. That would mean uninstalling the granite and reinstalling it at proper cabinet height. I'd also lose the backspash as it serves no function. Built in cabinetry always looks good and for less than $300 you can get a really custom look and bonus storage.

My sister's apartment had a space like this, and she used it as a desk. If there aren't already shelves above the area, you could easily add them in. Other wise, I'd make it an organized entryway space for keys, mail, etc.

Since it's right across from the washer and dryer, I'd save the space for a folding surface. Maybe tuck two tall, stylish hampers underneath, put some shelves with pretty laundry things above and voila- a lovely laundry room!

Do you need the space to fold laundry? Could have some nice laundry baskets underneath.

These were built into lots of homes in the 80s and 90s to serve as a "home office" desk. It's probably too low of a surface on which to fold laundry while standing.

I agree with the commenters who suggest adding shelves and perhaps doors. Perhaps you can turn it into a wine storage area.

I used to have one of these, and it was across from the laundry as well. We just used it for laundry.

It could be a snack station: clear glass jars with granola or snackbars, basket with fresh fruit, etc.

It could be a potting station or herb garden for fresh herbs in your kitchen. Add a mirror and install some lights that will help the plants grow, then you'd have fresh herbs easily accessible but not cluttering your kitchen counters. You could even store a pretty watering pot and a basket of garden tools under the counter with a little bench.

It could be a meal planning station (cookbooks, mug filled with pens, recipe cards, etc.).

It could be a "Game Corner" and you could store all your board games/card games there in a neat, accessible fashion.

You could even remove the counter entirely and add a comfy chair and small table with a little lamp for a reading nook.

The possibilities are endless! Enjoy the journey! http://myjourneytolean.wordpress.com/

I would fold clothes there as well. That or install a giant fishtank, if the counter is well-supported.

I'd say add shelving go for a well-organized office space. I love an right off the kitchen!

I'd hang art over the counter, maybe one or two decorative items with a small footprint in the corner, and mainly use it for folding laundry. If you need a kitchen desk area, this would be the spot for it.

Since the countertop is recessed, it looks like you could add some doors and expand your hidden storage or add a laundry folding area. Or you could make it a concealed home office - get a rolling stool to slide underneath and you can hide away all of your paperwork mess.

What do you need extra space for?

That granite shelf doesn't have to stay there. You might think about removing it and putting in a large armoire or other furniture or even making it into a linen closet by putting shelves top to bottom and doors on it. It might even be deep enough for a hanging rod, if you need additional clothes storage. Or it could be a cleaning closet with vacuum cleaner/mops/booms/ cleaning supplies/shoe polishing supplies/glues/ and other household chemicals.

Or it could be additional kitchen storage or a pantry.

I vote that you spend some time living in the condo just to see what you don't have the right storage for. Then, figure out how to most effectively use that nook to fill your need.

I second the suggestion to take your time. After you start wishing for something for which there's no space, then convert it to that. Several good possibilities have been given.

I would take out the counter and turn it into a closet/pantry/other closed storage.

What about making it into a bar?

actually looking at the picture you already have a closet next to it - make a really big closet :)

I also second the "take your time" recommendation. It's an awesome nook that, yes, isn't anything now but could be so many things since it's close to multiple work areas.

I personally like the idea of a butler's pantry of sorts, though I don't think I'd close the whole thing off since there's lots of doors around it (laundry? bathroom, pantry). I'd probably put closed cabinets on the bottom, leave the counter so you can have a mini work surface (maybe to grow herbs like another suggestion, display an open cookbook, use as additional prep/staging area if having a party), and then do counter to ceiling open shelving for cookbooks, servers, baskets, etc.

But it could also be a desk/work area (I think that's its real intent - if you don't like the granite for that, rip it out and get a pretty secretary and a cute chair), a laundry center, a bookshelf, and so on. Lots of good suggestions people made; don't do any construction on it until you live with it a while and see what kind of storage or area you might be missing.

I'd love to see you take our the counter, and replace it with a window-seat type cushioned bench. Beneath the bench could be bookshelves, and on top put some cute pillows. It will be a great little reading nook!

Or, of course, the practical thing would be to use it as a laundry folding spot. paper over the counter top and organize your laundry materials there.

I would put open shelves above and build cabinets with doors underneath. Every apartment needs more storage and this would be an excellent place to store everything.

Lots of people have made very good suggestions, but I want to take note of one of the things you mentioned in your post: that you think it will become the mail dumping ground. If it is located in a convenient spot where you think you will automatically dump your mail, then work with it and make it a landing pad. Put a receptacle there for the mail, and a shredder under the counter so you can easily deal with pesky credit card offers, etc. If you leave the rest of the counter clear and add some shelves, it can serve as some of the other functions mentioned as well.

I have a similar counter in my house that I think was intended as a desk. There is only a doorway between mine and the kitchen so I use it as a bit of an extension of the kitchen - I have the microwave on the counter and the trashcan lives underneath the counter; those two things save me a ton of space in the actual kitchen area. I am going to add open shelves above the counter to help with storage of food because I don't have a real pantry.

I saw on what I believe was on an episode of Designed to Sell that a space similar to that was turned into a built in wine rack/bar. That is what I would do with it.

I agree with others about the desk and storage. You can organize it like this home does http://www.aliceindesignland.com/blog/inside-look-montreal-family-home.html

Looks like it was intended as a great home office space -
I'd add enclosed cabinets & open shelves above, a rolling file below, a tackboard between the shelves and the counter and have a fellow come in to drill a hole in the granite top to drop your wires through to electrical outlets below the counter and you have an office.

How about making it a little breakfast bar? Put cupboards underneath and shelves above and use it for your toaster, coffee machine, tea, cereals, etc.

I think you could either use it for a mini-office as others have said and really make it somewhere you truly would spend time paying bills and organizing paperwork (otherwise it will just be a catch all).

Another option would be to put in more floating shelves (maybe even a door) and have a storage/pantry space for your small appliances or things you don't use too often. I could always use more storage areas in my kitchen.

You could also make it into a little bar area by adding a few shelves on top, a mirror and other decorative elements in the middle, bottles on the existing shelf, and add a wine fridge below. Good luck!

How about a nice desk area or laptop station. If it is a natural place for mail and whatnot, get some nice wall baskets and organizing tools and use it for that. Maybe put some shelving above the desk for books or baskets to corral things you might use in an office area. Seems like a great landing space to me.

I'd add shelves, wicker baskets or other nice looking storage containers, and/or decorative items, and use it for pretty storage or a landing space. Then I'd add a floor to ceiling curtain to hide the more boring items, with a tieback to expose artfully arranged commonly used items (mail landing space?) and pretty decorations, so it looks intentional and adds beauty instead of just covering it up. Wish I had that little cubby hole!!

I like the idea of moving the counter top up and adding built-ins to create a butler's pantry or tearing out the counter and installing floor to ceiling shelves. I think either of those ideas would be very functional and attractive.

It could function as a small home office, but if you're worried about clutter, then making that a work space probably isn't the best idea.

It's not a cubby hole it's a built-in desk. Pull up a chair and have a seat.

I would either rip out the counter and put full height shelves and add a door to match the one across that houses the washer/dryer. Or leave the counter add shelves still would add doors to close it off. Have extra storage is such a bonus.

Are you into yoga, meditation, buddhism? If so, this nook would make a nice "altar" space. You could hang a beautiful textile (a Tibetan thanka? a stretched & mounted tapestry? a favorite scarf you never wear?) in the wall space and then front it with an orchid (a nice big faux one since there's not a lot of natural light here), a beautiful statue of Buddha or Ganeshe on a stand seated in front of the textile wall hanging. A candle and/or incense holder is the finishing touch to this sacred space that you could set intentions/make wishes/say prayers at and be reminded of your spiritual being. NOTE: the wall could have a mirror or a painting instead of a textile. Or, you could paint the walls inside the niche a nice rich purple or deep navy blue and then add the other objects. Good luck!

I would turn it into a mini office with some shelving higher up to leave room for a functional desk.

Given its location opposite your washer and dryer, adding doors and using it as a laundry closet sounds like the sanest thing to do. Put shelves above for detergents, maybe some bins below for large items, and a tabletop ironing board for the granite counter.

Of course you may need to get an electrician to install a power point.

I think its too low to function as a desk or a laundry folding bench. I'd say put a plump mattress on it and have your pets and kids play on it while you cook.

Thank you all SO much for the suggestions!! I think we are anxious to decorate the whole place, but for now I am going to take the suggestion of living there a bit, and seeing what we need extra space or storage for.

It also never dawned on me to remove the granite countertop... and I also love the idea of wine storage, as well as a little "bench" with a mattress and reading light. Right now, I don't see us sitting there and using it as a home office, so I am really enjoying these different ideas. Thank you again!!!

Oh, yeah, if you have little kids, then maybe it could be made into a sort of playhouse or puppet theater. You could keep a close eye on them without your housework being obstructed by their having "nothing to do."