So long as you get great usable space out of it, you can either raise or lower the top. I personally like the example in blue above (how they used the blue in the back of the cabinets and) how when they lowered the counter top they snuck in an open shelf. I like the idea of one open shelf, not a whole kitchen full of them getting dusty. The example in white has a series of small drawers which would be completely worthless to me.

If you are not going to connect top to bottom via sides, I'm not sure you can get the hutch look. It looks like simple shapes making the transitions in your pictures, not solid sides connecting top and bottom, might you consider something similar?

I like the raised, but I think it really depends on how you want to use it. I'm short, so I might enjoy a short counter for rolling out pie dough etc. But I'd you really do plan to put a microwave there, I'd rather have larger drawers.

I don't see that as a "hutch" area crammed into the corner, adjacent to the other cabinets. It needs a different location, or much different detailing where the two meet in order to actually work. I'd put it on the other side of the window.

the lowered hutch looks awkward in both pics as they draw the eye downward. no offense but they look like an after thought. the raised one however, frames the kitchen.

I like the open shelf too, practigal. Our dishes are in and out so many times a day, it might be nice to have them stored in an open spot like that.

I'd consider doing the brackets that look like they almost touch the counter, but not quite, OOTM. Something like the brackets in the one with the raised counter.

Joygreenwald, I picture this spot mostly as the place where we keep our dishes. The kids could fix a quick breakfast in this spot, as well. Or they could do that on the island, directly across the way.

I'm debating about dropping the section of island counter closest to the stove (not pictured) for tasks like dough rolling. So, it's not like I need the hutch section to be lower.

Thanks for chiming in GreenDesigns. The rest of the counter to the left of the sink is an L shaped portion with the stove on the short leg, so highly useful space for prepping in addition to the island.

Here's a pic:

If you have some ideas that would work better for the space, I'd love to hear them. My layout planning thread is linked below.

That's an interesting point, jeff-1010. That the eye is drawn downward by the lowered counter, but the kitchen is framed by the higher counter. Hmmmmm....

Here is a link that might be useful: Our jigsaw kitchen using cabinets from craigslist