Your basic kitchen base cabinet is a tad too tall for most chairs. However, if you take and cut the bottom 3.5" off, the toe kick area, they are just right. You want to leave the cabinet out where you plan on sitting so your knees have someplace to go. You can get base cabinets that are all drawers, too. Another alternative is a tall work chair or stool. A bar stool is too tali, but there are work chairs out there made for the average counter height.

I would use pre-made counter top in a solid cream color or something along that line, or use a solid color mat at the tying area to protect the counter top and give you a suitable background for finding stuff. If you do use a post formed counter, I just happen to have some cool bushings made for the old Made2Fly tying desks to hold your vise.