Kitchen Island Ideas

A kitchen island is a great addition to any kitchen. Not only does it give you more countertop space, but it also gives you more cabinet space as well as giving you the option to do something a little unique with your kitchen. When remodeling your kitchen, you will want to try out one of these ideas that will complement your kitchen nicely. In fact, more than 80 per cent of homeowners say they want an island in their dream kitchen makeovers.

The cabinetry of the kitchen island should not be overlooked to the point where you just “throw” some cabinets in there. If you plan to use your island primarily for cooking, you will want to make sure you have some larger spaces in the cabinetry for larger items such as pots, pans, cooking utensils, and anything you deem to be something you can’t cook without. Nothing is more frustrating than having to cross the kitchen multiple times just to grab something. Great cabinetry can keep everything within arm’s reach.

Storage

Cabinets that can be used for kitchen islands offer a wide range of innovative organizational and storage ideas. Deep drawers with adjustable dividers cleverly store everything from pots and pans to pantry essentials such as canned goods. Rollout trays—shelves that pull forward—provide easy access to small appliances and serving platters.

Lighting

Lighting over your island is an absolute must. However, as with the cabinetry, you will want it to go with how you plan on using the island and your habits. If the island will have a sitting area and will be used as a primary place to eat and entertain, you will want to have sufficient lighting. If you are the sort to stumble into the kitchen at the early hours in the morning, you may not want to blind yourself with those bright lights. So you may want some low wattage lighting. You may want to consider putting the lighting on a dimmer switch to help give you the best of both worlds.

Appliances

Appliances on the kitchen island could be a very useful feature added to your kitchen. Consider adding in a stove top, oven or a sink to complement your kitchen. This allows you to be versatile when entertaining guests and gives you more than ample room to cook.

Informal dining

An island can double as an eating area. Keep in mind that you’ll need enough space behind the seats for traffic. And allow enough countertop overhang to comfortably accommodate legs tucked underneath. When choosing countertops, consider one with a softly contoured edge, which is most comfortable for leaning against.

Free Standing Kitchen Islands

Kitchen islands can be freestanding or built over a raised foundation that the furniture fits over. Other popular kitchen furniture ideas include stainless steel, wood, granite, stone and concrete. Kitchen islands that look like furniture are here to stay and the evolution of design is ongoing.There is never an end to imaginative ideas for form and function and it is a treat to visit home décor fairs to see creative ideas designers have come up with.

Below are some kitchen islands that look like furniture that I personally think would be an asset to any kitchen.

 

When Designing a Kitchen Island

Set The Boundaries

First determine whether you have adequate room in your kitchen for an island. The magic number is 42 inches: That’s the minimum amount of space you’ll want between the unit and any surrounding object to ensure that the island doesn’t obstruct traffic flow. If you have tight quarters or a compact kitchen, San Francisco–based designer Lou Ann Bauer suggests opting for a small portable piece such as a butcher-block counter on casters in lieu of a built-in, so that the fixture can be moved when not needed.

Consider The Function

How will you use the unit? Will it be where you’ll create gourmet meals? Eat breakfast? House your china? Vary an island’s height—or employ a variety of countertop surfaces—to create distinct zones for different activities. For example, your design could include a 36-inch-high work counter for food prep and a 42-inch-high bar for casual dining; likewise, you might incorporate a wooden butcher block into a marble-topped unit. Of course, if you opt to have multiple islands, each can be devoted to a separate set of activities. No island should be more than four feet wide, so that you can easily reach the middle of its countertop.

An island’s purpose determines its placement. You can use the element to divide the kitchen and living areas in an open-plan house or to delineate working and eating zones. If you want to utilize the unit for baking, make sure it provides easy access to the stove, sink, and refrigerator. If you will employ it for buffets, keep the public side open. And remember: Rounding an island’s edges draws in guests while squaring them creates a buffer.

Equip an Island to Serve Its Role

If it will function as a breakfast bar, stools and a cantilevered countertop are essential. If it will house a cooktop, add a vent hood overhead or a pop-up downdraft venting system; choose a unit in the size and power recommended by your cooktop maker and have it finished in a material that coordinates with your kitchen. If food prep will be the main activity, consider installing a small sink; make it more than nine inches deep to prevent splashing. Be aware that some fixtures may require a plumber or an electrician to put in additional supply and drain lines or outside venting.

There are a variety of different things that you can do with your kitchen island to help complement your kitchen. Keep a few of these ideas in mind when remodeling your kitchen and be sure to mention them to your remodeling professional.

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