6 design issues when planning a kitchen island
There’s quite a bit to contemplate when planning a kitchen island. From measurement and form to paint and the island’s place in your kitchen, the best way your kitchen island is designed can have a big impact in your total house.
All profitable kitchen island concepts begin with a couple of preliminary issues. Tackling these factors when planning a kitchen island will make it easier to select the correct one to fit your wants and your required look.
1. House and measurement
(Picture credit score: Dunelm)
The elemental truth is: irrespective of how good a kitchen island is, it will not be of a lot use to you if it is too giant to your kitchen. Kitchen island sizes are to not be ignored when planning yours. As Senior Inside Designer at Mackenzie Collier Interiors, Katie Simpson, explains, ‘islands are available in all totally different sizes and shapes, however no matter what you choose, you’ll want to find out when you have the sq. footage for one.’
Be particularly cautious when eager about small kitchen island concepts. In some kitchens, small actually means tiny, and, as Simpson says, ‘generally smaller kitchens are likely to do higher with a peninsula or a smaller free-standing piece versus a built-in island, as this tends to take up more room.’
2. Goal
(Picture credit score: Brayer Design)
As soon as you’ve got decided the suitable kitchen island measurement to your kitchen, take into consideration its major goal.
Devin Shaffer, Lead Inside Designer at Decorilla On-line Inside Design , informed us that ‘kitchen islands assist floor a kitchen and due to that it is crucial to have a full understanding of the aim you need your island to serve earlier than making any design choices.’
In follow, this implies deciding ‘if you would like your island design to accommodate entertaining friends, being totally utilitarian, or just a little little bit of each.’
Simpson expands additional on the significance of understanding your kitchen island’s goal: ‘Take into consideration the way you need the island to operate to your wants. Would you like further prep house? During which case, you would possibly determine to not set up a sink or cooktop as a way to maximize the floor space. Or is your island a spot you wish to make the most of for further seating? You’ll wish to add an overhang clearance for counter stools.’
3. Type
(Picture credit score: Used Kitchen Change)
Now that you’ve got a clearer thought of the size and what operate your island will likely be performing in your kitchen, it is time to begin eager about the fashion of your kitchen island. You would possibly suppose that your island must be constant along with your total kitchen concepts, however Simpson believes that you may want your kitchen island design ‘to face by itself. This might embrace deciding on a distinct countertop materials or paint coloration out of your perimeter cupboards or possibly you wish to showcase a waterfall edge.’
Do not be afraid to experiment – fashionable kitchen concepts particularly are extra forgiving of daring standout items that do not essentially match the opposite components.
Shaffer agrees, including that ‘through the use of a contrasting coloration to the kitchen cabinetry, an island addition is an prompt focus.’
4. Space for storing
(Picture credit score: LochAnna Kitchens)
A kitchen island presents the proper alternative so as to add further kitchen storage. In case you’re brief on cupboard house, now could be the time to think about some extra. Simpson advises deciding early on ‘whether or not you incorporate base cupboards on either side or maybe go for open shelving on one finish.’
Sara Mosele, of Sara Mosele Interiors, a New York-based inside design and structure agency, provides that ‘if the household eats out quite a bit, the main target ought to be on the cupboard space with a breakfast counter that’s compact and accessible.’
5. Materials
(Picture credit score: Benjamin Moore)
Your kitchen island is a pure focus in your kitchen, so studying how to decide on the correct counter for kitchen islands will repay, design-wise. Mosele explains that ‘the island is at all times a possibility to spotlight design particulars and supplies equivalent to lovely marble.’ Whereas an all-marble kitchen island will likely be too costly for all however probably the most luxurious kitchens, a marble countertop can add that particular contact to your kitchen with out breaking the financial institution.
6. Place
(Picture credit score: Bnejamin Moore)
Lastly, now that you have thought-about the principle practical and design factors, take into consideration the positioning of your island. A central positioning is probably the most conventional, however it will not work in smaller or l-shaped kitchens. There are many different kitchen format concepts that may accommodate a kitchen island with out making the kitchen troublesome to maneuver round in.
In case you’re unsure the place to start out, Sara recommends ‘putting the island within the proximity of a window’ – this ‘provides a pleasant design dimension to the expertise’ of your kitchen. Keep away from positioning your kitchen island in darkish corners, until you possibly can compensate with kitchen island lighting concepts, ideally a big pendant or a collection of pendant lights.
What’s the perfect house to maintain round a kitchen island?
As a rule of thumb, Simpson advises that ‘irrespective of the precise measurement of the island it’s necessary to have between 42 and 48 inches across the perimeter for clearance. This enables ease of motion for a number of folks utilizing the kitchen.’
Shaffer provides that: ‘there are occasions the place it is okay to interrupt some guidelines and go down an inch or two – for instance, in a metropolis rental or studio house.’
When deciding how a lot house to go away round your kitchen island, Sara recommends remembering that ‘the kitchen island is the core of the home. That is the place every part occurs from cooking to entertaining, doing homework and simply gathering with the household. It’s actually necessary that the house round or not it’s designed with these features in thoughts. If the principle purpose is entertaining and cooking at dwelling, lots of house across the island is vital to have the ability to transfer round comfortably.’
What makes a superb kitchen island design?
A kitchen island has many roles to do in your kitchen, so it’s worthwhile to select fastidiously. Based on Simpson, ‘a superb kitchen island is one which serves a number of features. Whether or not that’s further prep house, extra storage or just extra floor house to seat folks and revel in a meal, an island ought to operate to profit the person. Additionally as talked about above, it ought to have enough house round all sides to accommodate foot site visitors.’
