If you are looking to add an island to your designer kitchen, you are definitely thinking well. That feature not only adds plenty of counter space but also introduces new storage solutions to the room. Those are two elements you will need a lot of. Yet, it is important to remember that the island has to be adequately designed. Otherwise, it becomes a burden to the room, which is likely not what you want. The major mistakes with kitchen islands are as follows:
You don’t consider the purpose of the island – there are many functions that a kitchen island fills: serving, cooking, storage, food preparation and washing up dishes. Before you go ahead with the design project, you have to think about which of these roles you want the island to play. For example, if you have plenty of room, you can go with a wide enough island and fit a few kitchen stations. Adding seating to it is also an excellent idea. Bear in mind that if you go with a cooktop on the island, you will also have to think about installing a range hood. If the island features a sink, it would be wise to make space for a dishwasher somewhere in there too, as you don’t want to walk too far to get the dishes there. The island is too big – even if you have a large enough kitchen, you will seriously hinder the space by installing a very big island. As a rule of thumb, you best leave about 100 – 120 cm. of open space around the island to be able to use it properly The island is too small – if the island is too small, then it becomes very hard to use it for anything. At the very least, it should be at least 1 metre long. If there is no such space available in your kitchen, then you are better off with a butcher block station or a moving table to play the role of the island. Obstructed workflow – to maintain the workflow of your kitchen, you have to keep the island far enough from the surrounding areas. One particular thing to be mindful of is the kitchen triangle – fridge, sink and stove. You have to keep the path free so that you can move around as freely as possible.
Placing too many seats at the island – adding a breakfast bar to the kitchen island is definitely a nice touch. However, adding too many seats can make the area too crammed. If people sit there, they will need at least 60 cm. between each other to feel comfortable. The island doesn’t have sufficient lighting – if you are planning on using the island to prepare food, you will need adequate lighting. Pendant lights make for a particularly good option.
Now that you know what the most common mistakes in regards to kitchen islands are, you can better avoid them. Be sure to check with K&I Kitchens for more information on how to design your kitchen island. Contact 020 7388 4985 for more info. © K&I Kitchens