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Island Living: Your Kitchen Will Never Be the Same
Copyright (c) 2008-2023 Aaron J. Munk
Today's kitchens aren't just for cooking anymore. The modern kitchen has become the heart of the home; a place where family and friends gather to do everything from cooking and eating, to entertaining, to doing homework, to sharing everyday life.
Because of their practicality and convenience, kitchen designers are incorporating islands into more new homes. Along with more storage area and additional counter space, islands add a sense of style and luxury to the kitchen.
Your island can be as simple as putting a plain table in the middle of your kitchen, to designing an elaborate unit with varying heights and running water or even a cooktop or oven. When you decide to install an island, you must plan specific design elements and keep in mind the following considerations:
Space Requirements
Some kitchens are just too small for an island, which requires a three-foot clearance on all sides. There is no hard rule, but unless the kitchen has an open space of eight feet by twelve feet, at the minimum, it’s unwise to consider adding an island.
You can draw a chalk outline on the floor of your kitchen to indicate the island. Or, you could stack boxes in the shape of your desired island space. As you walk around the shape, if it feels crowded, your island could become more of an obstacle than a convenience and you may need to adjust the design.
Make sure there's enough space between the island and other work areas so you'll be able to open cabinet or appliance doors. And remember that with an island, there will be room for two people to work.
If your kitchen is not large enough for a fixed island, you could invest in a portable version that can easily be moved and be stored near a wall when not in use.
Design Choices
Use design elements based on tasks you want to perform around your kitchen island. It can be located so it functions as an integral part of the work area or you may want to use it to divide the kitchen and the family room.
The classic "work triangle" of the cooking station, the cleanup station and the storage station can be reconfigured to include the island. You can relocate the cooktop to the island and have a wall oven elsewhere. If you do, consider storing the pots and pans below the cooktop for ease of use. This type of cooking island will require about a two-foot clearance on the counter adjacent to a cooktop and an exhaust fan nearby.
This cooktop island is ideal for those who like to entertain since the cook can prepare food while entertaining guests. Proper ventilation is vital and an exhaust fan located beneath the heating elements should draw smoke and heat away from the rest of the kitchen.
You could relocate the cleanup station to the island by adding a sink and a disposal unit or a pull-out waste basket drawer for prepping vegetables. You might also want to add a dishwasher and make sure there is easy access to utensils and dishes and cleaning supplies.
A social island might have seating and space for a television or computer and storage for homework and supplies. This configuration could include a microwave for heating up after-school snacks.
Proper Height
Usually, the island will be the same height as the rest of your countertops. However, they can be modified with different heights such as adding the popular breakfast bar. This dual-height island has a 42-inch counter to accommodate bar stools along with a lower 36-inch high counter for cooking. And, islands aren't just rectangular. They can be L-shaped or curved or even have more than two tiers.
Countertops and Lighting
When adding an island, you'll be adding more counter space. Islands can be topped just like regular counters - with hard wood, granite, marble, stainless steel, laminate, natural stone or butcher block. You can choose to match the rest of the kitchen’s countertops or you can chose something different that complements the look of your kitchen. Adding legs or feet makes the island look more like a piece of furniture, a popular trend for today’s kitchens.
It's very important to have enough light in a kitchen. There are many options for light above the island including recessed and pendant lighting to track lighting or even a chandelier. You might even try to maximize the natural light by having a skylight.
Many new kitchen islands are being designed with functional and decorative touches, turning the island into the focal point of the kitchen instead of just a last-minute addition.
Island living shouldn't be stressful. If planning your island seems overwhelming, there are plenty of places to get design help. Designed correctly, a kitchen island will make your work area more functional and efficient, and will be enjoyed by everyone for many years.
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Aaron J. Munk is the founder of Maytex Global, a home-design technology company at the crossroads of technology and design. They are the creators of SeeItYourWay, a premier kitchen design website, providing users with the ability to view multiple home decor selections in a photo-realistic setting, bringing out the unique designer in each and every one of us. To learn more, visit http://www.seeityourway.com or call 800-733-0155.
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