Kitchen Islands - Why We All Need One In Our Kitchens

3 years ago

A kitchen island is generally a freestanding cabinet with seating that can be used as a prep area or table. It gives home cooks some useful extra space for preparing food and, for other family members, it is an informal, relaxed dining area. If you are re-designing your kitchen, here are some particularly good reasons why you should integrate a kitchen island:

Benefits Of A Kitchen Island

Extra Cupboards- any normal kitchen generates clutter and the ability of the island to negate disorganisation is a bonus for any homeowner. Depending on the kitchen island design, you can have curved drum cupboards, open shelving or wine racks as extra storage areas that are easier to access than regular cupboards.

Strong Design Statement- a kitchen island adds a new look to your kitchen. New elements like beautifully mottled stone worktops, sleek cladding materials and striking colours can make your kitchen looking more modern and stylish.

More Social-Friendly Setting- with a kitchen island, you can stay social with family members and friends. To encourage people to gravitate towards the kitchen island, you may add a worktop overhang or breakfast bar. Whether it is for relaxed Sunday brunches or casual dining, the kitchen island can make everyone more social.

Perfect For Children- a kitchen island can be an ideal work area for children, whether for doing homework or experimenting with easy recipes. Children can become part of the action when parents are doing certain tasks.

Extra Seating- in many homes, extra seating is an important asset. Wherever there is additional seating, people will gather. Even if you have a small kitchen, you can add a few extra seats around a kitchen island.

Versatile Movable Kitchen- kitchen islands don’t have to be fixed and it can be made movable. Most of the time, you need counter space, but at other times, you need more floor space. With a movable kitchen island you can have more room and you can do more activities with your family. If you have smaller kitchen, a movable kitchen island is an ideal addition.

Accommodate Kitchen Amenities- for smaller kitchens, an island allows you to add a stove, sink and extra cooking area without taking up too much space. This will make your kitchen useful and more functional. A larger kitchen island can be connected with plumbing, electrical and gas systems, so your options can be limitless.

Contact Schmidt

To learn more about designing the perfect kitchen for your home, contact Schmidt today and speak with an interior design professional who can assist you and answer any questions you have about modern home design.

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Hi there, It's a lovely space and I am sure there are lots of options as mentioned already by Karen above. How would you like to use the island? Is it more for the aesthetic or do you want it for people to sit / perch at? Islands tend to lose a lot of storage if you want people to be able to sit at them, which necessitates the need for more wall cabinets etc but if you can use the 'back side' for more occasional items then the wall restrictions may be less of an issue. What sort of style are you thinking of going for? Open shelves can look fabulous and a great way of storing items that are used day in, day out. They can also be very budget friendly in comparison to wall cabinets. Have you considered banquette seating for the table, opposed to using all chairs? It tends to be quite space saving and quite versatile too. Best wishes Claire
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Hi Emily and Jonathan! Thanks so much for the feedback. Emily - I didn't manage to attach the image that shows the new parking we'd have - see new picture I've just uploaded above of a birds eye view with additional hardstanding driveway in the front garden. - thanks for the vote re tall narrow west window! I'm coming round to the idea though my husband is unpersuaded and thinks will interfere with furniture too much. I think one in the corner just before the family room could work really well. Jonathan - yes the kitchen hasn't really been designed at all yet, the architectural technicians just showed the hob and sink for a rough idea that that area is the kitchen. But we can do what we like with the space really. There are already 2 sets of patio doors on the back of the house though so I think we can't really justify a third! (It might not be clear on the plans but the dining room ends in a modern glass box with heat resistant glass and within-the-upvc-double-glazing-blinds, which includes patio doors ?bifold depending on budget. Then the snug has more standard patio type doors and will probably be the main back garden route.) - generally I think we'd err towards a peninsula rather than an island, not for any real reason just tend to prefer the look of them. So probably a peninsula with a couple of bar stools, coming from the garden side of the room at the junction of the kitchen / dining area, and finishing where the island ends now. Think @Emily sounds like I haven't explained myself very well re eventual layout with train room - see attached jpeg to see what it will end up as (we haven't got the plans drawn this way for planning application, but the aim is to end up with this at the end of the works).
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Kitchen Islands - Why We All Need One In Our Kitchens

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