Kitchen Island Ideas

Kitchen islands are not only functional, in that they provide an additional working space in the kitchen, they are a great way to enhance the overall appeal of your kitchen. islands are best suited to open kitchens, that are L-shaped. They may also be great for open kitchens with a single counter. While an island is not necessarily placed only in an open kitchen, in an enclosed one that is not so large, it may be more of a hindrance than a utility. In any case, island counters have the capacity to add the perfect aesthetic value to a kitchen that no amount of cabinetry or decoration will do. Here, we discuss some ideas, but not before learning about some basics that should be followed when deciding to have a kitchen island installed.

Installation Tips

As mentioned earlier, an island counter has a unique place in the kitchen, and is suited only to particular kitchen shapes. For instance, if you have a parallel kitchen, or a kitchen with parallel work tops, having an island there will only hinder your movement around. Also, they should be to scale with your kitchen, and not stick out like a sore thumb. Now, even a small table can be a kitchen island. The idea is to keep it in proportion with the size of the kitchen. An island counter always requires a minimum of 42 inches of space all around it, particularly if there are appliances around the island. This is to enable easy movement and allow easy access to these appliances. Finally, there is no limit to the cabinetry you can have below your kitchen island, but when you utilize it for the purpose of seating or decide have a breakfast bar, ensure that the counter top extends at least 6-12 inches beyond the actual cabinetry for leg room.

Design Ideas

Kitchen island designs can be as fancy or as minimalistic as you want them to be. They depend on your choice, and the space available around. Keeping these two factors in mind, you may choose from any of the following ideas.

• Though an island counter should ideally blend with the rest of the kitchen design, there is no harm in giving it a dash of color to have it stand out a little. The idea is to strike a balance so that it looks like a part of the décor yet has its own identity amid the rest of the kitchen.
• Another way to design your island counter is to use different materials to divide work surfaces. For instance, you could add a butcher's block (chopping board) that is a wooden surface on 1/4th of the island surface, and keep the remainder granite as a work surface. This not only serves dual purposes but also adds an element of interest to the island.
• A two-level island can beautifully utilize the concept of multiple surfaces. A level made of wood that is higher than the granite work surface serves as a small breakfast table, and gives the island a dynamic look.
• Add a wine rack on a side of an island in an open kitchen, and a side that shows in the living or dining room. As a design element on its own, you don't need to do much else to make your kitchen island stand out. Further, you can include open shelving and have the kitchen cabinets below the island covered with glass doors to give it a unique look.
• If you are a minimalist and don't like bulky furniture, just a long rectangular kitchen table with two chairs around it can serve as the perfect kitchen island for you. You could also use a table on wheels to make your island counter portable, or mount old storage cabinets on casters and use them as a mobile island counter, which you can keep aside when you want to give your kitchen a larger appeal. This is a particularly great for small kitchens.
• If you want to build custom kitchen islands, try out having the counter in various shapes. A circular island with open shelving, a wedge-shaped island, an angular island, a perfectly square island, or a long, rectangular island with a rounded or a semi-circular edge is another great way to add that dynamism to your kitchen.
• Think of your dining table attached to the island counter where your kids can spend time with you doing their homework or other crafts, while you are cooking and keeping them company. A great idea for large kitchens, this concept gives the kitchen an elongated appearance.
• Your kitchen island can also double up as a dining table if it is wide and long enough. This eliminates the need for a separate dining table, and allows you to integrate a living space without much effort.

As a finishing touch, use a gorgeous chandelier right above the island to make it the ultimate focal point, or have your pots and pans hanging from above it for a change. Even a glass rack is a great choice among additional elements to highlight the island.

Once again, remember to follow the aforementioned tips when installing kitchen islands, because no matter how beautiful the island may appear on its own, they will not serve any purpose if those measures are not adhered to.