Photo:White handleless kitchen
Are you planning a new kitchen and thinking about adding a kitchen island?
kitchen islands are a free-standing group of cabinets that can complement your kitchen. They often add functionality, more worktop space, storage and extra seating. For some, an island has become a real icon of the modern kitchen. The kitchen is the place to socialize with family and friends, it really is the heart of the home.
Cream Shaker Kitchen with an Island
White Shaker Kitchen with Wooden Worktops – Burwash East Sussex
Designing the layout of your kitchen is a really big decision. Make sure you have an idea of things you like and show them to a professional kitchen designer, who can then help you plan and build your dream kitchen.
A kitchen with an island is not right for everyone, not all kitchens work well with an island, older kitchens and those with a small layout may not be able to accommodate a kitchen island, so its important to plan what works in your space as each kitchen is different and unique.
Advantages of having a kitchen island
The kitchen island brings plenty of advantages, like creating a defined area that gives plenty of space for family life and entertaining. The extra seating can give you an extra zone, a place for children to do homework, a baking station or a work area for you. A kitchen island also offers more worktop space and extra storage. Extra storage means you can keep all your appliances and accessories stored away neatly in cupboards and drawers.
Large Cutlery drawers
Consider how much space you have
You need to consider space when thinking about an island, if space is not a problem then an island can work well and is great for family life and entertaining. Kitchen islands work best if they can be accessed from all sides, so it is helpful to allow roughly a metre of space around the island. This makes it safer if someone is cooking.
Large Stunning Contemporary Kitchen with an island
Make sure you think about how you would use an island and if you would benefit from it. They can be costly and take up lots of space. Kitchen islands can sometimes be used to store clutter on, so it can be useful to allow enough storage to keep the island free from clutter as you don’t want to lose the wow factor when having a beautiful new kitchen.
Safety Aspects you need to think about
One of the things to consider if your planning on adding a hob to the island is the safety aspect. It is worth thinking about an Induction hob, as they are proven to be much safer especially if you have small children. Adding a hob to your island means you have to take into account that it will need extraction. There are a few different types of extractors that are worth researching. Ceiling extractors are built into the ceiling and extract upwards. Downdraft extractors are separate units that rise up out of the hob. A venting hob is an extractor that is built into the hob.
Bora Induction Hob
Sinks and Taps
If you choose to add a sink on the island then they can seem quite messy, whilst cooking and washing up. If having the sink on the island is something you really like, some sinks come with built-in drainers.
Quooker Tap
Quooker taps are becoming increasingly popular because of their brilliant functionality with instant boiling water and chilled filtered water. They also have a double twist safety mechanism which makes them safe around children.
Quooker Boiling Tap
Photo: Quooker Tap
U shape and L shape Islands and Breakfast Bars
If you do not have room for a free-standing island you can add a U shape or an L shape island into your kitchen with a small breakfast bar which also works well. Although these are smaller in size they still give the kitchen a wow factor on a smaller scale.
L shaped Island/breakfast bar
Photo: Dark Grey Kitchen
Remember all kitchens are unique and made to suit you and your family. Pop into our showroom and we can help plan and build your dream kitchen with or without an island.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Black Rok kitchen design.