Trying to fit an island into a kitchen

[united4ever]

Hopefully you can see the kitchen/Dining/living area floor plan of this house from link at the bottom.

My wife is really keen on having an island in the kitchen but not sure how this may be possible. We are thinking of putting the dining table under the skylight and having the kitchen units run right down to the utility room wall but not a definite plan - is there any way an island might work? Maybe have to take out the w/c utility room completely to create the space - like having a downstairs toilet but not really so close to the kitchen.

The room isn't that big - kitchen is 6.15 x 2.49. Living Dining area is 3.96 X 2.46 so not a massive space.

Any ideas on how this could work - preferably with an island....maybe have to compromise on a breakfast bar against the wall.

media.rightmove.co.uk/16k/15941/39641203/15941_565A_565_FLP_18_0001_max_600x600.JPG

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

media.rightmove.co.uk/16k/15941/39641203/15941_565A_565_FLP_18_0001_max_600x600.JPG

re posted link ... I will take a look !!!

[united4ever]

Thanks!

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

have added a possible solution pinterest.com/pin/440930619739606861/
let me know what you think ! could be awesome !!

[MerylStrop]

Are you sure you want an island?

It is one of the main things that puts me off houses when looking to buy….a great big clunking thing taking up loads of room and just waiting got be banged into.

[fresh]

You don't have the space to have an island. You need at least a metre clearance around it (ideally 1.2m if you have units opposite) to be able to comfortably get round it. If your room widths are 2.49/2.46 then that isn't going to work.

A peninsula, as OnePlan suggests, is your best bet.

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

pinterest.com/pin/440930619739607254/

pinterest.com/pin/440930619739607262/

Two other options - one is tight ! So would need to be a skinny island in that one !

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Basically if you really want an island - then it could be the main working area of the whole kitchen - so it could be deeper - but only if the run along the window wall is narrower - so wall unit depth on base units - it could be done - and could look great, especially if you could run the worktop into the windowcills too ?! So that run doesn't look quite so shallow !

[united4ever]

Great responses, yeah the peninsula looks the sensible choice really and was the only plan I had come up with. Will have a look at a more rounded peninsular rather than simply extending the worktop - could these be bought independently and sat next to the existing worktop or would it look odd if it is not a genuinthe worktop surface?

The skinny island would just get in the way I think - sadly we don't have that much space. That square island in the last post is interesting though - hadn't thought of that so these new ideas are what I am after. Thanks

Any other ideas welcome

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Depends in the style - if it's a totally different height it could work if modern - but probably better if all same height and worksurfaces if more traditional
Neptune do a freestanding oval island - but it's oval so rounded both ends -so would work as a small island like the last one though ?!
Or you could use individual cabinets to create a peninsular with curved cabinet ends !

[legoqueen]

It's very useful to have a wc/utility downstairs...

[middleagedspread]

I'm the only a big fan of islands. But
I wouldn't sacrifice a downstairs loo
I would only have if there was enough space (at least 1 metre) around the edges. I think OnePlans peninsula is a good compromise.

[ShoeWhore]

Is there any way of swapping around the living/dining/kitchen spaces? Just thinking that you have a huge lounge already (in the other room) so could maybe sacrifice a bit of kitchen based living space to make the kitchen really wow?

I love islands - I think they make the space much more sociable. I like Houzz's square option best - assuming that works with the required clearances as mentioned by fresh

[Bonsoir]

You don't need an island! Your kitchen will be much more chic if you build cupboards all down one wall (inc dining room) and leave plenty of space to circulate.

[Radicalwithage]

I don't think an island would work with the space you have currently.

Personally if it was me I would move the utility area to the right of the kitchen area (just before you enter the kitchen/dinning/living room) making the space more square. If costs allow I would also move forward the wall from your living room creating a smaller living room but also giving a little snug area to allow for sofas and tv in your open plan space. You could then put a run of kitchen units along the right hand wall, with a island in the middle and the dining table behind it under the sky lights.

[elliephant]

Oneplan , just stalking your photos on houzz. What blue paint did you use on your kitchen units? Very nice kitchen

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

hi ! thanks ! it's an Albany mix - French Blue, 6815 In eggshell finish !!

[united4ever]

Thanks Radical, Hadn't thought of that at all! We like that idea but wondering about costs....any ideas without even seeing it what it would roughly cost? - very nice option though.

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Used Radical's fab idea of moving the utility ... Didn't steal the whole idea - just a bit !
pinterest.com/pin/440930619739608987/

[united4ever]

Thanks, that does look fab - it's like a puzzle and I think it has been solved! I would like to keep a downstairs toilet so probably stick it where you have put the cloakroom or possibly opposite against the external wall. The kitchen diner would be much lighter with this layout too since the windows in the utility would now light up the main kitchen/dining area. Again, will have to look at costs but this is something we would like to do soon. Thanks so much!!

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Because the bathroom is above the old kitchen it should be quite easy to add a loo into that area - just re jig the new utility to fit a loo in too !!

[Radicalwithage]

Yeah! So glad to be of some help. OnePlans layout is a great one to work with.

Sorry I have no idea of costs involved, a lot would depend on if you have any supporting walls and the cost of moving the waste pipe etc.

As an alternative to moving the living room wall you could put in bio fold doors to create an open plan flow. Obvious dependent on costs.

[united4ever]

Thanks again, also thinking of making the utility into a downstairs toilet and shower room. Would be handy to have a second shower but not sure if it's more valuable than a utility space to dry and hang clothes etc.

[noddyholder]

Agree with bonsoir. Have never worked on a stylish kitchen with an island!

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

it looks to me like your bathroom is big enough to split into two shower rooms - rather than one big bathroom - which might help ! ( sorry - I'm great at spending other peoples money !)

[intheround]

We got rid of a peninsula and put in an islands . Best thing we ever did. We have far more storage and we can get to our dining table now without constantly having to walk around the peninsula and.
The rule is that you need 1m between units along the wall and The island.
We had to have ours made to fit. The cupboards on one side of the island aren't full depth as we didn't want to affect flow of traffic from utility room .