To want a kitchen island (floor plan included)

[Angeldust747]

Hi, after 5 years in our home we are finally going to be getting the kitchen replaced next year!! We are improving the layout as it's very awkward at the moment, and I have my heart set on an island. Not a fixed one, more like a freestanding ikea one so I can sit and face DH and chat while he makes dinner etc.
DH says an island won't work in the space we have because of the (soon to be) patio doors at the bottom and the back door at the top. But I think you will have the same problem even with a table and chairs, so why not let me have my island
What do you think, AIBU to put an island here (blue rectangle)?
p.s. Apologies for my drawing on top of the photo!

Honestly I agree with your husband, it would be more of a hindrance than an enhancement.
Why don't you wait until the kitchen is done and then see how you use it?

YANBU but... patio doors AND a back door into the same room feels excessive and if all doors open inward, really reduce the usable space.

I'd ditch the back door and I'd look at alternatives to the inward opening doors.. outward opening, bi fold, slide?

Why do you need patio doors and a back door? I have an island and I use it loads but I have a separate dining room, do you need to fit table and chairs in too?

I wouldn’t have the patio doors and a door on the same wall I don’t think. If you got them to open outwards that’s would give you more room though?

Best thing I ever did was get rid of the kitchen island. I have a large kitchen, 25' square but replacing the island with a big round table made the room much more flexible.

Agree. You are going to have 5 inward opening doors, is that right? Looks too tight to have an island. What's the area on the bottom left - a conservatory, or is that an external patio or something?

There seems to be too many doors for the space - 4? If you were to get rid of some, maybe replace one or two with a big window? Then an island could fit in without crashing into a door. No idea how you'll get a table in there if you want to open the doors.

Thanks for the replies! The bottom left area is the front door/ hall/ stairs (that door opens into the hall) then there is the under the stairs cupboard which opens out into the kitchen. The idea was to turn the big window into a patio window in its existing place to keep costs down (it could easily open outwards) but looking at the picture the existing back door is probably going to be unnecessary...
It's just an awkward shaped room and I want to make the best of it!

What are the sizes of the room? What is the space bottom left with 2 doors? Do you need a back door plus patio doors? Have patio doors only, opening outwards. Otherwise you've got very little room!

We had the same discussion and have a temporary one at the moment as I am fitting the new kitchen while we are still using it. But once it is finished we have decided to have a big trolley, worktop height, with lockable wheels (from Aldi last week) as it is then a movable island which will be handy for instance for putting things onto that you are taking out of the fridge rather than having to reach around the fridge door to the worktop, or take two steps per item to put item on worktop on the other side of kitchen. We have a double fridge freezer with two doors that open outwards so I cannot simply hang the fridge door the other way.
We used to have a table but it sat in the corner, taking up huge space and was never used except to dump stuff on. We never eat in the kitchen. But if you want to sit and watch DH work, why not have a couple of stools you could pull up to the trolley cum island? Then you could slide it out of the way whenever you need more space.

An island is visually very solid. Ours is 4ft from units on two sides and 6ft plus from the walls on the other two sides. Anything less than 4ft between island and unit I think would feel very squashed.

I'd open the doors outwards and turn the black door into a window. Then it will fit. Do you not want a table though? or are you thinking island which functions as a table? (with bar stools?). If so is there room to get your legs under such a small one?

It's about 5mx4m but the hall space takes a big chunk out. We have a table and chairs in the bottom area at the moment but it is literally a dumping ground with a small space cleared at one end.

Honestly I would do it. We have a small kitchen and completely redid it and I was adamant to have an island. The space around it is a little bit small and some people would consider it “in the way” but it was honestly the best decision and I use it every single day. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter that there isn’t loads of space around it as it serves its purpose. Definitely do it if you’ve got your heart set on it :)

Having patio doors there means no space for a table, and a table in the kitchen is a huge selling point.

(Definitely no space for an island IMHO)

I would get rid of the single back door and do a return of the base units around that corner. Maybe just have a window instead for the light.

I think islands are great if they have a lot of space around them, at least a metre right round otherwise it looks too tight. I prefer a table as you can see the floor underneath so visually it's not filling the whole space.

Aside from the fact there is no space - aren't kitchen islands a bit naff now? Like hot tubs and holidays to Dubai?

Your lovely new kitchen will be great without a silly island cluttering the space up.

The island would become a roundabout as very little room to move round it.

How about block back door.

French doors opening into garden.

Table and chairs

Two occasional chairs by patio doors to turn it into a family kitchen / room

I would turn your back door into a window and have french doors opening outwards. Would you have room for a table in front of either? I wouldn’t have an island having considered your plan. I always wanted one but have now ditched mine in favour of more open space. It can feel a bit passagey too if you only just have enough room to walk around it.

I would get rid of the french windows (have a big regular window instead) and then you will have a good space to put a table in. you can even build in bench seats along the back wall with lots of cushions and then you can seat more people.

And definitely no island in a small space.

Use this planner to see what size you can fit in and still leave sufficient room to get round.

I didn't really have room but really wanted one, managed to fit in a 1200 square one and I love it. I could have more work and storage space without it but my kitchen, my choice (I do live alone however)

I'd take out the built in cupboard so that space is rectangular, although if it is under the stairs you may not get full height.

If you want patio doors make the big window into doors with open outwards and have a table in that space.

Change the existing door into a window and take the units around that corner and have the sink under the window.

But then we have a table in the kitchen that we eat almost all our meals at and which is never a dumping ground. If you don't use yours it probably isn't a great idea for you.

Sorry forgot the link.

This kitchen Planner planner.diy-kitchens.com/

Patio doors open outwards surely?