Page 14 | To think kitchen Islands are the artex of the future?

GervaseFen · 2020-08-24T19:59:50+00:00

I was watching a home renovation programme and every time they stick these massive blocks in the middle of the kitchen before ripping out the walls to 'connect' to the garden. This time the island was a huge rectangle and took up most of the room with a little table in the space at the end. I can so image the future shows having people walking around and identifying these as the first thing to rip out and exclaiming over how much space they gain.

mateysmum · 25/08/2020 14:06

I love, love love my island, but that's because it works well in my kitchen. The room is long and narrow so I have units in an L shape and an island in the middle rather than units on opposite sides of the room. This means I never have to use it as a roundabout and everything is really close together without being cramped. The island has power sockets which I think is important and it makes a great double with work surface which I find is very flexible.

There is space for a couple of bar stools but I also have a separate dining table in the kitchen.

I don't think islands will be the new artex because planned and executed well, they are very functional.

Saz12 · 25/08/2020 14:07

#Wexone- thanks! They look great. I’m off to get tape measure now...!

mateysmum · 25/08/2020 14:07

*double WIDTH !

Goosefoot · 25/08/2020 14:11

@PunishmentSnart

Those of you who have/want all rooms separate, where do you have your parties? Is everyone in different rooms?

I love to cook and host so opening up our kitchen and dining room was perfect for us, means I'm not stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is together.

We have doors that can close off the living room which we open if having a big party.

I usually prefer a more separate kitchen. If I've having an event I choose what I cook to a large extent so that it doesn't require me to be apart for long.

My old house had a minuscule and badly designed kitchen, so I really had to plan carefully, and I certainly didn't want anyone in there, it always looked like it had been bombed even when it was all done as efficiently as possible. My house now has a really functional galley that is attached to a big dining room, which I prefer - it's more friendly without encouraging people to stand around in the actual kitchen.

Bluntness100 · 25/08/2020 14:12

Chuckling at someone saying en suites and period fire places will go out of fashion 🤣🤣🤣

Goosefoot · 25/08/2020 14:14

@TildaKauskumholm

Island can be great in the right space, but yes they do seem to be a trend thing. Like those teeny useless washbasins that look like a fruit bowl on a worktop, bifold doors, open plan etc. The problem is when people insist on having trendy things even when they don't really have the space/layout etc, and just jump straight on the bandwagon. They're idiots, and these are big things to change when they regret their choice.

The little sink can work under certain circumstances to. Used properly it's a prep sink. So your main sink in the dish area can be used for dishes while someone doing prep work has a place to wash veg, can clean up peelings, and so on. It's based on commercial kitchen design.

Most people don't cook in a way that requires that, though, if you only have one cook it's not that useful. So it can often be wasted space or even a pain.

BestOption · 25/08/2020 14:14

@Namechange4kitchenisland

Our island is fab but only used for food prep. Can't imagine eating at it.

We never use our kitchen table but it would seem very empty without it, or without the island

Of course it would seem empty without the table or island - it's the size of a bloody football field!

My entire flat would fit in there, with space around the outside 🤣

I'm currently redoing my kitchen. It would possibly fit on your island it's only 3m x 3m with too many doors etc.

Yesterdayforgotten · 25/08/2020 14:17

@Wexone they look amazing, I would much prefer those doors to the bifolding ones we have going in to an extension! They were in the house when we bought it and I liked the look of them but pocket would be better. It is fantastic that you have the open plan aspect but then the option of closing it off if you want separate spaces again so the best of both worlds there. I think your dp made the right choices on french doors and sorry have to agree with him esp to the outside as they will last longer and I think bi folding ones would have gotten on your nerves eventually. They look lovely but are annoying, I'm surprised my toddler hasn't broken ours yet!

Goosefoot · 25/08/2020 14:17

@Bluntness100

Chuckling at someone saying en suites and period fire places will go out of fashion 🤣🤣🤣

I don't think period fireplaces will, but I wonder about en suits. They really do take up a huge amount of room in a floorplan, and they are very expensive space too.

Any time I look at a plan and think about paring it down, that would be almost the first to go. A communal bathroom is going to stay, and a main floor toilet I would prefer not to give up. But an en suit is no where near as useful.

Blackbear19 · 25/08/2020 14:19

I think they have to be designed very very well for them to work. I remember working in a house circa 20 years ago where the lady was ripping an island out of her kitchen as 'it got in the way'. This was a fairly large kitchen in an old sandstone terrace.

So yes Op I think they could be a fashion that goes.

Yesterdayforgotten · 25/08/2020 14:21

And thanks for posting, my living room is closed off, we have the kitchen, dining, extension open plan. I'd love the living room to go through the way yours does.

DiWoo · 25/08/2020 14:25

No! I love my island, well peninsula to be precise, I would only have a tiny bit of work surface otherwise and it's gained me more cupboards underneath. Where it's situated is either side of where the dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room was so it's not taken any space away from my small kitchen and the space feels bigger without the wall there. I love using the dining room side as a breakfast bar but, if I had the money, I would change having the dining room (table) and breakfast bar near each other.

LightAsTheBreeze · 25/08/2020 14:26

En-suites are a strange thing especially in small new builds that have the bathroom next to the main bedroom anyway, and usually a cloakroom downstairs, it's just a waste of space which could be used for storage which is usually sadly lacking. I think they are probably more likely to go out of fashion than islands which are mostly in large kitchens.

Blackbear19 · 25/08/2020 14:29

@LightAsTheBreeze

En-suites are a strange thing especially in small new builds that have the bathroom next to the main bedroom anyway, and usually a cloakroom downstairs, it's just a waste of space which could be used for storage which is usually sadly lacking. I think they are probably more likely to go out of fashion than islands which are mostly in large kitchens.

I'd agree with that. I don't really see the point in a 2 bed house or flat with an ensuite, but then it was pointed out that they are good for someone alone who wants a flat share.

nannymags · 25/08/2020 14:43

I hate them. Always in the way, and a magnet for clutter. They’re always a dumping groun

Bluntness100 · 25/08/2020 14:52

@nannymags

I hate them. Always in the way, and a magnet for clutter. They’re always a dumping groun

Mine is neither in the way nor a dumping ground, sorry to prove you wrong. 🤣

Right now it has a vase of flowers on it. And nothing else. However no where in our house is a dumping ground, there is no clutter, We simoly don’t live like that. And it’s not in the way of anything as it’s built for the kitchen specifically and it’s a large kitchen,

GoatCheeseTart · 25/08/2020 14:55

Our island is fab but only used for food prep. Can't imagine eating at it.

Of course, yours is not designed for that, would not be comfortable. This is the part of my island we use for eating - just the eating section is 120x90 cm, so bigger than many average kitchen tables.

To think kitchen Islands are the artex of the future?

LouisBalfour · 25/08/2020 15:05

Our is never a dumping ground, nor in the way. It currently has a big bowl of lemons and limes on it and that’s it. We don’t do clutter.

Tomorrow is Freddie’s Flowers day, so they usually go on the island.

Wexone · 25/08/2020 15:09

@Yesterdayforgotten i know its annoying but he is right. he is 20 years building houses and has seen it all. He tries to recommned and advse people when doing houses too though most dont listen. He is in the middle of desinging our next house even though i dont want to move. Ilove this house and it has been designed with a nice flow and good living space, plus modern design and A rated. With regards to hwt everyone else is saying about en suites, i love mine, have had one for nearly 20 years and my parents always had one too. Could not live with out one. They will never go out of fashion

netsybetsy · 25/08/2020 15:14

My DH would stink out our bedroom in an en suite I am into Feng shui (I know....I know!) and en suites are a big no-no.

netsybetsy · 25/08/2020 15:16

I've never thought about kitchen islands but that's because our kitchen is too small for it ever to be a thing we could consider.

Yesterdayforgotten · 25/08/2020 15:21

@Wexone people are stubborn and think they know better than the experts... I'm not surprised, you have a lovely house and are settled so the upheaval of moving I wouldnt want either! Yes we have an ensuite too and it makes such a difference, I couldn't imagine not having one. It is so handy to shower without disturbing the dc, also find having a downstairs toilet very useful too. Also I would find it difficult to share one toilet between a whole family (remember as a child people banging on the door) so def don't think it will go out of fashion either.

Yesterdayforgotten · 25/08/2020 15:23

@netsybetsy just banish him to the family bathroom, dont lose out on an ensuite. Or there is a product called VIP poo that loads of people swear by.

netsybetsy · 25/08/2020 15:25

[quote Yesterdayforgotten]@netsybetsy just banish him to the family bathroom, dont lose out on an ensuite. Or there is a product called VIP poo that loads of people swear by.[/quote]
Thanks yes confining him to one toilet only might work!

Hardbackwriter · 25/08/2020 15:25

@GoatCheeseTart

Our island is fab but only used for food prep. Can't imagine eating at it.

Of course, yours is not designed for that, would not be comfortable. This is the part of my island we use for eating - just the eating section is 120x90 cm, so bigger than many average kitchen tables.

I'm sure it works for you and perhaps there are advantages I haven't realised but isn't that just a table that you can't move and can't use one edge of?