To think kitchen Islands are the artex of the future?

[GervaseFen]

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.

I hate them. I particularly hate the concept of breakfast bars because I don't want to be seen as a bar maid who serves her family, and i prefer to try be sit down with everyone else as much as possible.

I grew up with a large farmhouse kitchen that had a huge table in the middle so that's what we have now. I use it as an island for things like food prep and try to keep it clear but I find it so much more inclusive

We have a brushed stainless steel Belfast sink with a very very nice magnetic tap and both these things have worked out to be one of the most successful elements of the kitchen.

I feel like this about fitted kitchens. They have no individuality.

Well I never.
There's at least 3 of us here with Artex, and I thought I was the only one.
Tall ceilings here too so not too in your face.
The woodchip wallpaper, on the other hand.............
I hate house disruption, can you tell?

@EggyPegg, I'll take that risk! Look out crockery .

@yolio

Separate kitchen is coming back. Watch this space.

Inevitable really for so many reasons, privacy and space elsewhere is one.

You heard it here!

Yippee! Hate open plan.

I’m a traditionalist and like separate living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens etc.

We just have a plastic washing up bowl in our Belfast sink that makes it easier to wash up as it needs less water to fill it and things don’t break in it. I love the Belfast sink, always wanted one since I was young and they’re huge so very practical for washing larger items and filling mop buckets etc.

Kitchens are not for gatherings. They are for cooking and storage.

Someone along the line sold the story of a Family Space. Rubbish.

Close off the kitchen and get a life. That is the future believe me. Who wants a space covered with kids and their detritus all over the place. Keep it separate. I will be told off but I know I am right. lol.

Bifolds are the new white plastic conservatory. Grey is everywhere, l like the grey/ greige look on walls but It has definitely peaked.
Navy blue kitchens, marble worktops and copper taps are also something l love but will definitely date.
I really want a kitchen island though !

We love ours, but it’s only two years old and designed perfectly for the space, it’s basically just a large table with cupboards and wine storage underneath. If I ever wish to remove it it’s easy. It doesn’t have a sink or hob in it.

However it makes rhe kitchen a very sociable space, is very space efficient, as it is designed for the space specifically and obviously matches in, it is massive and seats eight people easily and ten to twelve at a push. The kitchen is also a seperate room, so not open plan

I can’t imagine I’d wish to get rid of it, and shove a table back in there, nor can I see a time they are not generally popular, if designed well and in the right space.

I can’t see this coming back into fashion, it’s bloody awful (and yes I just took that, it’s my living room ceiling). Wish I had a bloody island instead!

at islands being naff. They are nothing of the sort and MN is the only place I have ever heard such nonsense. Everyone I know loves them. We have a large farmhouse kitchen and have just had a beautiful handmade island fitted. It looks gorgeous, so much better than the boring table and chairs we had in the space previously, we have tons more storage space now too and it’s made the kitchen more cosy and social. I’ve always wanted an island and so happy we have one now. When we were designing our dream kitchen and looking for inspiration, ALL of the most stylish kitchens had islands 🤷🏻‍♀️ If anything, table and chairs in a kitchen looks dated now.

I hate fitted kitchens. For my next home, I am so hoping to find a kitchen described as "in need of updating", which has had nothing done to it since the 1930s.

I have 3 friends who, in the last 2 years, had separate kitchen/dining rooms that have opened them up to have a bigger kitchen with an island. Looks lovely, but entirely impracticable. No room for dinning table and the island only has 4 stools, when we go around now they stand to eat.

I love my island. It is an additional worktop, plus has storage (larger drawer and 2 cupboards) and is a breakfast bar with stools. However, you do need sufficient space to pull it off. I do hate how it can become a dumping ground for stuff, in particular ipads and phones because it has a plug socket too.

I wish more houses had separate rooms. I wanted that, but we had to have open plan because newer houses were the only ones available in our price range.

I'm with you all the way @yolio.

I hate, hate anyone in the kitchen with me when I'm cooking.

Bugger off and entertain yourselves, you guests.
I'm trying to cook a meal.

Yes! I hate them. Fees like having a mausoleum in the middle of the kitchen

If you've got one that's badly designed, or the wrong size or shape for the kitchen, or doesn't take into account the 'flow' of how you move around while prepping and serving food - then yeah, they can be pretty shit.

If you get one however that is properly designed, placed, and built for how you move in your kitchen, then they can be both stunning, and a huge joy.

Bit like any form of design really. But I do agree with the point that it's become trendy to a point that islands are just shoved in / squeezed in where they don't work or there isn't enough space for them, and many will probably be ripped again!

As always, total generalisation doesn't tell the true picture.

@Regularsizedrudy

Yes! I hate them. Fees like having a mausoleum in the middle of the kitchen

That's a ridiculous stretch 🙄

Island are quite easily replaced, I cannot have open plan as I have a disabled child but all my neighbours have the exact same extension, lots of velux and massive bifolds. Within six months there are blinds everywhere and now bamboo or high fences for privacy. Everyone seems to want this outdoor living but not the noise of their neighbours out door living.

@justanotherneighinparadise

I have no issue with an island if the room is large enough to take it. Breakfasts bars however are the work of the devil. Be gone ugly bar stools! 👊

Absolutely!

Designs change over the years. We are all told we need a humungous kitchen diner now, so knock down those load bearing walls and have a lovely life.

LOL.

The kitchen to me (and I know it is my opinion) is for food prep, cooking and snacking on the sly.

Open plan is going to go soon because it just doesn't work. Well does it?

Seeing all the prep and the mess and so on. Just saying that some things could be behind closed doors, but there are no closed doors allowed now ever!

I actually like my parent's house that had it all separated. It will come back in time I think.

I’m guessing rhe poster doesn’t know what a mausoleum is..they said basically it feels like you have an impressive Stately building housing a tomb in your kitchen. 🤣