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.

Love the ping ping table alternative!

Here are photos of the one that got me thinking them. It's like the cupboards have the best view / take up most of the kitchen. The sink is round a corner from the cooker. And if you had people eating at the table you'd be metres from them between courses.
It's a lovely space so you can just imagine it being remodelled in another few years.

I'll be having one in my new kitchen. We've got a breakfast bar at the moment, so I clearly have no taste. Ho hum...

We put an island in when we extended our kitchen 2 years ago. It's great, everyone stands round it to eat/chat/have a beer. Luckily we also have room for a min 6, max 12 kitchen table for things like Christmas and birthdays. There are 4/5 of us most of the time.

Hmm, am I the only person that likes open plan kitchen-diner-living space then? It’s made my life so much easier with the little ones- being able to keep an eye on them while cooking. We do have another separate lounge/playroom and a separate home office. Perhaps if we didn’t have those I wouldn’t like the open plan area. I can imagine as the children get older open plan won’t be quite so useful but for now I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Also those knocking ceiling height kitchen units- for people with smaller kitchen areas (like myself) , they’re pretty essential. Every single cupboard gets used in our kitchen. Would be nice to have a pantry or utility room to store the extra food and pots but since we don’t, tall cupboards all the way. Open shelving would be pointless as I would have to choose between it looking nice, or storing enough (given it’s open plan we like to keep the surfaces pretty bare except for the toaster and kettle).

I love mine. I love open plan, too.

JUST pure blx, sorry now.

Hmm, am I the only person that likes open plan kitchen-diner-living space then?

No. I fucking hate all the closed doors and rooms and galley kitchens are even shittier. So is 1 bathroom in a house. Who the fuck designed all these 4+ bedroom houses with 1 bathroom?

I hope not! We are about to have an island retro fitted into our kitchen!

It’s 26ft long and 13ft wide and we currently have a kitchen one end with a 6 seater kitchen table and a 10 seater table at the ‘dining’ end.

It currently looks like we run a bed and breakfast and if we take out the ‘kitchen table’ we are left with a huge floor space.

We are getting rid of the kitchen table and replacing with a 200cm x 900cm island.

Each to their own, but we all know about pinterist and so on..

Out kitchen + dining room has a nice long table which divides the room in two so that the kids are kept away from the hob, and can be used to prepare food, dine on, paint, play board games, do home work, etc. It's amazingly versatile and can be pushed aside if need be, so that kitchen floor can be turned into a temporary dance floor.

I'd hate to have a kitchen island there.

Oh, and the wall are covered in cupboards, so storage is not an issue. And there's extra worktops near the hob and sink, so plenty of surfaces for food preparation, and putting the serving plates on, so they don't clutter the main table.

@Wineiscooling

Just in the process of getting my new kitchen (with island) fitted. I was so excited until I read this! I didn't realise there was so much hatred for an island! Too late for me now 🙄

There's lots of love for them too Who knew they evoked such strong feelings?!

@InDeoEstMeaFiducia

Hmm, am I the only person that likes open plan kitchen-diner-living space then?

No. I fucking hate all the closed doors and rooms and galley kitchens are even shittier. So is 1 bathroom in a house. Who the fuck designed all these 4+ bedroom houses with 1 bathroom?

They did that in the 1950s and in my fucking house, I hate it but beyond a double height extension there is nothing I can do about it.

Same people who designed garages that you can't get a car into ....
well, you can, but you'd have to sleep in the car once you've parked it.....or, climb out through the boot.🤣

My friend has one in her last home, it was used as a dumping ground.

I love that wooden floor GervaseFen. so beautiful.

When we were getting our kitchen I argued the island, saying we didnt need it. The guy doing the kitchen asked did we not need counter space. I didnt realise what little counter space we had. I use the island for everything! Always thought they were way too extravagant but my god theyve saved us!!

No I disagree. We have one and I adore it. We don’t keep anything on it apart from an Alexa but use it for eating at, homework, baking bread, prepping food. It also houses our bin, three deep drawers and a cupboard, and allows our family of three to sit at it. I also walk around it to increase my steps!

We also have a table and chairs at other side of kitchen but rarely sit at them.

I never understand the need for one when there is a kitchen table next to it. How many chairs/stools do you need?

Is this going to turn into one of those threads where only a kitchen with staff will do??

Not a fan of an island. At least with a table and chairs you can push them back to make a dance floor.

Also, I have one of those 4+ bed houses with only one bathroom. Tbf when it was built in 1700 I doubt there were any bathrooms...

Defo a gimmick. I blame the TV chefs.

You're much better off with a kitchen table that you can use for informal meals with friends and family. I hate perching on a stool round an island for meals!

you've got me thinking about doing my kitchen now.
Just found this article about kitchen trends. I can't see any of them suiting my 1910 suburban semi!

I’d definitely hate moving into a home with a kitchen island. They just seem like a massive obstacle to me and really get on my nerves. My current home has a “peninsula” which isn’t that bad as it’s an extremely spacious room (really 3 rooms into one) and so it breaks it up and is a useful space. However I’m not sure I would have chosen it.

I already think the high gloss, sparkly tiled, kitchen island kitchens are looking very dated. Along with grey and black upvc frames, grey and black “rock” doors and rendering period properties to death. A lot of the local homes whose owners have done this to the exterior of period character properties are finding that they just aren’t selling at the moment. Whilst sellers who preserved the exterior and have the “country” style kitchens are finding those homes selling quickly and at significantly higher prices than sometimes the modernised houses right next door.

@Benjispruce2

I never understand the need for one when there is a kitchen table next to it. How many chairs/stools do you need?

Please don’t tell me that my current config of 2 tables is better that an island at the far end?

Sorry about the very dark photos and the laundry 😂