to ask about kitchen islands?

[magicalmadmadamim]

we are just over halfway through a kitchen extension, its not going to be huge but it will be the biggest kitchen i have ever had, only ever had galley kitchens before.
originally i was thinking of just putting a table there as this would be where we eat during the colder months but soo many people are harping on about islands and it just seems to be the done thing these days.
we wont be short of worktops so is a kitchen island, even a small one, worth it?

I’ve seen some nice table with the small island on the end. Or this…. Kind of ticks both boxes.

I have a large kitchen with room for an island and a table and a sofa. Still couldn't wait to get rid of the island.

Are the chairs are high up like stools, though?

We put in an island in four out of five of our most recent kitchens (although the first two were not terribly large as islands go).

I'm a fan of them (obviously!), but only when there's a table too - either in the kitchen or elsewhere - as I'm another who wouldn't want to eat Christmas dinner or host dinner parties at an island. I couldn't care less whether they're in fashion or not - same as everything in our home, we choose stuff we love, not because it's on trend.

At our last house we had a decent sized island with seating for four along one side, as well as a refectory style table in the kitchen and another table in the dining room. The kitchen table was rarely used, so after a couple of years we swapped it for a sofa which got much more use by the DDogs who liked snoozing by the wood burner.

I'd never have a sink or hob in the island as I like a clear run of work surface, but that's just personal choice. We definitely needed the additional work surface that an island provided, particularly at our last house and having a double plug socket at the end was really useful when baking etc.

Unfortunately there's no space for an island in our current cottage kitchen, but we have our vintage butchers block instead that's used all the time. If we move again I'll be ensuring there's space for an island 😁

I’m currently planning a new kitchen and although I will have an island there will be no breakfast bar or seating at it , we had a breakfast bar for 15 years in our old house and no one ever sat at it ! We gave away the fancy high stools in the end and put a bookcase there instead. Fortunately I have room for our table and chairs also.

If you’re unsure, put a table in first. If it doesn’t do the trick, get the island fitted in?

I think something like this is probably made to order so you could choose the height. There are a few I’ve seen around, some are more like traditional big oak tables but the ends are made like cupboards or sideboards. It’s definitely worth looking around for inspiration.

If you have the space have both. Otherwise table.

I love our island becuase it is great cooking on it whilst looking at a beautiful view rather than a wall plus it is brilliant for storage with 3 double cupboards and 9 large drawers on both long sides. We tend to eat at a table though.

I think with kitchen planning you need to start with the purpose and think about what will best fit with how you are going to use it rather than trying to fit in features just becuase they are fashionable.

I think islands work best generally in a big space which needs to be split in order to open up a wall for full height windows rather than units.

Personally I don't like islands. I prefer a bigger space that you can change around if you want to.

I think a table is far classier than an island, sorry.

Right, because islands are usually higher than table height. Anyway, that's a nice one. Lovely kitchen.

I considered this but imo it only works if the island and workshops are natural wood, not granite or corian etc. It also looks a bit odd to have a kitchen table/island much lower than the worktops. It will depend on the overall aesthetic of the kitchen though, and I definitely prefer this look to a breakfast bar with stools!

I have had kitchen islands in the last 3 kitchens and I love them, but we have never eaten at them, always had a separate dining table.

For me what makes them great is that they allow circulation around when someone is working in the kitchen, there are often several of us cooking at the same time and the ability to go round rather than having to shove someone aside is very helpful.

The best one was a fairly small one which was just a worktop and small sink for food prep, because it was small nothing was ever left on it. Now I have a larger one with hob and a sink and it can become a bit of a dumping ground for the dc.

I can't stand sitting with my feet dangling!

I refuse to sit at high tables in restaurants too.

I have a penninsula in my current kitchen which includes the hob and every kitchen designer bar one put bloody bar stools along the back of it in their design drawings despite me specifically saying I didn't want seating at it! I went with the designer who didn't as it showed they had actually listened to what I wanted.

If the kitchen is still salvageable when I move on the next owner could easily remove the cabinetry there and have a breakfast bar. Quite frankly I find the extra four cupboards really useful they store my posh dinner service (inherited) and my booze cupboard.

I have a large table (seats 6 unextended, 10 when extended) immediately behind the unit and that works so much better for me.

Kitchen islands are like open planed homes to me.

If you want it and like it go for it.
But its not something id want.

I have an island on wheels, its not large, but can be pushed away to the side when we have parties. Small parties of 15-20, its the drinks standing around table.
20-30, it becomes where all the alcohol rests.
My kids have gatherings at our house!
It is very handy.
Wheels being key.

We use the island for prep, as it’s the only space to prep, the only time anyone sits at it is when we have people round. Ad frankly it’s a bit irritating as they then get in the way of the prep. We eat, work, socialise around the kitchen table.

If choosing between, as pp said, I'd go with a table over an island. An island to me is a lovely extra. Two of my friends have one and in both cases, it's the focus point if gatherings whether it's a short visit for a coffee or a drinks party. Perhaps tho this is how their kitchens are designed. I've been to both many many times and have never sat at the table as they are quite removed and just used for family meals.

On the contrary I hve just got rid of my table because I missed an island so much. I had one in my old house and we used it all the time. The table was only used on Christmas: I also felt that without an island I had less entertaining space and missed having friends over and hanging around the island relaxing in a way you don’t with a table

So, I have just had an island height table built. It seats 8 but I currently have 3 stools on the side and one at each end. It looks amazing and if I need space in the kitchen I can move it rather than it being screwed to the ground. It’s an absolute game changer and I find it far more usable than a normal height table

I don't like islands and absolutely loathe open plan! I wonder if there's a correlation in general.

Island is fab if you have a table too. But if you have to choose one, always the table. It becomes worktop if it's in the middle of the room and you can sit down to prepare food.

Another vote for a good old traditional table!

Aesthetically, I don't like islands. And I really hate sitting at them on those wretched high stools. I can see that they are very useful in some kitchens, but if you don't need one I really wouldn't bother. I think the tide is turning on them as fashion statements too.

Love our island. It's big enough so we use it as a table, and it has loads of storage. Added bonus are the sockets so even as a desk sometimes. It doesn't get cluttered. We have box thing where all the bits and bobs are thrown in, when it's full they go to their final place. We have a vase with flowers, candles and a bread basket permanently there. I kept it very sleek, no hob or sink. If we have a bigger cohort of guests we use the dining table but island gets used everyday. It's extremely useful if you like baking, sewing etc. to have that big space. I even iron on it!