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?

We have a booth with bench seating in sort of a square U shape can send photo or Google Mrs hinch kitchen booth it’s similar

I love my island. The workspace is huge for rolling out doughs and big endeavors like cookie making for the holidays. It also gave me a ton of storage underneath. Mine also has an electrical outlet on it to plug in my mixers and things. I just have a big slab of dolomitic quartzite to match my countertops with no sink or cooktop. I honestly couldn't do without it now and will probably always insist on one. It was something I didn't know I needed until I got one.

Islands are already getting dated - and aren’t very practical or homely

I don't like islands as dining tables, but I wanted a bit of extra preparation surface, so we bought a freestanding large butcher's block type thing, with a couple of drawers and storage underneath for my cast iron pans. We occasionally move it to the side if we want more space in the kitchen.

If you have room for a table and an island, I would ditch the island and have a table and a sofa. Nothing better than a kitchen sofa :)
I would also add that if I am mixing a cake or mashing potatoes I prefer the height of the table rather than counter. Tables are versatile.

We have a very big kitchen and so have an island and a big table. Out of the two I would choses a table though

and incidentally we dont have seating round our island as I hate all that stool sitting nonsense. Our island is just extra work and storage space

We have an island as our dining table , seats 10 no regrets

Imo kitchen islands function for 2 things mostly - as a circuit for toddlers to race around and exhaust themselves (especially when it’s too rainy/cold to want to be outside) and as a dumping ground for stuff.

The sea of clutter being immediately in your sightline on the island as you enter the room isn’t the best… but since I have a toddler, the island has honestly been a life saver- I have no idea sometimes how he’d wear himself out otherwise. We have a table too (it’s a big dining kitchen) but that doesn’t seem to be good enough for racing circuits. Although any clutter can’t stay long on that because we have to clear it in order to be able to sit down to eat.

But if no toddlers? Then just a table is fine - in fact it’s probably the preferable option. Both for clutter reasons but also as it’s the more timeless kitchen look (at some point islands are going to go out of fashion).

ETA: If no space for a table too then it’s definitely no contest - don’t bother with an island. If there is a smidge of extra space, I agree with others that the nicest thing in a kitchen is if you can squeeze a comfy armchair/small sofa in there too (in preference over an island). Makes a kitchen look even more homely.

I think there are Islands and there are now also continents! I have an island, not one of those huge ones with acres of marble, hobs and seating, I had it custom made and it looks more like a piece of furniture, one side is cupboard space and the other side is open shelving so no seating but I do have a kitchen table so seating wasn’t needed, it’s quite “country” looking and I absolutely love it, it’s the heart of the kitchen and I love styling it with a nice vase of flowers and my favourite crockery, its been a fabulous addition to the kitchen.

Ignore the mess and dodgy decor, this is kind of a temporary kitchen until we decide on a style etc for the proper one. The island on the right hand side is about 2.4m long by 1.2m wide, with stools along the far side. Behind it, kind of top right is the dining table.

Very messy and busy at this time of day.

If it’s either/or, and you have plenty of worktop space elsewhere, then a table. We’re planning a new kitchen now, but have space for both, plus it will be the main working space and have the hob on it.

Plus, if space is tight, it can be just be too much of a squeeze. My SIL insisted on putting one into the kitchen part of her kitchen/diner/ sitting room, and there really wasn’t room for it, so everyone is always edging round it in the mornings.

Well that's bad designing - there should be 1.2m minimum or similar around the whole island. I don't know why people think they're going out of fashion. They're everywhere still on interior decorator pages and anyone I know who's built or remodelled has got one.
I love the soda idea and have the space in new kitchen to be but not sure where to put it.

If you were talking to me, yes, the kitchen designer told my (lovely) SIL there wasn’t room, but she’d always hankered for one and decided he was wrong, it would just fit. It’s probably fine when it’s just her and immediate family at home, but she hosts all the big family gatherings at the moment as the one with the biggest house (because ours is a building site), and my main impression of the island from those is people trying to edge past one another.

The ones I've seen work well are functional ones with a sink/ dishwasher and worktop space and storage drawers . These kitchens have a table too! Good for mingling round.

The ones with chairs for using as a table do seem to attract clutter.

I love our island- it makes cooking a social activity as you are facing people not facing a wall. And kids sit on the bar stools to eat after school. However we also have room for a dining table. If I had to pick one I’d go for the table (plus it’s a lot cheaper!)

I’d say an island with storage on both sides is great. The stools are good for small children to do baking on. Really comes into its own when you have people over - we always find people congregating around it, it’s great to set drinks and snacks up on, and when doing a big dinner it’s a lot easier to have the bigger serving dishes on the island, with people sitting at the table to eat. It’s also a focal point - big vase of flowers, nice fruit bowl. However clutter just gets dumped on one end of our dining table instead 😫

Have had one in three houses or flats now, and wouldn’t be without one.

Islands, IMO, take up too much space and being totally immovable limit what you can do with your kitchen and how many people you can fit in for a casual meal.

We've had them taken where we had them (2 houses) and both kitchens were a great deal better afterwards.

Tables are much more flexible.

No they aren't? Lol...

We have a peninsula (attached island). It is useful for breakfast and chatting. We also have a big kitchen table. Our kitchen is not huge so maybe we could have done without the peninsula but the kids and my DH really love it. Feels cosier for breakfast and lets us chat. I have a strict nothing on counters rule so it’s cleared every morning and night.

I would choose a table. I love islands but not to sit at and I also love a large statement dining table. I can't see the point of breakfast bars at all.

I have a table. It works for me as an island, I use it as a work surface because it's lower level is ideal for me for mixing and kneading and rolling pastry. Then I can clear it and we can all sit round it when I have the family over. I also find it's quite handing having the chairs around it because I often need something to stand on to reach the high cupboards!

I wouldn’t in your position. We have a v large kitchen diner with a large island which I love as extra worktop space (and cupboards), but it’s rarely used for sitting round. If you don’t have that much space then I’d prioritise the dining table and don’t squeeze in an island as well - it is likely to then feel cramped rather than spacious.

I think they are amazing but not instead of a table, only if you can have both.

I’d choose a table over an island too