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?

How about a dairy table. Halfway island and table. Esp with a marble worktop and double drawers they look fabulous

I really dislike them. I think there's something quite harsh and cold about them, design-wise - I like a cozy kitchen with a table.

Get a kitchen peninsular with bar stools so sociable

I used to be a kitchen designer. Islands are a solution to a problem. They were designed to make the best use of specific space issues. I have no idea how they have become a 'thing' in their own right that people think they have to have, squeezing in smaller and smaller units to create a pointless little lump where there's not really enough room.

I have a large island in my kitchen bevause I have a very square space with not a lot of continuous wall due to doors and openings. WIthout the island we'd have very little worktop/cupboard area and a massive, empty space in the middle. Our kitchen space wouldn't make any sense without an island, but it's strictly functional space without stools or an eating area. We have a big table at the end of the kitchen to sit at. Some kitchens need an island to use the space properly. They shouldn't be shoehorned in for the sake of it.

I would have a table over a kitchen island, I don't really like eating on a stool, and a table be used as a work surface in the same way an island can.

Thanks for this- I have basically the same problem- big square kitchen with only one “full height” wall and 4 doors ( 2 of which are double width) and 2 big windows. So sounds like the island is the answer - thought it was but it seemed the tide was turning against them.

If you have space - yes

i stayed in holiday home and it had an island. It was very good for storage and workspace.

there also had a dinning table and seated area too

We don't have an island but we do have a peninsula, which we love.
We do have a separate dining room though and tend to use that if we are having a full meal or there are more than 3 of us.
It is a constant battle not to allow clutter to accumulate there but I am quit strict about it

I don't like kitchen islands. I had ours taken out and put a table and chairs there. It's far more flexible and gives good preparation space. It's far more friendly - people sit around a kitchen table, the island had to have those high stools in a row. It's been a good decision for us.
This.
I've never had one and would not choose to have one.