To Island, or not to Island ...?

[Irie1982]

Hi there,
Doing an extension on a family member's property - about 28 sq.m, combined kitchen, sitting area and dining table.

We can't decide on whether to include a kitchen island though - we're afraid it might break up the space too much, and might be too cramped looking. Then again, it also might be a nice place to sit and chat ... what are your thoughts? Island has been included here in the drawings as are the dimensions so you can get an idea of the scale of the room. Furniture layout is not necessarily correct either ..

Thanks

I think it looks strange and makes the room too much pf a mish mash. You could continue the worktops round in an L instead, so coming straight down from just to the left of the draining board. This would delinate the different parts of the room much better. I wouldn't have bar stools up at it though, not with sofas and dining table/chairs already in the space.

Is there a separate living room or is that the only space where there will be sofas?

There is a separate living room too - the sofas are there just to have more comfortable seating in that room. I imagine my MIL will spend most of her time in this room tbh.

We did consider the 'L' - more like a breakfast bar.. but the kitchen people think there wouldn't be enough space between the two worktops, it would only be 90cm or less really.

In that case, would she consider switching around the locations of the arm chairs and the dining table? It looks fine to have an island unit between kitchen and dining area. Thought I still think some cabinetry coming down from the sink area might look better still.

Another thing to consider with whether MIL would use an island unit for it's intended purpose. My parents never perch on the bar stools when they come round to my house and I'm cooking. They sit up at the dining table properly.

I would do an L/breakfast bar thing but coming down to less than half way. To just before the oven, so that space isn't impeded there. Not a full width worktop - narrower, like a breakfast bar, as you say. And with narrow cupboards in it that open from the outside, so when you're standing in the dining/sitting area. Great for storage of kitchen items that aren't used so often.

This is very similar to the lay out that we have but the position of the door into the room makes it awkward? Can you change that?

We only have units down the wall where your hob is because (imo) corners are a complete waste of space in a kitchen. We then have a big island (about 2.5m long by 1.2m wide) where you have the island unit (although with probably less space than you have between the island and the units - yours looks maybe 1.5m - we have about 1.2m which is fine).

We eat there, congregate there, friends & family sit there when they come round, love it. It is very informal and social.

I'd agree with switching the dining area and the seating area (thats what we have!)

Swap the dining and kitchen areas. She could even have the breakfast bar as the back if the seating area, so a bench comes out of the other side of it.

I'll look for a pic....

So along this idea

@namechangedtoday15, thanks - I have actually have some 3ds of this exact layout from the kitchen designers .. i'll attach what I have. It's so difficult to decide when there is no space to work with just yet.

My MIL has really very little opinion and will tend to go with whatever I suggest, that is making it all much more difficult ;)

It's an extension so the entrance to the room can't be moved unfortunately.

And more ....

I think it looks lovely with the island.

Island all the way. Very useful and also delineates kitchen from sitting area. In fact I think it could be a bit weird without an island.

I'd make the utility room smaller though. Where is the fridge?

The fridge is on the far right .... can't really reduce the utility room, my MIL is already losing a garage and all the storage that goes with it!