Is this kitchen island too big?

[littletwinstar]

Dear all,

This is my first post. I'm really in struggle and hopefully can get some insight from you all.

I've always dreamt of having a huge island. My kitchen dining is 680cm x 430cm. (~29 sq ft). Around 300 x 430 belongs to kitchen area and 380 x 435 belongs to dining area.

Today I went to two places for a kitchen design and they came out like the attached file. Biggest size of island I could have with minimum passage way along each side of island.

I showed them to my friends and all of them said it's too big and have filled up the whole room. They think it doesn't look great. They prefer a small one like 120cm x 100cm with back of chairs facing dining area. That would be a reasonable size with a bit of space.

What do you think? If I'm going to sell the house years later, will the huge size island put people off because it makes the space looks very tight?

I will be very grateful for any input! Thank you!

I don't like the look of narrow islands so I would keep the large island and bar stools. 120 x 180 is what we have and I think it's perfect. I would however move the fridge on to the opposite wall next to 'AH' and keep that whole wall clear. Then you could also shuffle the island over a bit that way to give a bit more space on the otherside too.

Next to AH, there will be a pillar left for support because there's a load bearing wall before

I would take out the dividing wall and have the door into the new enlarged kitchen diner open to the dining area and block up the door which is next to the FF in one of the plans you've shared. Then have tall units along that wall including across where the kitchen door to the hallway is currently.

If your oven is going on that wall, you need work surface next to it so you can safely take hot things out of the oven without having to turn around to put them down.

The island is too deep with an overhang along one side imho and really restricts flow. 90cm clearance each side is tight. However, an island can be very useful work space. I'd lose the reduced depth cupboards and/or overhang. Have an overhang on the shorter dining room end for one or two stools, or spin the island round to be parallel to the dining table. You could have cupboards or drawers on the dining room side for crockery, glasses, table linen, etc so they're easily accessible for setting the table and people helping with that without getting in the way of the person cooking.

Consider too putting the hob or sink on the island.

I don’t think this is a good design, I’d go elsewhere. I’d turn the island round so it’s going across and bring it into the dining area more. Ditch the big table and go for built against wall bench and table. Your fridge etc should be housed in a tall unit. There are too many bitty bits of storage. This will drive you mad in a month!!

Thank you for your suggestion. The plan here is assuming the wall is taken down already. And next to dining area is living room so can't put a door there. Also anything else will involve another load bearing wall.

I can see the plans show the wall between the kitchen and dining room taken out, I was just suggesting if you've a door into the kitchen area and separate door into the dining area from the hallway once that wall is removed, you just have one door into the enlarged space and gain some extra wall space. Obviously I don't know what the layout of your whole ground floor area is. The rest of what I suggested isn't affected by still having the doorway shown next to the FF. I hope that's clearer.

You are right! Let me have some serious thinking after the measurement today. I will also go to another shop for a new design and compare. I value all suggestions. Thank you all so much!

Per that new diagram, you don’t even have 90cm walkway either side of the island - maybe 85cm. The cabinets may be 60cm deep but once you level them on the wall and add worktop it’s more like 65cm. 85cm is the width of a dining table. Its just not enough for a walkway with stools.

It's 60 cupboards, plus 90 walkway, plus 120island, plus 30cm for tucked in chairs, plus 75 for fridge. That leaves 55cm to walk between tucked in chairs and fridge. That unfortunately won't work. Every time you want to open the fridge you'll have to move the chairs out of the way, and everyone in your family will need to be very slim. Could you at least make the island narrower? 65cm deep for 3 cupboards in a row plus 30cm overhang would get you to 95cm wide, that's a decent surface, you would then have 75cm between chairs and fridge. That's still tight but just about doable.

@YaWeeFurryBastard
I said move, not remove the FF. Move it to the back wall, walking into a room with a large FF on the right will be oppressive and will make the walk though to the garden pinched. Not to mention the FF unusable if someone is sat at the island.

Is the fridge on the opposite side of the island to the hob? It will drive you insane to be constantly walking around a large island to the fridge when you’re cooking. I speak from experience!

I agree with poster who said turn the stools maybe two on one side other at an angle, away from fridge. Nicer to sit and chat too than all in a line.

I am so touched by you all! This is a very helpful and friendly place! I've learnt a lot!

Unfortunately, when the Wren guy came for measurement today, we found out another structural issue that definitely needs to consult a structural engineer before I can continue with my wild dream!

This is the first time I went to the house after I got the kitchen plan. Took your advise, I tried to measure according to the plans and I can see that it doesn't work at all.

The Wren guy suggested a peninsula, lose the window next to garden door and put the hob there. But what if someone poo when I am cooking? Toilet door is three feet straight to the hob. I think that's not very ideal.

Another idea is to put the sink under the garden window and put the hob at the larger window side, but then the extractor vent might not have enough space to go out.

It is a very tricky kitchen! I am going to put a pause on it for now because I cannot even think of planning if the structural problem is costing too much!

Finally, I want to express my gratitude again to all of you! Every comment means a lot to me. This is a very supportive group! I wish you all the best!

I love it but I actually think the pinch point here is not the width but the area by the sink. Is there any way you can move it back a bit even if it straddles into the dining area.

I had the same dilemma when we put ours in and originally wanted a small one but when we marked it on the floor it just looked lost! Mark it out in the floor and see how your feel.

Alternatively if this is 2 x double cupboards together you could perhaps reduce to 1 x double, 1 x single and 1 x half.

The walk way from the door and between the island and the fridge (? )Looks too narrow and cluttered to me.

We have a large island and love it!

We have an island 190 x 130cm (ish - Im guessing 5cm overhang of worktop). No stools at it. I love the length, and the depth is good given the shape of our room. It would be pretty much just as practical if 180 x 90 - the extra width doesnt make good worktop space as noone has long enough arms to reach that far!

Also, most worktops shoot up in price once over 98cm wide (ie for a 90cm island + overhang of worktop).

I think the size of the island is ok... as long as there is room to open drawers snd cupboards? But I think the stools next to the fridge will drive you insane. Have the stools backing onto your dining table as your friends say.

And yes I agree re island worktop price... get some quotes for different sizes because a small tweak could save you a fortune.

Could you flip the kitchen and dining area? How many doors are in the dining area, would that be an easier space to design for?

I think a U shaped kitchen with a peninsula would be better in the current space and just have the side with all the doors a walkway with possibly a narrow bookcase or vintage storage unit between the two doors.

I'd also declutter as much as possible and avoid too many wall cabinets if possible. I appreciate issue with FF but will say for a busy family under unit fitted fridges are shit and don't hold anywhere near enough, we have 3 and I hate them.