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Original poster

To have a hob on island or not?

40 replies

HomeExtender · 24/03/2017 13:22

Anyone had a hob on their island? We will be having wrap around seating at one end of the island so the nearest chair would be 80-90cm away from the hob so should be safely out of reach of the children.
We weren't going to have the hob on the island but are now considering it. Any advice welcome!

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 24/03/2017 13:25

I looked at this and I wouldn't and didn't do it. It takes up space, you end up with clutter and it makes the island less hospitable in my view, no one really wants to sit round the cooker to eat. Especially one that's just been used and has dirty pots or whatever on, and food splashes/ grease. Nor do you wish to clean it before anyone eats.

Only do it if you reallg don't have space elsewhere.

sitonyourbottom · 24/03/2017 13:27

We have our hob on our island (I didn't choose it that way, but was brand new kitchen when we moved in), though we don't have seating on the island - no idea why, it is a seriously MASSIVE island!

I was thinking whether, if I changed the kitchen, I would move the hob or not. It is really nice facing into the room when you are cooking, and because of the space on the island you always have loads of room to put ingredients etc. I would think about where to put it on the island - ours is centered in the middle and as it is a big island there is lots of room both sides, but depending on size and shape of your island and how you like to cook it might be worth thinking about it. I have noticed for instance that I always prep / chop etc to the RHS of the hob.

CMamaof4 · 24/03/2017 13:29

I wouldn't do it, I don't think an island looks as attractive with a hob on.

5amisnotmorning · 24/03/2017 13:31

We do and I love it. We have an open kitchen diner seating area and it works brilliantly as I can talk to people while cooking and then serve at the side. We went for a silver colour hob with white worktops and it doesn't stand out.

CiderwithBuda · 24/03/2017 13:33

Depends on how big the island is really I think.

We have it and like it. We did it as we had lived in a rented house with h same set up. We find it sociable.

But we don't really eat at it. DS sometimes eats at it but I usually sit one end drinking wine while dh cooks. Works well!

namechangedtoday15 · 24/03/2017 18:33

No, didn't want it to be within arms reach / fat spitting distance etc of children (we did sit at the island unit) and also because from an extraction point of view, I didn't want an extractor in the sight line (as we walk into kitchen, we look beyond the island into the garden & didn't want extractor blocking the view).

Goosegettingfat · 24/03/2017 18:39

I am in middle of kitchen refurb. I wanted the hob on the island, but have decided against it because DH wants a cooker hood, I don't want a cooker hood hanging over my island spoiling the view through the kitchen, and though we looked into getting a flush ceiling one, they are v expensive and noisy. So I'm happy to have it elsewhere.

bojorojo · 24/03/2017 21:50

My island is over 3m long and 1500 wide plus a seating area. Hob is in the in the island and it's a big hob. Wouldn't go back to looking at a well whilst cooking. Only do it in a large island.

lazysummer · 24/03/2017 23:58

We had to choose between a hob or a sink on the island. We have a hob. I really like it; it's sociable when cooking and loads of room to serve up if cooking for a big group. I have a large family, and there is room for one person to cook and others to make salads etc. We clear up straight after eating, so the island is clear but the sink area is always a mess.
It works well with an induction hob, which is reasonably flush. In an ideal world, the island would be clear, but people do put stuff on it- hob or no hob.

Original poster
HomeExtender · 25/03/2017 15:56

Thank for your messages. It will be a big island (either 3.4m or 3.7m) so we do have plenty of room for a hob with free workspace either side. As the seating is around one end of the island nobody would be sat closely facing the hob but I get what you are saying about pans/mess etc. For extraction we would look at Bora. I'm thinking of putting the hob on the island so we can have a breakfast dresser unit next to the tall cabinets behind to store the kettle/toaster/microwave. Decisions decisions!!

OP posts:
GrubbyWindows · 25/03/2017 16:35

I really don't like the idea of a hob without a wall behind, especially a gas job. It just seems all too possible for a great big pan of boiling water to fall off the ring and go everywhere!

CiderwithBuda · 25/03/2017 16:51

A friend did a fab kitchen extension and put the hob on the wall and the sink on the island. So she ends up with her back to everyone cooking and people sit at the island looking at the mess in the sink. Made me more determined go put the hob on the island. Ours is an induction hob. For induction we went with a Neff flat ceiling one. It is noisy however. Ours is in 6 years so they might have improved now.

HappyGirl86 · 25/03/2017 17:03

My parents have their hob on their island and the oven underneath. It looks great- they love it and it's nice for the person cooking to be able to face everyone and chat! If my kitchen was bigger I'd do the same

logburnie · 25/03/2017 18:37

We are having our new kitchen installed soon and I have gone for induction hob on the island, with oven below. Same reasoning as others, I want to be able to face into the room while cooking, chat and keep an eye on the kids!

AesopsMables · 26/03/2017 04:29

We went for induction hob on island and pop up Elica extraction that is ducted under the floor to outside. Works brilliantly.

Much better than facing a wall when cooking.

RubyRedRuby · 26/03/2017 06:35

We had a hob on the island at our old house. I'd have one again in a heartbeat, much more sociable and also I could watch tv when I was cooking because it's so damn boring. Haven't got room for one at the new house and I miss it. In fact I miss my whole old kitchen

Indaba · 26/03/2017 23:50

You need to think about extraction. Check with Building Control at your council. May need vented extraction which you would need to organise: could add a lot to cost. And even if not vented, recirculation extraction units are expensive.

wavinghello · 27/03/2017 01:27

I didn't from a purely practical perspective and being a child of a professional chef, it's difficult for me to choose style over substance! I have a huge open plan space and the most effective extractor hood needs an outside wall - opening the windows don't cut it for me. Middle of the ceiling extractors are expensive and lower the ceiling and those pop up extractors are £££ too. I''d rather spend more money on the worktops and appliances. Having strong cooking smells pervading an open plan space without effective means of getting rid of it is a strange priority to me. The same applies to opting for a wooden worktop - it's a false economy. Water and oil (inevitable if you actually cook) will ruin it.

Indaba · 29/03/2017 20:38

If you are having works that will require building control to inspect they can insist on certain extraction methods. Rules vary according to whats already in place in the house and the extent of work being done. If they decide you need one, they can insist you put one in before you get sign off...check with them first.....cheaper to plan for one now than after the work is finished.

boobyooby · 29/03/2017 20:41

we've got a long island and have the hob to one end and seating at the opposite side/end and it has worked really well for us. Kids can sit and chat to me/do homework while I'm cooking or even help chop the mushrooms - its an induction hob set into the island not on the worktop and we love it.

ClashCityRocker · 29/03/2017 20:56

If I had a hob on an island I would pretend that I was on Saturday kitchen every time I cooked.

I wish I had a hob on an island.

ClashCityRocker · 29/03/2017 20:56

If I had a hob on an island I would pretend that I was on Saturday kitchen every time I cooked.

I wish I had a hob on an island.

OutandIn · 29/03/2017 21:03

I had to choose between having my sink or hob on the island - i knew that the sink would be messy and would always have dirty dishes round it so i went for the hob- i have a lovely sleek induction hob which looks good. I have a flush ceiling extractor - it was expensive ~£1k but is not too loud ( 4 settings) and works well. Wouldn't change a thing.

dietcokeandwine · 29/03/2017 21:08

We have an induction hob on the island, with a recessed extractor fan, all Neff (put in last year and v quiet), love it. Love being able to cook and look out into the garden. Left over mess from cooking isn't a problem for us because we're both good at clearing away totally and wiping down all surfaces after every meal. Golden rule is nothing lives on the island apart from the fruit bowl and that day's post. I am ruthless about keeping it nice and tidy. The island looks amazing with the hob.

Agree with others who say don't do it unless you have a massive island unit though. Can't remember exact dimensions of ours but it's over 3.5m long and the seating (around one corner) is miles away from the hob. And personally I also wouldn't do it if you had to have an extractor hood hanging down, or for a gas hob. Only do it if you can afford induction hob and either recessed ceiling or pop up extractor.

ligersaremyfavouriteanimal · 29/03/2017 21:10

outandin do you mind me asking what make extractor you went for? We're about to have a new kitchen and are having an island hob, we want a flush one that works without being deafening...