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Kitchen island/table

85 replies

Tomboytown · 14/08/2018 16:53

anyone eat on their island at bar/worktop height?
Trying to decide whether to make it multi level. I think I like my feet on the floor and I have a back problem which means I need a bit more support. Can't imagine long social dinners at an island.

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Bluntness100 · 22/08/2018 09:43

I think the issue is not just the op is picking a layout that many wouldn't wish as a Pp said, it's the fact she's telling us she has x needs, then picking designs that don't suit those needs.

When we did ours two years ago I did similar. The kitchen designer suggested one design, i then changed it multiple times, inc the whole let's all sit in a row like we are at an American diner, before eventually going back to what was basically her initial design.🤣

Tomboytown · 22/08/2018 11:30

Formal or separate dining room is just not the way we eat
Can't put anything on 4m walls, one end is windows and other end is doors on either side

Kitchen island/table
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Tomboytown · 22/08/2018 11:32

The problem is the first design I posted. I was actually saying this is not what I want - high up dining doesn't work, does it. But that got lost somehow

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Bluntness100 · 22/08/2018 11:34

You could put a very large peninsula on the back wall, in between the doors. It could come right out into the room. It would be very sociable.

BubblesBuddy · 22/08/2018 12:38

Are the squares restricted height? Or pillars? Sorry if that has been explained.

If you have lovely cabinets, there is no reason why you cannot use all the available space for kitchen. You do not have to have a dining area devoid of cupboards. At 4 m wide, you can position a dining table down the door end. I would actually get rid of the door into the adjacent room (the one on the right) and open it up. That gives much greater flexbility regarding positioning of the table. What are the other two rooms showing on the plan?

Kitchens are lived in, working spaces. Dining spaces should be easily accessible and adjacent. They do not necessarily have to be right in the kitchen. They are not used as much as kitchens are. I woud look at the other space you have in the house and see if dinig can be moved elsewhere. We have a table at the end of our lounge now. It is a long lounge and the table is convivial, close to the kitchen (no wall) and has a lovely view of the garden. It works very well and is just a bit removed from the kitcehn so no unsightly washing up on view!

Removing the table from the kitchen, gives you a much more wow kitchen. If you can put the table handy, so much the better. We eat inforamally at the raised table in the kitchen. It seats 4. I would have had one that seats 6. It is not linear so it really does mean we talk to each other! Guests talk to me while I am cooking and they have having a drink. You have enough room to do this. Or the peninsular idea above. You need to utilise the length because you are a bit short on width for a decent island if you utilise the walls. If you can use the length and sit at the island or peninsular at the opposite door end, it might work better if you want to keep the room next door separate.

I do not think this space is easy to plan because of the doors at the end and I think a professional planner from a decent company would help you. But you must be flexible and open to suggestions. Do you have a separate laundry area? What must the kitchen have in it? How many sinks do you want? What about refridgeration/freezing, cooking appliances, coffee machine, dishwasher and food/crockery/gadget storage etc. ? I would rather have all of this tip top rather thana table in a relatively small space (due to circulation needed for doors).

Bluntness100 · 22/08/2018 13:00

This is where I would put the peninsula, with cupboards under it, and a beautiful work surface on top. Sorry it's not drawn very well. You could then have cupboards down either wall, and things like hob and sink in the work surfaces. Sorry I'm also not sure what rhe boxes are.

Kitchen island/table
Tomboytown · 22/08/2018 22:53

The boxes are velux windows!
The other rooms are the hall and the utility/bathroom.

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Tomboytown · 22/08/2018 22:54

I can't knock through anywhere, already looked into that.

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Tomboytown · 22/08/2018 23:29

If I put a peninsular there, it hits you as soon as you enter the room, blocking, that's also more of a thoroughfare to get through to the rest of the house. You'd have to walk around the peninsular all the time.
And I don't want to have to go from one side of the room to the other (having cabinets on both lengths) that's what I have now and I'm going backwards and forwards all the time. It's a very impractical kitchen at the moment, only recently moved in.

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Bluntness100 · 23/08/2018 03:25

I don't really understand why it would hit you if the kitchen is 12 foot wide. But you could put a peninsula also on either of the side walls. The kitchen doesn't really look impractical to me at all, I think it's just you've a very fixed idea of what you want aesthetically. So don't want to shift from it. Which is totally fine, at least you know what you want. Just go for it.

OliviaBenson · 23/08/2018 06:46

I like bluntness idea too and don't get why you don't think it would be wise enough.

But how about having a dining table under the roof lights then having an L shaped run with a couple of stools in the thoroughfare but?

Kitchen island/table
OliviaBenson · 23/08/2018 06:50

Sorry about typos there Blush

OliviaBenson · 23/08/2018 07:00

What is it about the configuration at the moment that you hate? In what way does going backwards and forwards inconvenience you?

Having an island with nothing on one wall will look very odd and make your kitchen look small.

Is there room for two parallel runs along the long walls and a small island in the middle with separate table under the roof lights of dining?

Tomboytown · 23/08/2018 21:41

The door opens into the kitchen, so a peninsular there would be right in front of you and you'd have to walk round it to get to the loo/utility
Olivia- your plan would work. That's a good layout.
I liked having one run of units along one wall because that's what I had previously and it worked, I had everything where I wanted except for extra worktop. So I thought an island would provide that worktop and my seating.
Currently I'm going from one side to the other to even make a cup of tea or make a sandwich. there's also an island to get around and my table, so it's frustrating.
I'm away at the moment, home tomorrow, so will rethink the plans before I see kitchen guy next week

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another20 · 23/08/2018 22:59

U shaped kitchen with 2 peninsulas?

  • base of the U on the RHS wall
  • one peninsula lower for eating with chairs on both sides looking into garden
  • second peninsula to create a clear walkway across the bottom of the room from the hall to utility.

I am re doing my kitchen - have had a massive island for 18 years - hated it from day one. Mistakes I made:

It is too deep 1.2m - which is anti social - tables are not this wide.

Stools were lined up facing one way - again anti social - need to be around 3 sides - or two.

Hate our sink in it - washing up and dishes drying always on display in the centre of our room.

Hate hard material - fine for prep - cold and anti social for entertaining.

another20 · 23/08/2018 23:03

I also hate that my current island makes it a galley kitchen - I dont like lifting things across the floor space - I am replacing it with a big U shape - long peninsula - surface materials different for different purposes.

I have a large dining table nearby and will just have 3 stools for short perching / breakfast snacks. Family meals will be around the table.

Bluesheep8 · 24/08/2018 16:34

bubbles what colours are your units painted please? Apologies for the thread hijack op.

Tomboytown · 25/08/2018 13:59

2 possible layouts

Kitchen island/table
Kitchen island/table
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Tomboytown · 25/08/2018 14:00

Variations on thess

Kitchen island/table
Kitchen island/table
Kitchen island/table
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sdaisy26 · 25/08/2018 15:01

I think the run plus island risks making your kitchen feel very narrow, when really it is a good sized room.

Olivia’s plan, and your first plan look to me like they would make good use of the space - though I would try to make sure you have at least 1m for any walkways (you may already have done so I just can’t tell from your sketch).

sdaisy26 · 25/08/2018 15:04

Also I would question whether you really need the whole 5.7m run of units (you may well do) as that plus the rest in your first plan is a lot of kitchen. With the island I can see why you may need the full run as actually you don’t have loads of working space on the island.

Tomboytown · 25/08/2018 19:03

Thanks Daisy
I like the run of units, it’s similar to my last kitchen and one of the cupboards is covering a pillar so not really a full cupboard

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museumum · 25/08/2018 19:44

Islands are very fashionable but I think you want a little bit of “breakfast bar” plus a proper table. I know breakfast bar sounds so 90s but I would put surfaces both long walls with a protruding bar on one with seats on the garden side and then a table there.
There’s supposed to be a “triangle” isn’t there between sink cooker and fridge?

museumum · 25/08/2018 19:48

I’ve added stools to your “bar” and am questioning the need for the full run of units. Better a sideboard by the table? Or if you need units then lower only.

Kitchen island/table
OliviaBenson · 26/08/2018 08:13

You can guess which layout I prefer op!!

I think the long run could dominate. Could it go just passed the pier and then you have a dresser or some kind of stand alone piece to break up the run.