Kitchen Islands and Bifold doors

[Passmethegin11]

Has there been a kitchen extension built in the past few years which doesn’t have both of the above. Most of the kitchens don’t have space for an island and it looks squashed in. Where has this obsession come from? Also painting everything grey!
I’m guessing kitchen islands and bifold doors will be the avocado bathroom suites of the future!

Completely agree, I did our kitchen last year and everywhere I looked for inspiration was exactly as you described. The two tome units seem to be a thing too, shades of grey / navy blue etc.
I decided on a classic / boring off white kitchen with lots of natural wood, which I'm hoping will age well and not scream "renovated in 2018".

I’ve been thinking exactly the same thing. Architect is talking about sliding doors, I’m hankering after french windows and no island.

And no grey and no navy.....

no island here although that is due to space as I'd have probably had one otherwise.

we have French doors not Bifold.

And our kitchen is cream not grey.

Yes definitely agree about two tone units too. It would be so good to have more inspiration out there. “Renovated in 2018” 🤣
It seems almost all kitchens look the same regardless of the age of the house.

Oh dear, I have an island and bifold doors. In my defence it's a big space with 1.5m clearance round the island and the bifolds are wooden.
But doesn't everything date? The avocado bathrooms and barley twist kitchens of the 70s and 80s were seen as the height of fashion.

We're just in the process of redoing our converted house and we have added both an island and a bifold into what is becoming our kitchen/diner/family room (slowly and not very surely tbh)

The island, in our case is out of necessity as we have a huge space 12mx6m), but not much wall space at all for base units and almost none for wall units, so would have had to settle for a small kitchen section, with far too little storage otherwise.

I think both these things can work brilliantly if done right and put in the right context, but if not, just "squashed in " for fashion reasons, it will look odd and not work well.

I think it comes from, in the most part, people living differently.

Islands are popular because they are really social - children sitting there drawing / doing homework whilst mum/dad cooks or potters. Adults sitting at island having a glass of wine / reading the newspapers / socialising whilst someone is preparing dinner / breakfast or whatever.

Bifolds are popular because a) they open up the space completely, b) if they're flush there is no step / lip for children to trip over and the whole inside/outside thing is great for young families / socialising.

I think yes, they will probably go out of date at some point, but who cares? People have to live in their houses and enjoy them, rather than always following a trend. Yes, I get that these are trends, but they're really practical trends. The point is that for 10+ years or whatever, they're been functional - and will probably have worked brilliantly for families with young children / people wanting a social space for entertaining.

It is just that it seems like there is no imagination, islands aren’t comfortable to sit at and the weather is generally too cold and wet (even in the SE) to have bifolds and when they are open loads of bloody bugs come in. It would be nice to see some people having different kitchens rather than the same as everyone else.

Think you need better stools

And we had bifolds open every day this year from middle of April to end of summer. And we're in Manchester!! Maybe they're not practical for lightweight Southerners but fab for us hardy Northerners

Can't put curtains or blinds in front of bifold doors - way to creepy at night for me - maybe I watch too many thrillers but I hate the thought of people ouside seeing everything I do and not being able to shut it out.

Dont mind islands if its in a big kitchen but prefer a traditional breakfast bar, more cosy.

Definitely think both of the above have come from American makeover programmes - fine for large houses like they are in America but I prefer something more traditional, cosy and homely.

I am fighting off bifold doors from my lounge into the conservatory. I think they take up a load of space and look terrible. We have reached an impasse, I want the french doors replaced, DH wants bifold.
As for an island bench- it would just be a dumping ground ( Like the table he insisted on)
MY DB and SIL had a family room/kitchen/dining room with bifold doors and an island. Awful - like being in a barn, even though SIL makes curtains for a living and made Roman blinds for the bifold doors). Forget the rubbish about the kids doing homework in such a room while mum cooks- they just get distracted.
They moved and now have a lounge, dining room, study kitchen and utility room .

Recently had my kitchen rebuilt with french doors and no island, despite a large space. Really enjoy the open space it provides. BUT- try telling any kitchen company that you don't want an island unit! They kept trying to push me into it. I really had no stand my ground and say- no.

I love my island but also know it's not the best use of the space BUT the bifold doors are just absolutely ace. Ive have, in previous houses, french doors and sliding doors, they are not a patch on being able to open the whole of my lounge to the fresh air and really do make a fabulous difference.

I nearly compromised with sliders but I'm so glad I didn't.

@Africa2go the stools are not the issue however good they are it is not better than a proper table and chairs. I’m sure southerners can manage bifolds unless they are even more temperamental than I have heard. You must get a lot of rain in the kitchen if you are in Manchester

I agree it is so hard to persuade kitchen companies you don’t want one! We have space (9m x 5m) but want to use the space differently.

Crittall windows are trendy but they’re so expensive. If you want a big expanse of glass in the kitchen a bifold is probably the most affordable option. It brings in lots of light and connects the room to the garden.

An island is good for dividing a large space. Otherwise your kitchen units are all on one side of the room with nothing in the middle!

We had ample room for an island but I really didn't fancy it. Much rather have the floor space and a table that can be extended when needed.

We also went for patio doors.

I guess it depends on the layout of the room. I don't know anyone with an islend who doesnt also have a table. If there's not enough room for both then I'd rather have a table.

I agree. We are having a big table with extra comfortable chairs and no island. I'm too short to be comfortable on a bar stool and they are no good for young children and the elderly either.

We have a big table and also there was an island here already. I always thought I wouldn’t like one but I’ve started to rely on it. The induction is on it and I can see into room as I cook.

Bifolds are probably changing to sliding / Crittal etc I’d like to change our situation but I do wonder about flies in summer if all opened up.

I am not a fan of islands, unless your kitchen really is large and has the space for it. Our dining/kitchen (newly built on, 3 years ago, and approx 20 x 11) has french doors and a large table, with cream units. I like lightness, so we also have velux windows. It is a room flooded with daylight. I always think that currently trendy dark units soak up all the light.

I’m not a fan of bifolds - I blame George Clarke for their popularity! I much prefer french doors, two sets possibly or along with plain glass panels. So many more interesting ways of bringing the light in than these ugly concertina doors. It must be like inviting the local wildlife in as well.

I would never replace a kitchen table with an island and would never sit at one but if there’s room for both island and table I don’t see a problem. I do agree that so many kitchens are identikit these days.

Well we're in the process of getting a new kitchen and are having both! I'm very conscious that we're following a trend, but we're not doing it to be trendy, we're doing it because we want it. We need the island as we can only run units along one wall and we need the extra storage space, and we're having the bifold as I do love the idea of being able to completely open up the space. I don't really like feeling like such a sheep, but take comfort myself in the fact that we're not following ALL the trends - we're not having bar stools at the island (we are having a niche for the cat litter tray to be tucked into - you won't see that on Instagram!), or brass handles and taps, or Crittall windows (mainly cos we can't afford them!!) or navy units (although our island is navy and the other units pale grey, so we're ticking the two-tone box )

The thing is, trends are trends because people see things and they like them so they copy them - and if you like it, then why not just go with it? As @drizzlelemon says, everything dates in the end.

I do think the people getting pink kitchens will come to regret it, though! Unless they have the funds to redo their kitchen again in 5 years, I think that particular trend will look really dated soon.

No island here, though I do have bifold. And metro tiles!