Hob on island or not

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When designing our new kitchen I felt that I'd really like a clear island so we can sit round it and not get cooking fat splashes etc. It is also easier to keep clear if you're not cooking on it.

Now I'm not sure.
Pro's

• can look out to the rest of the room/dining space/ seating
• be within the conversation if people gather round the island not with back to the action.

Con's

• mess of prep on the island as I'd work beside the hob
• fat splashes
• harder to vent than an outside wall

What can others add? Have people regretted one or the other?

Island is 3.1m x 1.2m if that makes any difference

Thanks

I’d definitely have island without. Unless I’m making a load of pancakes, I just don’t spend that long standing at the hob.

I've decided on a clear island.
And possibly might not even get chairs for the island.
Just empty flexible preparation space.

If you can do without the hob or sink on the island then do so. That said, that is an enormous island so you probably could get away with it, but i would have a cupboard for easy reach of things like oil etc that you want to just grab. We had a 2m x 1.2m island in our old house and really that was slightly too big. One end of it was always a dumping ground. Are you sure it needs to be so big?

I have one on a big island (2 units by 3, range hob is middle 2/3 of one side) and it works well for chatting, having tons of prep space and not staring at a wall while endlessly stirring risotto.

Less good for ventilation (if I re-did it I’d have one of those cunning surface level fans), draining pans (have to carry them across the gap to the sink) and lack of power sockets (when I’m using my phone for a recipe).

Overall I’d do it again, as I do spend a lot of time there between the prep and the cooking, and it’s a nice space to work in. I would recommend inbuilt fan, plugs, and working out where the bin goes (for veg prep), though.

We have induction hob in the island with a extractor fan that rises up when on. I love it and would hate to have it against a wall. It's so sociable and I don't get any fat splashes. I don't do a lot of frying though! Ours is 2.5m x 1.2m.

I have the hob on a similar sized island and it's perfect for us. However, our ventilation is inbuilt in to the island so no need for anything above it, and we have no seating around the island.

I also have the sink and prep area directly behind me to the left so very little moment required.

I had the sink in the last island I had and that really was a nightmare.

Our island is 4mx 2m, hob at one end and sink at the other so loads of prep space.

We went with an induction hob with integrated extractor fan so everything is flush to the surface.

Having once had hobs facing the wall, I'd have a hob on the island over that any time.

This is interesting and I’m really torn!

Bugger

We’re about to have an island fitted and I’ve gone against have the hob in it. I hardly spend anytime standing at the hob. I’m going for a veg prep sink in mine placed towards one end. I figure I spend more time chopping and preparing food than using a hob, also keeps the island clean looking.

I have a large island and I do have my hob on it. If you cook, you use a hob. It’s a lot more sociable than facing the wall. I don’t spill or splash much but it’s also a very controllable induction hob.

I would slightly caution about the width. Mine is 1.4m wide to allow for electrics and a bit of space between the back to back units. We also have a veg prep sink at one end so needed plumbing space. We have a high level round breakfast table at one end. This separates people sitting from the cooking zone. I also enjoy looking at my garden!

Regarding the island sink, we do manage to not splash much! We also have a waste disposal unit in the sink. I also don’t have much rubbish accumulating between the sink and hob. I do food prep there, but I clean up quickly. I also have two bins in the island. Recycling and general rubbish. As pp said above, have the main sink on the wall behind the hob. No walking required. You just turn around.

I have a vast island but it's completely clear. The working space is an L, which I prefer and everyone loves the clear space. It's a big room so it looks good with flowers and candles etc. on display, but when pressed into service it's really useful too e.g. serving up a large number of plates or baking.

I have exactly the same sized island as this.

We put a half bowl sink on one end with a waste disposal unit. Cooker is behind it. The sink is the best thing we did. We do all our prep on the island (granite) and just put all the peelings and food waste in the sink and grind it down. I absolutely love the arrangement as the sink doesn't really take any surface space away but is so useful.

I wouldn't. But I am not tidy and have all the oils and spices etc next to the hob. So it never looks tidy. I don't like a sink there either as unless you are scrupulous about washing up it's a big mess in the middle of the kitchen.

We have 2.4x1.2 island with a large induction hob to the far end of one side, seats x2 diagonally across on the other side at the opposite end. Works really well, plenty of room and no splashes. Extractor is built in to ceiling flush directly above and ducted outside. Plenty of power. Would also not have hob facing wall by choice. DEFINITELY wouldn’t have sink on island. I think you’ll be fine with it on 3m island.

I heartened that some people do have a clear island. I think I’d have to rethink the whole space to switch it around, but might be worth the exercise.

Thanks all