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Original poster

Hob on kitchen island?

45 replies

Barbararara · 18/02/2020 14:54

I’m planning a kitchen extension and I’m thinking of putting the hob into the island, so that I don’t have my back to everyone when I’m cooking.

The kitchen designer isn’t keen on the concept.

Has anyone done this and would you recommend it? Or have you regrets?

OP posts:

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BedsorestoaSloth · 18/02/2020 14:57

Done it. induction hob which means it's part of the flat surface (although it bleeps at you if you put something on it that doesn't conduct!). No regrets, although the island is quite long which enables enough time to prep food beside it.

Most difficult solution was the extractor fan as we didn't want one that protrudes down in the middle of the kitchen. Turns out you can get ones that sit as plates flush with the ceiling.

What does the kitchen designer object to?

RJnomore1 · 18/02/2020 15:00

Done it, love it, do have a very nice extractor fan above it

We can sit round the island chatting while someone cooks without their back to everyone

Can watch tv too

Our designer tried to suggest the sink instead which would have been of absolutely no social benefit at all

And without one it’s just a table with cupboards...

BedsorestoaSloth · 18/02/2020 15:03

Oh yes - our drawings initially had sink in the island. Friend pointed out that means it would permanently have dishes piled on it (dirty and/or clean!). Much prefer the hob.

Original poster

Barbararara · 18/02/2020 16:27

Nice to hear it’s a success for some. I’m not sure why he is trying to steer me away from it. He was being a o careful to reassure me that he wasn’t forcing his ideas on me, that he was reticent in explaining what was wrong with the idea.

I’m not really grasping the appeal of a sink in the island at all (which he recommends). My kitchen isn’t so huge that it’s a hardship to walk two steps to the other sink.

I was afraid I was missing something obvious, but it just sounds like different strokes for different folks.

OP posts:

takeyourmarks · 18/02/2020 16:37

Yes just completed kitchen extension and have induction hob on the island and it works well - we left plenty of work surface space on the island / we have a couple of vaulted ceiling windows one of which is above the island so we have an extractor that sits down in the island (flush) and raises by a button when needed / is the extractor perhaps what is making the designer hesitate

littlejalapeno · 18/02/2020 16:54

At the end of the day it’s you who will live with it and you know what will suit your lifestyle. My parents have the hob on the island and stools in front and it’s lovely as you’re facing into the room and don’t have your back to everyone

TendsToHappen · 18/02/2020 16:57

Yes we have one. Bear in mind you need 30cm on three sides clear. For an extractor we just have a small one in the ceiling and open a window if really frying something

Original poster

Barbararara · 18/02/2020 16:57

Has anyone done it with a gas hob?

OP posts:

Original poster

Barbararara · 18/02/2020 16:58

@takeyourmarks I’ve seen a similar extractor. It’s very practical.

OP posts:

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 18/02/2020 17:00

Love mine but it's induction (from a cleaning and safety point of view). Extractors can be an issue, we actually don't have one above the hob. I wish we did but it was too expensive to get a good looking one that wouldn't take DH's eyes out.

Our island is really big too, it's four cupboard widths, so I use the space beside the hob for food prep.

cashmerecardigans · 18/02/2020 17:00

We've got a gas job in our island. It all works really well. We got round the extraction iissue by having a down draft that is vented under the floor and outside. It sits flush and you press a button to raise it when you need it. It's brilliant but does depend on how much work you are sound as it needs to go under your floor.

Remmy123 · 18/02/2020 18:34

I have just had a new kitchen and went through many changes to avoid anything at all on the island and it was the best decision, mind you my island size is 2 metres x 950 so if yours is bigger then fine?

ShyTown · 18/02/2020 18:40

We did it with a gas hob. We have an extractor that sits flush with the ceiling.

Bluntness100 · 18/02/2020 18:48

I think ideally you don't have anything on it. But clearly a hob on it is better than a sink if you need to have something due to space restrictions, as with a sink you're all sitting there looking at your dirty dishes,

Personally I have nothing on mine, and must cook differently from everyone, as I find i don't need to stand staring at my hob for an extended period and can easily converse with those sitting at the island.

Original poster

Barbararara · 18/02/2020 18:48

@Remmy123 would you mind telling me why?

OP posts:

Notname · 18/02/2020 18:48

We have induction job on the island and I love it. We have a pop up extractor (which I rarely use tbh). I didn’t fancy having a sink on the island because I’m lazy about washing up so often have piles of pans by the sink 😄 I think it’s worth getting an induction hob if possible as it’s smooth so looks neat, it’s easy to clean and safer as doesn’t get too hot.

Bluegrasstrail · 18/02/2020 18:50

We have this. It works very well. We got around the extractor issue by having an induction hob with an integrated extractor. So far this is also working very well.

In a previous house we had the sink on the island. It was a messy nightmare. Water flowing off the back of the sink and dishes stacked drying. I would never do this again.

Notname · 18/02/2020 18:51

We forgot to get the external ducting when we had the floor done, so it would have been a lot of work to have that. So we got the air filter/recirculating version and it works fine, tho as I said we don’t use it much.

MazDazzle · 18/02/2020 18:51

We did it and I love it! I love standing at the hob while the family sits round the island. It’s also easier for dishing up food. We have a long and wide island with seating along the back and one side.

DesLynamsMoustache · 18/02/2020 18:52

Yes, love it! Me or DH will often sit on a stool to chat while the other is cooking. It's made it more social (and when I was heavily pregnant it was great as I sat on a stool and stirred pots )

dressingdrown · 18/02/2020 18:58

Induction hob on Island here.

Love it.I can chat to guests while cooking.

I have a ceiling mounted extractor that only protrudes about 6" it is glass /stainless steel and bends in really well with the rest of the kitchen. You use a remote control to turn it on/ off. It could also be mounted flush but was going to cost £££.

The previous kitchen had an eye level one which I hated as I kept hitting my head on it!

Remmy123 · 18/02/2020 19:00

Because I am very fussy/ tidy person and really had an image in my mind with a clear island with a lovely vase of flowers!! 🙂

Also I don't think 950 deep enough to cook is you have people the other side

What size is your island?

Remmy123 · 18/02/2020 19:01

... also to add a clear island is brilliant for when you are serving dinners, so much clear space.

Duvetdweller · 18/02/2020 19:03

We also have an induction hob on the island - I love it. But if I had my time again I might consider a small sink to drain into as well as we only have a big sink behind so everything goes in there which is a bit of a pain if I’ve just filled it with hot soapy water. And the extractor is just in the ceiling so it doesn’t get in the way.

A116 · 18/02/2020 19:19

Oo! We're in the process of having our kitchen done and have our hob on a peninsula. What brand extractor do you have that sits flush with the ceiling and would you rate it @dressingdrown and @BedsorestoaSloth?

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