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Original poster

What do you think about kitchen islands?

78 replies

Newtomarket · 12/10/2020 08:30

DH and I can’t make up our minds about having a kitchen island. We think they look nice but at the same time look like an obstruction. We have the space to put one it but the kitchen I think will suddenly feel cumbersome because of having to navigate around the island.

What do you think about kitchen islands? Do you have one?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Newtomarket · 12/10/2020 17:16

6.5m x 3.5m after accounting for the units do not including the space taken up by units. Counter space and units all round the kitchen save for one of the long walls. I genuinely did not realise this was a small kitchen.

OP posts:
Original poster
Newtomarket · 12/10/2020 17:36

I’m getting kitchen envy 😂. I suddenly want a bigger kitchen! Forget about island. I need a bigger kitchen and then an island. What’s wrong with me?!

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 12/10/2020 17:45

What’s the actual room size? If the gap between units is 3.5m, then you can have an island in the middle.

bilbodog · 12/10/2020 17:50

Having moved recently from a kitchen with an island to one without - i really missed it. I used mine for all meal prep and in new house i was suddenly working looking at a wall! Felt very claustrophobic!

Ive rectified it by having an island again now 😃

AdoreTheBeach · 12/10/2020 17:58

I have a super huge one. Huge work surface with bar stools too. My island has a double sink, built in dishwasher, built in pull out double bins, under counter microwave on one side, open shelves at one end, other side had two double cupboards then a set of 3 drawers for cutlery and dishes. I love love love it

But - my kitchen was remodels and we planned the layout to include the island. It wasn’t an add on to an existing kitchen lay out

LivingoffCoffee · 12/10/2020 19:25

@Newtomarket

6.5m x 3.5m after accounting for the units do not including the space taken up by units. Counter space and units all round the kitchen save for one of the long walls. I genuinely did not realise this was a small kitchen.
Ideally you want about 1m between the island and your countertops. It sounds like currently you have 6.5m x 3.5m completely clear space? So you could have an island 1.5m x 4.5m (possibly not that long, that's massively long!) Thats definitely big enough. And would say it's actually too big of space to not have an island of some sort.
Glitterbubbles · 12/10/2020 19:27

Would definitely have one for food prep/extra cupboard space if our kitchen was big enough.. I wish it was!

BaldricksCoffee · 12/10/2020 19:32

If I had a kitchen big enough for anything like that, I'd much prefer a proper old-fashioned wooden kitchen table.

SuperFairy · 12/10/2020 19:37

I think you have plenty of space, your kitchen is NOT small if 3.5 x 6.5 is the footprint between your units!

We are about to retro fit an island into our kitchen and have a 1 m gap on 3 sides and a 1.5 m gap on one end. The 1 m gaps will actually be bigger than we currently have with the table and chairs that the island is replacing.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 12/10/2020 19:43

I love mine but I don't use it as a breakfast bar, I have an irrational hatred of breakfast bars. Actually, it's not irrational at all, I'm very short and I hate perching on stools...

Ours divides the kitchen from the dining table and chairs, it's double width and it has the hob on it, so you're pretty much always facing out when cooking, which I love. Do a cardboard cutout?

Mumofwho · 12/10/2020 20:09

According to Google, the average size of an island is 80 inches by 40 inches.

positivelynegative · 12/10/2020 21:30

My kitchen is 6.3 x 7.5 without the island it would look empty. Size matters

Roowig2020 · 12/10/2020 21:34

My kitchen is 6x6m and island looks fab in it. It measures 2.4m x 1m. We have an induction hob in it and 4 stools. We also have a dining table in the kitchen/ diner, and a small sofa are. Plenty of room. Dint use the table though!

weegiemum · 12/10/2020 21:34

We got one when we converted the garage into kitchen/diner 2 years ago.

Use it as it's great for worktop space, and when all the dc, partners etc are here everyone ends up standing round it chatting, it's very sociable.

LittleMissEngineer · 12/10/2020 21:36

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Notso · 12/10/2020 21:40

We have a peninsula which provides my main workspace, due to the layout of the kitchen it's necessary.

Toomanycats99 · 12/10/2020 21:46

I don't have an island but I do have a peninsula which I love. It separates kitchen from living area. I also have a dining table against the patio doors. My ex turned the diving table round once (so short side was against the patio doors) it drove me nuts - anytime I wanted to go to the cupboard / toaster / kettle / microwave on that side I had to skirt round it and it drove me nuts - I no longer had a clear route.

For that reason I don't think I would get one unless it was as a dividing line between different zones.

Toomanycats99 · 12/10/2020 21:50

Oh and my kitchen is about 4m x 7m

SantaMonicaPier · 12/10/2020 21:51

I'd get one in a huge kitchen. We've decided to get a circular dining table instead

QuitMoaning · 12/10/2020 21:55

Love mine. I wanted a big one with the hob in it so I can be sociable whilst cooking and mine is the smallest I wanted but the largest possible in my space.

But I use it for so much and now work on it during the day. It is big and dominates the space but I adore it and it is the main part of my kitchen.

What do you think about kitchen islands?
Chewbecca · 12/10/2020 22:00

Will you have a table and chairs too? I wouldn’t sacrifice table and chair space for it as chairs are so much more comfy to sit at.

MrsJamin · 13/10/2020 08:15

I'd only have one in a massive kitchen. In our decent sized kitchen diner we have a peninsula without breakfast bar and a large round dining table which works very well indeed. Think about where you'll need to walk from where and to most often in your kitchen and make sure the island isn't in the way. Psychologically, walking round things is very annoying longterm. We made sure there was like an invisible corridor protecting walkways we would most likely be going. Include protection from breakfast bar stools if you are having them. They would especially do my nut if I had to dodge them to get from the hallway to the garden (for eg) via the kitchen.

Roselilly36 · 13/10/2020 16:03

I am not a fan tbh, in a huge kitchen perhaps, but I would prefer space for a dining table in a kitchen. We are looking to move at the moment, islands do put my off, especially in a small kitchen, constantly having to walk around it, no thanks. I really don’t get why they are so popular.

Guymere · 13/10/2020 16:18

You can have both dining space and an island. That’s what mine is. It’s a big kitchen (7x5m) but the island is what makes it special. I have hob, oven, two bins, pan drawers, utensil drawers and veg prep sink. Also water softener and various cupboards for lesser used stuff like unbreakable glasses, picnic ware and cleaning materials. Pix attached. It’s around 3.5m long plus circular table. No units on two sides where the glass is. But I prefer to see the garden.

What do you think about kitchen islands?
What do you think about kitchen islands?
LivingoffCoffee · 13/10/2020 17:17

You can have both dining space and an island.

Exactly. I don't quite understand some of the comments on MN about islands suggesting it's either/or. I wouldn't have an island instead of a dining table - it's an addition set of cabinets/worktop space.

Though I really hate u-shaped kitchens with a dining table in the middle. Looks so awkward to me. But that's personal opinion really