Am I the only person who doesn’t like kitchen islands?

[VenusClapTrap]

Currently in the middle of redoing our kitchen. Quite a major job involving taking walls out and so on. The kitchen will be quite big. Everyone and his dog is asking “Ooh, are you having an island?” and then reacting with surprise when I say no.

Am I THAT odd not to want an island? I don’t hate them in other people’s houses, I just don’t want one in mine. I prefer to sit on normal chairs round a normal table, than perch on a bar stool at something that doubles as a kitchen work surface. And I like rooms to feel spacious - I find islands get in the way, as you end up having to walk round them all the time.

Anyway. Just wondering if I’m alone!

We have a semi detached island aka a breakfast bar

I've often said on here I don't like kitchen islands.
I've found my people as generally it seems I've been a bit out on a limb.
So inflexible.
I realise some of the stunning kitchens people have put photos of, on here have the capacity for a table as well and loads of other space around both, but in most people's houses, there isn't that sort of square footage.

To be honest, fable and chairs in the middle of a kitchen with cupboards around just looks and feels odd. Dining space has to be separate to kitchen cooking/prep space.

I wasn’t a fan but have recently moved house and love the island. But we only have 1 reception room, which is a massive 6x15m and was built open plan.

The kitchen is along one side wall and the island, which is 8 units wide and 2 deep. Really zones the room. Next to it there is a 10 seater table so it isn’t either or. Both bar stools and table used regularly.

Without the is island we would be very short of worktop and storage space. A peninsula would disrupt the flow of people a lot more.

To be honest, fable and chairs in the middle of a kitchen with cupboards around just looks and feels odd. Dining space has to be separate to kitchen cooking/prep space.

What if there's nowhere else for a table and chairs to go?

My ideal kitchen would be farmhouse style with units round the wall and a huge lovely table in the middle. It's so welcoming and for me 100x better than inviting people to perch on a bar stool. But the reality is we live in a victorian terrace with doors either end of the kitchen and will end up with a table plus peninsula because its the only way to have more than one run of units. So I get that sometimes people need them for space. What I don't get is plonking the thing in the best light in the room or using it to replace a table.
I think generally though I dislike the trend for making homes look like hotels - bar stools in the kitchen, en suites in bedrooms, disposable prints/artwork to be changed with each colour shift.

My ideal kitchen would be farmhouse style with units round the wall and a huge lovely table in the middle. It's so welcoming and for me 100x better than inviting people to perch on a bar stool.

Me too. You've just described my kitchen, I love it.

Totally agree with most of the posters here, i really don't like them. The perching on a stool at a bar might work in a pub but not in a household kitchen! It is uncomfortable and odd. All new kitchens seem to look the same now with an island the ubiquitous pendant lights over the island, grey paint everywhere and bi-fold doors. But it is a trend and all trends will die out in time.

Well all these kitchens with islands that people have posted are absolutely massive. When I said I didn't like them I meant in a regular sized kitchen! My friend has one in a fairly small kitchen diner and it's a total pain walking around it all the time and doesn't leave space for a proper sized dining table. And no, she doesn't have a separate dining room.

This was a new build, built like that. She didn't choose the kitchen herself.

@Missillusioned

Well all these kitchens with islands that people have posted are absolutely massive. When I said I didn't like them I meant in a regular sized kitchen! My friend has one in a fairly small kitchen diner and it's a total pain walking around it all the time and doesn't leave space for a proper sized dining table. And no, she doesn't have a separate dining room.

This was a new build, built like that. She didn't choose the kitchen herself.

And the massive kitchens aren’t to everyone’s taste either. It’s quite sad that while doing up your own house you feel forced to consider whether you can afford to only take your own taste into account.

We have bought a house with an Island and will remove it immediately. I just don’t like them. I find that they often ruin the flow of kitchens

Bluesheep8

My ideal kitchen would be farmhouse style with units round the wall and a huge lovely table in the middle. It's so welcoming and for me 100x better than inviting people to perch on a bar stool.

Me too. You've just described my kitchen, I love it.

me too

They are only really nice is very very large kitchens. I have a friend with a huge farm house and hers looks great. She has a big farmhouse table too. In smaller kitchens they always look cramped to me the ones with sinks in somehow worse.

Me too SnowWouldHelp , Bluesheep8, and ILoveShula

and also this I think generally though I dislike the trend for making homes look like hotels - bar stools in the kitchen, en suites in bedrooms, disposable prints/artwork to be changed with each colour shift.

I'd love to see some pictures of bigger kitchens without an island pls?

@SuperMonkeys

I'd love to see some pictures of bigger kitchens without an island pls?

Here is an example from Houzz. Although it looks attractive my problem with it is the impracticality. It lacks worksurface unless you are sitting at the table (I prefer to prep standing up so I can move around and grab ingredients), it lacks storage (you loose all the space under the table) and it results in you having to walk further to get from the sink to the cooker to the fridge and to the prep area. The person cooking has their back to the guests at the table and the washing up is done right next to the seating area.

It is admittedly a tricky space though. Given the features of the room the table makes a lovely focal point and I find it hard to picture an island looking as good as the table in this setting. I think in a more modern setting though the island would be the clear choice.

@SuperMonkeys

I'd love to see some pictures of bigger kitchens without an island pls?

My sister went for a farmhouse hand made kitchen with a massive table - looked lovely and all was good until you cooked in it - with very little work surface, a range cooker that she built a silly fireplace to accommodate wasting lots of valuable space and requiring the cook to kiss the floor to find out how your food was doing and very little storage space. Bloody awful kitchen and it must have cost her a fortune! Designing a practical work space that works well is tricky - the solution is design for the space and the function forget the I need an island or a range cooker - think I need a space to cook in and eat with my family and friends..

My family would just leave all their crap on an island (especially hair bands) so there’s no way I want one. I just assumed others have tidier families than my children who drop stuff all over the place to the point it’s actually a skill just how far they spread their stuff (just as well I love them)!