Talk to me about kitchen islands

[GraciousPiglet]

We are about to remodel and are moving our existing kitchen to our new extension. We had a good floor plan but now I'm nervous that we are not using the space very well and that perhaps we don't need an island.

The space is about 3.5m square And we have two walls available for cupboards to go on. The rest of the kitchen space backs onto other areas.

We will have one row of cupboards and counter tops and then a few tall cabinets (like a pantry cupboard) on the wall opposite. The ovens are built in at eye height.

We were planning to then have an island, and on that island would be our sink - a small sink as we don't really wash up. The island will be just under 2m long and 1m wide.

There would be approx 800mm between the row of cupboards and the island, so essentially by adding our island we are creating a sort of galley kitchen, which I'm now feeling a bit nervous about.

If you have an island, what space do you have around it? If you don't have an island how do you find it? Has anyone regretted putting an island in their average sized kitchen? Is having a sink on the island a terrible idea?

If we don't have an island we'd basically have an l shaped kitchen with loads of space in the middle of the room. I can't decide if that's weird or not?!

@Why2why

One does not need an island or open plan to be social with one’s family. I cook from scratch, fresh everyday. It’s just part of my culture and in my case, it does not take much time. I prefer to let food boil or bake away whilst I relax in a nice, warm cosy room with my family.

Each to his own I guess.

Great that it works for you and we cook from scratch too, although I am not of the relevance of that comment. Just offering a reason as to why the open plan set up works for many.

Gender politics aside - I much prefer a bar chair with a back and arms to sit at a kitchen island rather than just a stool. We have had ours for 8 years or so since we moved to a littler house & my goodness they get used so much. My last kitchen island was bigger and better but the advantage with the newer smaller one in downsized house is that it has a part where you can actually get your knees under the counter top rather than having to sit at 45 degrees or reach over . (sounds obvious but did I think of it last time ? )

We had the same issue as you....without the island the kitchen would just be L shaped with a big empty space.
We didn't want barstools etc. so made an island out of 6 cupboards. 2 x 40 with a 1 x 80 in the middle, and same behind.
On the side facing the kitchen entrance we put smoked glass doors and use these cupboards for all our glassware. It looks really lovely.

On the opposite side, we put all drawers in. The 40cm holds all the mugs and cups, the deep fat fryer in the bottom drawer, and oven gloves etc. in the top. The 80cm drawers hold all cooking utensils under the hob, pans under that, and pots under that. The last 40cm drawer holds a steamer, and other items.
With so much storage in it, we were able not to have to put up high cupboards and the kitchen is so much brighter and more open that way.

We recently changed from a peninsula to an island, and I much prefer it. We have 90 cm clearance all round it and don’t feel we lack space. But I just have cupboards in the island. No seating space as we have a large dining table in the other half of the room .
I’ve included photos

Ours is very like @RunnerDown's except we have a couple of bar stools.

If we'd had a peninsula there's have been less storage and also it would have created a pinch point. Instead someone can be cooking, has everything near them in a galley style and anyone wanting past can go round the other side of the Island.

We put the drinks fridge outside 'the zone' and the fridge - so that people getting milk or drinks don't get in the way of the cook.

I know people who have islands and hate them and some people live them. Personally I think if you have plenty of space then they're great (rooms meters big with additional dining table etc) but if you have an average room then don't get one for the sake of it.

I've stayed in a lot of houses which have them and most didn't benefit. It was something we had to walk around. Also consider where your washing machine and dishwasher are going! If these are near the island then remember when the doors are open the path is blocked!

Currently designing our new kitchen and we won’t be putting an island back in. We have one now and it’s a complete pain! It’s a dumping ground and it’s just in the way. I can’t wait for a kitchen with floor space where we don’t have to squeeze past each other or each walk round the island in a different direction to get past.

I have an island, 2.4m x 1.6m. It's huge. I love it. We have 1.2m clearance between the Island and the back wall and we can fit 2 adults just, and the other side is clear by 5m into the open plan dining area.

If you need to have a hob or sink on the island the definitely go for an induction hob.

Put it this way.... when you're finished cooking, the hob will be clear. You never leave 'stuff' on a hob. Compared to when you're finished cooking.... the sink will be full and there is ALWAYS something either in the sink or next to it.

Induction Hob on the island both won't regret it.

Also if you can... get a full height pantry cupboard to store all your food items. Life changing. Even better if you can use the corner space and have a walk in cupboard.

Great that you’ve managed to increase the gap to 1000mm OP. Can we see a sketch/plan at all? Do you have plumbing/electrics to the island area? You’ll need to factor in that as extra cost if not? Unless you’re very hot on washing and drying I’d recommend induction hob over sink on the island or would have a tendency to look cluttered.

I really don't think islands will "date". They've been around for donkey's years... it's just the average kitchen was too small to have one back then. Times change, people favour space now, hence the amount of extending going on. Of course an island plonked in a too small kitchen isn't practical - but in a large kitchen it is. I can't see people with large kitchens ripping out their islands in the future as they're no longer on trend. They'll end up with a massive unusable space which is just annoying to work in.

@CellophaneFlower

I really don't think islands will "date". They've been around for donkey's years... it's just the average kitchen was too small to have one back then. Times change, people favour space now, hence the amount of extending going on. Of course an island plonked in a too small kitchen isn't practical - but in a large kitchen it is. I can't see people with large kitchens ripping out their islands in the future as they're no longer on trend. They'll end up with a massive unusable space which is just annoying to work in.

It's interesting. I can understand everything you are saying but it does seem that every single new kitchen you see online is now exactly the same design. A wall full of units and an island parallel to that, effectively creating a galley kitchen. Anything which is so popular is bound to go out of fashion at sometime, even - unfortunately - if its a decent thing. Its our perception of the overall look, not the function and that changes over time. Time will tell, I suppose

We have an island but in a bigger kitchen and I love it. The children sit up their for breakfast, it’s handy for colouring, homework etc when the table is laid and it makes the kitchen look complete IMO

@sluj I think the bank of cupboards is also not a fashion thing, just practical. For me, full height pantry cupboards are far more accessible than lots of separate cupboards. Pan drawers are also so much easier than base cupboards. There was once a time nobody had eye level ovens and separate hobs. Now they're really common and I don't think that's a fashion thing either.

There will of course be people who covet an island as they think it's on trend or luxurious. These are the people who will squeeze 1 into a too small place rendering it impractical. In a large kitchen however, the bank of units and islands work well. Practical like a galley kitchen, as everything is close to hand, but still with the feeling of space.

I think the trend for knock throughs and large extensions leads to bigger kitchen spaces. This then leads to banks of tall units and kitchen islands as the space needs filling/dividing and people often have dining areas set apart but adjoining the kitchen ‘zones’. Islands then make sense as they zone the kitchen from the dining and the relaxing zones. Banks of tall units tend to be only practical if work surface space is plentiful elsewhere and they are great for not needing to bend down!! And pantries are just a new take on the pantries of old where they were used as cold stores. So much of design is cyclical - if - and when smaller cosier kitchens come back in…islands will go out of fashion ~as they won’t fit the space~

I absolutely love mine. I don't have loads of space at each side, just enough to be able to open the cupboard doors next to it without them banging into it. It's a total god send. All my pans are in there and there's a huge drawer in the top for utensils and junk.

I have two chairs at mine and it's lovely when people come round and I can be pottering around while they sit and chat to me.

Had mine made about 3 years ago and wish I'd done it years earlier. It's never felt cramped and would be wasted space otherwise. It also gives me a massive amount of worktop space I wouldn't otherwise have.

@LazyDoll

I think the trend for knock throughs and large extensions leads to bigger kitchen spaces. This then leads to banks of tall units and kitchen islands as the space needs filling/dividing and people often have dining areas set apart but adjoining the kitchen ‘zones’. Islands then make sense as they zone the kitchen from the dining and the relaxing zones. Banks of tall units tend to be only practical if work surface space is plentiful elsewhere and they are great for not needing to bend down!! And pantries are just a new take on the pantries of old where they were used as cold stores. So much of design is cyclical - if - and when smaller cosier kitchens come back in…islands will go out of fashion ~as they won’t fit the space~

So what happens to the extensions in this case then? Do people start ripping them down to create the new fashionable cosy kitchen? Or do they just section it off to make a separate dining area? I get that open plan living could be a fad - personally I'd hate my only living area to be open to my kitchen, but as long as there's a separate reception room I can't imagine anybody preferring a small kitchen over a spacious one.

Who knows…we’ve not got there yet… I’m firmly in the boat of extending my kitchen to make a larger space with an island 😉 but nothing stays in fashion forever

Absolute minimum width of a kitchen to fit an island in needs to be 13 foot and even then it will look a bit squashed

@LazyDoll

Who knows…we’ve not got there yet… I’m firmly in the boat of extending my kitchen to make a larger space with an island 😉 but nothing stays in fashion forever

If space ever becomes unfashionable I'll be very happy to not be on trend

Totally!! I personally like the balance of an open kitchen/diner with a separate living space that can become snug and cosy. I’ve designed lots of kitchens in very open plan or barn type conversions and they just feel too vast and open for me. And I’d NEVER keep it tidy enough to be a relaxing space 🙈

Agree! Not keen on a separate dining room as more often than not it's only used out of necessity - but a dedicated cosy lounge room is a must!

We took the wall down between the kitchen and the dining room. Made it all cosy. Spent all our time in there. Made our living room redundant in the end

Great points about kitchen trends and it goes to show that having a kitchen that works for you is the most important thing, especially if you don’t love renovating and sharing your house with workmen!

Only get an island if you feel it will be a benefit. Trying to have an on trend kitchen or one everyone will admire is impossible. But you absolutely can have one you love.