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Original poster

Hob on island - yay or nay?

49 replies

365sleepstogo · 19/02/2022 22:29

On a 3m island, positioned to one end with the sink near by on the run behind it?
I think island should be long enough so we can have seating set at the other end going round the corner.
Will the area around the cooker get very messy? Currently, the splash back rarely gets messy so I am hoping it will be ok.
Anyone have problems with it being on the island? Or do you find it works well?

TIA

OP posts:

KendallRoysRabbit · 20/02/2022 11:45

@365sleepstogo

Lovely kitchen *@KendallRoysRabbit* ! What size is your island?

Ours is 2.9m long so just slightly smaller than yours.

Hugasauras · 20/02/2022 12:14

We have ours on a big island where we also do most of the food prep. We have stools and it's a really nice social space as the person cooking can just chat across the island to whoever else is there. Sink is directly behind island against wall.

TizerorFizz · 20/02/2022 14:33

We have the second sink on the island it’s not for washing up. It’s for veg prep and straining water off. So never has anything in it that’s unsightly.

Hob doesn’t spatter much. Nearest chair here is 1m plus. If you have seats at least 1 m away, it’s really no issue and you can chat and cook at the same time.

I don’t cook for guests by reheating. I prefer to cook fresh food at the time we eat. But when guests are here, we eat elsewhere. We tend to load the dishwasher as we go snd that’s next to the big double ceramic sink. Wherever your main sink is, you need the dishwasher next door.

TizerorFizz · 20/02/2022 14:38

This is the view from our island. Small sink one end. Hob and seating down the other end.

DarleneSnell · 20/02/2022 14:42

@TizerorFizz

This is the view from our island. Small sink one end. Hob and seating down the other end.

@TizerorFizz let's face it who's looking at the island with that stunning garden!!!! 😍

TizerorFizz · 20/02/2022 14:46

Thank you. Well the idea was that everyone could enjoy the garden. But that’s our big feature. I definitely wanted to look out snd not look at the wall! Or look into the house.

RampantIvy · 20/02/2022 14:57

Dislike hobs on islands, because of the extractor fan and spitting.

We had a hob on an island in a holiday rental property. By the end of the week the extractor fan had gouged several holes in DH's head. I know that there is a maximum height requirement for an extractor fan over a gas hob, so I would only do this if neither of you are tall.

Woahthehorsey · 20/02/2022 15:14

@RampantIvy

Dislike hobs on islands, because of the extractor fan and spitting.

Or you have a pop up extractor fan or hob with built in extractor.

NononoBruno · 20/02/2022 15:41

@KendallRoysRabbit what a beautiful kitchen (and love your name!)

doodleygirl · 20/02/2022 15:44

I’m a nay, I really dislike being so close to the cooking action when chatting to friends who have this. My job is on the worktop run.

NononoBruno · 20/02/2022 15:46

@365sleepstogo as mentioned you can get induction hobs with the extractor built in but as a PP mentioned you need the ducting.
And another pp mention a drawer with oils etc close by. I have a skinny cupboard at end of island under the worktop where I keep herbs, spices and oils so close to hand when cooking and a deep drawer on other side where I keep pots and pans.

RampantIvy · 20/02/2022 15:53

Or you have a pop up extractor fan or hob with built in extractor.

I didn't know this. Can you use them with gas hobs?

JoanDarc · 20/02/2022 16:45

We’re finalising our kitchen plan for our extension and my architect was amazed I didn’t want the sink or hob on the island. Much prefer it clear and will primarily use for food prep or for seating with stools at opposite side. Like other posters I really don’t like the visual of the extractor hood above an island.

Woahthehorsey · 20/02/2022 16:51

@RampantIvy

Or you have a pop up extractor fan or hob with built in extractor.

I didn't know this. Can you use them with gas hobs?

The pop up ones you can. They're bought separately so work with any hob.

I don't know of any gas hobs with integrated extractor fans, but I haven't actually looked.

Classicblunder · 20/02/2022 17:01

I think a clear island is ideal but we don't have a space that would work with that. So we are going for hob on island - with pullout small shelves to either side for things like salt and oils.

I am a bit nervous about it but I think it's better than sink on island, I would rather the cook is the one guests can see than the dirty dishes

Woahthehorsey · 20/02/2022 17:02

@Classicblunder

I think a clear island is ideal but we don't have a space that would work with that. So we are going for hob on island - with pullout small shelves to either side for things like salt and oils.

I am a bit nervous about it but I think it's better than sink on island, I would rather the cook is the one guests can see than the dirty dishes

I just didn't feel I'd use a clear island and would end up using it as a dumping ground as I'd rather prep in a tiny space next to my hob than turn around.

redandyellowbits · 20/02/2022 20:44

It was. 2.2 m by 1m and felt v cluttered. I love my island as a big empty space - mine is 3m x 1m

redandyellowbits · 20/02/2022 20:51

Mine is totally clear except for a big fat candle in the middle which I love but it can easily turn into a dumping ground.

I am generally quite ruthless with clutter and keep all surfaces clear but it's definitely something to consider. I have a dedicated drawer for random kitchen crap (scissors, sellotape, batteries etc) which helps.

Gardeningtipsneeded · 20/02/2022 21:00

I have a hob in, the other run just isn’t big enough for both hob and sink so something had to be on there. Opted for hob as to me a sink is a constantly working space. I cook a lot and just wipe and go afterwards. Only have two seats at the island tho which are down the other end.
Extractor wise we just have a very small extractor in the vaulted ceiling, totally unnoticeable, and I often open a window when clearing up.

TizerorFizz · 20/02/2022 22:40

Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone ….. but we don’t have an extractor. My kitchen is in an irk framed orangery style building and I open the roof! We were going to have a work top mounted one but changed our minds. Never get steamed up and it’s a big kitchen so we truly don’t have problems. The extractors really have to work hard in a big space with a high glass roof and we just didn’t think it was worth it and building regs officer never checked.

Liveasusual · 20/02/2022 22:58

If you're worried about headroom on the extractor, we got one that sits flush with the ceiling like this.

Have 3.2m island, haven't regretted induction hob on it. Definitely better than the sink which is always going to be cluttered.

Wnkingawalrus · 20/02/2022 23:14

I don't know of any gas hobs with integrated extractor fans, but I haven't actually looked.

Bora do them, I have one and I love it.

Our hob is on the island and we very much see the island as part of the kitchen. So it’s used for food prep, has the bread bin on it, toaster, etc. We don’t have any seating there as I’m really not a fan of bar stools and we wanted to maximise the storage.

But we have a big table just the other side so people can sit and chat there whilst someone cooks.

It really depends on the space that works for you. We’re big cooks and we have a lot of kitchen stuff so to us maximising storage was a big thing so we really needed to be able to use the island for cooking so we could maximise cupboard space elsewhere.

I may have chosen differently if space was no object!

anotherheadache · 20/02/2022 23:24

I love my hob on the island as I can face to room while cooking so it's sociable. I have a pop up extractor which is fab as when not in use it's flat inside the island. I have a couple of bar chairs at the island. I have a separate dining table and a sofa in the room so I definitely like to be able to see the whole room and be involved socially while cooking. If the hob was on the side worktop I'd have my back to people while cooking, which is exactly what I didn't want.

anotherheadache · 20/02/2022 23:25

Also the pop up extractor works as a splash back.

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