Tell me about your small kitchen islands

[Primotomb]

Planning my kitchen and after allowing for circulation space around the island, if looks like maximum island size will be 120cm x 140cm. Island will be prep/storage space, with a couple of stools for teens to eat breakfast/lunch. We will have a separate dining table.

Is the island going to look too small?

In my view yes. And lop sided as it’s not a square. You might be better off with a wider peninsular with storage on both sides. Then the gap is bigger at one end because there’s no gap for circulation space at the other. In a relatively small area. Is seating really needed when you have a dining table which is, presumably, easy to get to. If it’s not, I would change the relationship between the dining table area and the kitchen. Why build a breakfast bar just for teens?

We went for a peninsula with cupboards either side as the room was a bit small for an island. The old kitchen had a small island and it did get in the way while emptying the dishwasher etc. It’s much better now without it.

post a floor plan

I have a small island on my kitchen. It's actually a butcher's block type thing, with drawers and baskets. I bought it very cheaply in a pop up bric a brac shop and I love it. It is so much more characterful than a "proper" island, but is still really useful.

Picture...

@FuzzyPuffling hi Fuzzy, that looks so lovely!

Hello Sandysmam and thank you! Hope you're doing well.
It was a bargain bit of furniture... definitely serendipity. I painted the bottom bit and knocked the very orange pine top back with future white emulsion.

Future? What's all that about. Dilute.

@FuzzyPuffling

Future? What's all that about. Dilute.

I thought Future White was a beautiful and poetic name for paint

Ha ha, I'm going to make up a batch and trademark the name right now!

Ours is only 140cm by 90cm, with reduced depth units on one side for storing cutlery and table accessories like place mats, tablecloths, vases, candles. The island doesn't include seating: it's just a prep space.

It looks great and is very usable. I'm not sure what you're worried about to be honest.

Mine is 900 x 1400 and that works well. Base cupboards one side, 300mm ledge the other side

Thanks all, typical divided mn opinions, but good to see those with more petite islands are happy with them.

Honestly I think islands are just a fashion and I hated mine so took it out. We have a huge kitchen so it wasn't a question of space, more that it makes the space inflexible.
@FuzzyPuffling's idea is much more practical - you get storage and you can move it.