Is my kitchen big enough for an island?

[Celeste777]

I've had two kitchen designs drawn up. The first one said island fits in ok, second one said I don't have enough room around it for anything bar a very skinny island.
What's the minimum comfy space I need around my island?

Could you put a wall up where the dining area is instead and create two separate rooms? Then you could have a kitchen/ breakfast room then a dining room. That L shape will be annoying with guests over and also be a nightmare to heat.

I just knocked it down

That's reassuring.
Part of the island would have nothing opposite as it's into the open plan, I think if I'm very careful about direction of opening doors and appliances it should be okay. It's about 900 each side

@Celeste777

I've come to bed now because I'm so cold but I'll pm you tomorrow with a photo. It honestly has never felt too big, I absolutely love it!

That would be great, I really appreciate it

I also have one with less space on the longer sides but ample on the short sides and it doesn't feel cramped. It works for me and, as you say, I have tons of work top space. I know there are ideals but other things can be workable too.

I would put the kitchen in the space you've labelled Dinning room. And have a big dining room in the kitchen area with some nice chairs by the doors to the garden.

I agree. Sorry OP but I think the whole layout looks wrong

here is a picture of what I'd do.

a big U shaped kitchen in the 'dining' area where you will have loads of workspace for appliances and there won't be people walking through and tripping over the chef etc.

then the big space can have a large dining table plus some nice seating by the french windows and will work well as a family space + transition between lounge and kitchen.

Won't it be mega expensive and a huge ball ache yo move the gas and water and drainage.

Like the pp layout much better than your planned one OP. You need a minimum of 1m clearance around all sides of island

I much prefer a table to having an island.

It’s not that difficult to move drainage and water. Just makes a mess.
But you will be making a mess anyway so doesn’t really matter

If you move to Induction hob, you won’t need gas for cooking anyway.

Who did both your kitchen designs out if interest,? I am In similar position and have had one design from a local place that also said no island.

How about a non-fitted island on wheels, that you can move about as needed?

Temporarily move your dining table to the position of the island in the kitchen to get a feel for how much space around an island you would ideally need. They are great for storage and extra worktop space.

How much worktop space would you have without the island? It looks like not much.

I've had designs from howdens, b and q and Homebase

Not tons, hence the need for the island

Unfortunately can't do this as have a peninsula brwaKfast bar, have chalked it in the floor though and feels ok

Honestly, those are the gaps we have and it feels absolutely very roomy and pleasant if well-planned. I wish it was possible to PM photos so I could show you ours.

This is so good to hear!

Oohh thanks for this thread - we have a narrow kitchen too, just under 3.5m I think, but my husband really wants an island!

Are your fridge and freezer undercounter or tall units?
You should have some worktop next to your oven so that you can immediately put hot dishes down. Not ideal to be walking across to the island unit hot trays and pots.

It's not that difficult or expensive to move utilities. As long as you are not digging out a new manhole, everything is just extra pipework that's hidden behind cupboards. The pipe size and gradient of the pipe fall need to be sufficient to ensure good flow.
A kitchen width of 3m is too small to have units along one side and an island in the middle. You need a width of at least 3.5 to 3.7m to have an island if you also want units along one side. You'd need more width, to get sitting on one side of the island.
I think the alternative proposal to consider relocating the kitchen makes sense. The lightest part of the house that's closest to the garden would be great for a sitting area. So many configurations are possible once you consider the L-shaped space as a single block of space.