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Original poster

Sink/hob/nothing on island

26 replies

Aidkitchen · 02/10/2023 18:56

Trying to design my new kitchen and interested in experience of having sink/hob on the island. I had hoped to have it free from appliances but to do that would mean sink/hob along the same worktop which I think could be a bit awkward. So which appliance would you recommend having on your island?

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Caspianberg · 02/10/2023 18:59

I would go with nothing. Gets cluttered otherwise

with nothing you always have a clear surface for prep, baking, plating up. Keeping the hot and wet stuff away.
A hob near high island stools would be a no no safety wise also

marylou25 · 02/10/2023 20:07

Neither, I like a clear expanse of space on the island rather than breaking it up with sink/hob. My sink and hob are on the same straight run of worktop, not right beside each other, there is countertop between them, never saw it as awkward in anyway, in fact if anything a little safer imo when lifting stuff from hob to sink as no crossing over to island, pots of pasta etc. Less chance of accidents especially if kids in the mix!

Original poster
Aidkitchen · 02/10/2023 20:13

Thank you! I have always envisioned nothing but then started to doubt myself when the architect suggested putting a hob on it. @marylou25 good to know you get in with sink/hob on same wall. I can’t think of anywhere I’ve seen it other than on smaller galley kitchens.

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PeggyPiglet · 02/10/2023 20:17

A hob definitely.
All my cooking is done on our island. It's fab.

JE17 · 02/10/2023 20:19

My hob is on the island opposite the sink. I really like it that way. The island is huge so there is still plenty of room for a wide open space/ place for everyone to put their clutter.

nc14 · 02/10/2023 20:21

Induction hob so it’s flat and you can use it as a surface for other things if needed.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 02/10/2023 20:27

We have nothing on the island. Storage on 2 sides with power sockets and stools on the other 2 sides.

Range and prep sink on one side of the kitchen and baby-bath sink on the other side for washing up next to dishwasher.

Unfortun8 · 02/10/2023 20:37

I have a range cooker along the wall with worktops either side. Island is quite large and has a double Belfast sink in it. No drying grooves on the island. I use one bowl to wash and the other has a drainer in it so if something has been washed up it can't be seen! Dishwasher is to one side of the sink in the island. Really pleased with how it's set up.

89redballoons · 02/10/2023 21:53

We have nothing on our island. The hob is behind it, with an eye-level double oven next to that and then the sink is round the corner (so behind another side of the island) in the middle of a stretch of work surface. The other two sides of the island are open into our dining area and playroom respectively, so the whole area is an L-shape with the island in the corner of the L if that makes sense.

I absolutely love having all the island space for preparing food without my back to everyone. I also use it to plate up food while people are sitting at the dining table or on stools at the island. The whole of the surface of the island does get used and then we clear everything off most evenings.

The only slight annoyance is that when I rinse food in the sink and move it to the island to prep I have to stop it dripping on the floor. I still wouldn't want my sink on the island though as it would cut down the usable space and would attract more clutter.

WeWereInParis · 02/10/2023 21:55

I would lean towards nothing. But it really depends on the size of the island, the rest of the kitchen, what the layout is, whether the hob would have to be in a slightly more awkward position if not on the island etc.

BigDahliaFan · 03/10/2023 07:07

We’ve got an induction hob on the island. Downward vent so a duct had to be installed before the screed went down for the floor.

the sink is just behind it.

it works for us. Loads of prep space roun£ it. Got oil and stuff in cupboard underneath it. All cleans up after cooking.

I’d not like to have the sink on it as I think there’d be stuff out a lot more.

BigDahliaFan · 03/10/2023 07:08

would have quite liked a little prep sink next to it too….with a cover.

LoveLabradors · 03/10/2023 07:25

I love having nothing on my island other than flowers or a cake in a cake stand. I really enjoy not having clutter and having a large clear space for eating or for food preparation. It helps keep the kitchen stay smart and tidy looking if that makes sense?

CatherinedeBourgh · 03/10/2023 07:28

I had a small sink in my last kitchen, and wouldn't do without it. Not the main sink, just a small one for veg prep.

Baxdream · 03/10/2023 07:39

I have nothing on mine. In fact I have no electrics/plumbing on it at all - it helped save money during the build.
I had an induction job on my last one which was nice.
I definitely wouldn't have a sink unless you are a very tidy person!

notafraidofthebigbadwolf · 03/10/2023 08:17

We have nothing on ours. Cooker and sink on the wall behind with a 1 metre gap between for a 400mm cupboard and a dishwasher. It works perfectly.

Sanch1 · 03/10/2023 08:38

We have nothing on our island, then a breakfast bar around two sides of it. We use it for prep and plating up/serving, or if eating at the breakfast bar setting food on it. Also good for when friends are around sitting and chatting with the person cooking. Our hob is behind the island so easy to go back and forth from prep to hob.

Waterdropsdown · 03/10/2023 09:59

It’s totally personal to your preferences, with the size of the island a big factor.

are you messy? If so think about that re dishes would you not clear them away straight away - sink probably not ideal.

do you have space to have seating away from a hob? If not hob is probably not ideal.

some don’t even have seating at an island.

personally I love a large island with seating and I know I’m not messy so therefore can in reality chose the set up I want (in my last house I actually had both on the island and it was ace).

whatever happens make sure you have power on the island.

iwantabreakfastpantry · 03/10/2023 12:07

We are about to install our kitchen a run that is approx 3.5m with hob and large sink.
The island is almost 4m and has s prep sink at one end and seating at the other.

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 03/10/2023 12:17

Aidkitchen · 02/10/2023 20:13

Thank you! I have always envisioned nothing but then started to doubt myself when the architect suggested putting a hob on it. @marylou25 good to know you get in with sink/hob on same wall. I can’t think of anywhere I’ve seen it other than on smaller galley kitchens.

@Aidkitchen , architects aren’t kitchen designers and there is not only one solution, it’s always got to be tailored to how you work. I have a large island 1.2 x 3.2m and I have two sinks in it with draining grooves in the quartz. My hob is behind on an outside wall and the extractor directly vented to the outside. I don’t believe extractors in the work surface work as well as those overhead and as I have a very open plan layout that was important to me.
Why not take your plan to a kitchen studio and discuss your needs with an actual kitchen designer?

Jinimcoroneo · 03/10/2023 14:04

We designed our kitchen with a hob on the island, I do like the idea of an island with nothing on it but there was no place on the worktop where the hob made sense. If I had to choose between sink or hob on island would def be hob, sink gets way too cluttered but an induction hob doesn't take up a lot of space when not in use.

marylou25 · 03/10/2023 14:17

I think it is important to consider how you use a kitchen yourself, what sort of things you cook etc, architect or kitchen designer are only of use to a certain point but not every person makes the same use of a kitchen. I often see the reason for hob on island being more sociable as you are facing people when cooking however I would use my oven/airfryer more than my hob but some may use the hob every day, I wouldn't.

I have no seating at my island as don't like that either, perfectly good table and chairs practically beside it but if there is seating then I definitely would prefer to have it clear space. I love the big expanse of island counter for baking/rolling out and prep in general but again some people don't bake and some buy preprepared stuff 😀 It's a very personal choice so go with what you think will work best for you and not what another person that will never be in your kitchen thinks!

Weefreetiffany · 03/10/2023 14:20

Depends on the size of the island and what you want to use it for.

sink on the island is good for prep, but bad for drying pans etc and you have to put them away asap or it’s cluttered.

hob on the island is good as it’s social, but you have to turn and cross the gap to drain hot water from pans and you have to work out your ventilation.

a huge island- 3.5m+ with both could be a solution, but who’s got the space?

nothing on the island and you risk it being a dumping ground for stuff you’ll get around to later.

how do you work in the kitchen, what are your maintanence habits and what would suit you?

we went for a hob on the 2.4m x 1.2m island, it’s to one side giving 1.2m of space for an L shape configuration of stools the other end/side. This is adequate prep space and makes it easy to share prep too. I knew we would leave drying things around the sink, so we have a wall mounted drying rack from ikea to stop the clutter spilling on to work surfaces and I love it. Couldn’t have that on an island, which was the decider for us. Sink is on counter behind the hob but off to one side, 1.15m of walkway space between the two. I don’t love crossing over to drain pots but there’s space all round the island so we rarely get someone needing to be in that space as I’m using it. We have a wall vent which suits regs, rather than an island-based extractor and hob is dual fuel with only one gas burner so don’t need the extraction feature for gas.

just think about the reality of how you work and want the space to feel and don’t get seduced by beautiful Instagram/Pinterest pics.

Original poster
Aidkitchen · 05/10/2023 20:10

Thank you all for the input. I forgot I’d posted this until this evening. Good points made re sink mess I hadn’t rrally thought about it the mess it would attract. Especially pertinent with my messy family. Still working on the size of the extension but I’m keen to have kitchen planned in conjunction with structure so I don’t find out too late something doesn’t work.

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Original poster
Aidkitchen · 05/10/2023 20:12

And @Weefreetiffany I’m totally seduced by Instagram and Pinterest! Thanks for bringing me back to real life!

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