Extension free zone/ Extra small kitchen diner - does this island look out of place or will it be impractical?

[Yemelade]

We are currently house hunting, and have settled on an area locally where kitchen/diner spaces are more or less the same in the streets we're searching on.

We were originally anticipating needing to extend wherever we move to. However, as property prices continue to rise and renovation prices do too, hubby and I have realised an extension (along with likely extensive renovation and home update costs anyway) may be out of reach.

We have discussed some wants and hopes for a kitchen/diner space, and have managed to fit everything we feel we need into a rough plan (both to get a sense of it looks right, and work out approximate prices). We both think it works and looks ok even though the dimensions are a tiny 3.25 by 5.5. Does anyone have any feedback or advice, particularly if you have a similar sized space or room or use a kitchen now with a similar spec? I've read on DIY forums that kitchens of this size really shouldn't have an island, and it should be table or peninsula only, however I think this plan has potential. What are your thoughts? Thank you!

I personally think it looks too cramped.
We have a kitchen diner (overall room size of the kitchen diner about 6.5m x 4m) and have opted for a peninsula with two bar stools.
I really like this lady's instagram, she also has a kitchen diner, ours is very similar in size and style.

house on the way

with underscores in between (the app won't let me put the underscores)

You've got 2 seating areas next to each other in a small space. Cut down to 1 for sure.

As you can’t put units along the glass wall, I think an island is a good option. I mean what else would you do? Big blank space, butcher cart island (usually smaller and can’t sit at) maybe? I do agree it’s a lot of seating in one place.

If it was me I’d probably do dining table as in the photo and a freestanding island, or built in island to eat at and use the dining space as living/playroom/study/music area etc

Looks cramped and personally I think it’s badly designed.
if I was buying it would put me off…

I saw either a grand designs or amazing spaces with an indoor out door island so it’s a peninsula but the full glass opens to create a link to outdoor patio. Similar pic attached

Could you do something like that?

or I’d run a peninsula the other side to zone the kitchen from dining

if cupboard space is an issue you could look at what sort of built in storage you can incorporate in the dining area.

tl:dr go see more / different kitchen designers

Does already have that set of glass doors? If not, you would be better off being able to use the wall for units. Alternatively have some larder cupboards at the end of the room where the table is in your plan and a more central extending table so you can factor more worktop space into the working end of your kitchen.

You'll be smashing your bum into the island every time you need something from the salad drawer in your fridge.

I agree that 2 seating areas in a 11by 17' room is a waste of space

I’m not keen on islands in small spaces. Also am unsure about the gap in the corner & oven next to fridge.
If it were my kitchen I would have my table by the rear door, horizontally and use the current table area for a wall of units.

It definitely has merit. It depends on the space to the rear of the island, altbough the window reveal should buy you another 100mm or so of circulation space.
I would do away with the American fridge freezer though, they protrude by 720mm usually and will eat into your circulation space. Or, consider switching the tall units with the hob units for a more open feel. You could also put the seating on the end of the island by the dining table instead of with the back to the garden.
fwiw we have a dining table next to our island and we always sit at the island (2 seater currently) for chatting / lunch / breakfast - only ever use the dining table for evening meals. To the degree I’m redesigning the island to add 2 more seats 😆🤣

I think you’ll struggle here with a lack of useable worktop space. Worth considering too that an island with a sink will soon look cluttered as a central point with dishes piled up. I’d do away with the dining table and have larder cupboards or something there and think about a smaller, integrated fridge to increase worktop space.

I’m assuming you’re looking at typical 3 bed 30s semis with galley kitchen / dining room that has been opened into open plan kitchen diner? Our last house was very similar to this and I could not have fitted an island in.

FWIW I think islands will date. We now have space for one theoretically but won’t be putting one in!

We’re going for a similar design… we’ve had some peninsula designs too but most places have pushed the island as being more modern. We haven’t quite signed off yet…

I think we should lose the table for the island seating but DH wants both.

Our total room space is 8m so we’ve got a bit more length to play with but it’s only 3.2m wide, which is challenging, and we’ve got alcoves/weird shapes to work around… but we’ve marked the areas on the floor and it does seem to work for us, in terms of usable space.

We had this issue so decided to get an island on wheels and it's been really perfect. We shift it around if we have guests and need more space and we can take it with us when we move.

We bought a bespoke one made from timber from Etsy for £250. Butchers block top to match our surfacing and legs to match our IKEA cabinets. The casters are lockable to stop it shifting.

Do you need the island or just want it? For us that space in the kitchen is where dancing, gymnastics, painting on newspapers on the floor, clothes horse in winter etc. goes. Do you have that space elsewhere?

I was refreshing this thread last night and anticipated getting no responses, so it's been great to read your replies!!

To answer some questions:

• the houses are typically separate dining and kitchen spaces that we would intend to knock through.
• this means there isn't a whole side of bi-folds, it's just something we'd love to be able to add. The gardens are enormous and look out onto open space, which we've never had before, and would be great to look out into and make a feature out of).
• the houses have utility areas behind an attached garage, so this is where we would keep washer, tumble dryer, clothes airer etc and has separate access to back garden.

I do love the idea of a butcher block type thing on wheels, or a window into bifold with peninsula so in the summer months we can live more outside/in.

We went to view one of these today and my thoughts are it might in fact be a bit too narrow after all!

this means there isn't a whole side of bi-folds, it's just something we'd love to be able to add.

I think bifolds are a mistake when space is so limited. Why not just have half and half instead - double glass doors (sliding or whatever) on the side where the table is and have a window on the kitchen side so you can use that wall for units but still have a view and get plenty of light in? It's become this thing now that everyone has to have bifolds, but you're losing useful wall space for what?A big hole in the back of your house that makes it harder to heat and much less useful space for actual kitchen. Plus by the design you have here, anyone sitting at the island has their backs to view anyway and blocks the view for anyone facing the bifolds. I'd let go of the bifold fantasy and enjoy a better designed kitchen area - and still get plenty of view and inside/outside living.

(More specifically, I'd put the sink on the back wall beneath a nice big window, so you can look out whilst at the sink and free up the side wall for more kitchen workspace and storage - as well as having more units around the sink)

That’s exactly what we have plus big sliding doors where the table is. I am not a fan of the island on wheels, I think a peninsula is more space efficient, because it will consist of proper kitchen units.