Summer Kitchen Islands

Archive for the ‘About Islands’ Category

In the kitchens of days long passed, the old farm table provided a much needed work space. In the kitchens of today, islands perform the same functions, in addition to adding seating space, storage space and a personal design statement.

A good island design follows the shape of the room. You can use your island for storage space by packing it tightly with small appliances.

Islands can help to define the kitchen space that may be open to other areas. Using multiple levels on an island can provide one with a visual barrier for kitchen messes. It can also provide the appropriate height for comfortable dining and food preparation.

Currently, the most popular design element in today’s kitchen is the kitchen island. These islands offer a huge range of design possibilities, by providing for a wide range of choices in styles and materials.

By separating the cooking area from the rest of the room, islands can help define the kitchen workspace in today’s open kitchens.

By directing the traffic away from the work triangle, islands are used to help establish the traffic pattern in the kitchen areas.

Be sure the island parallels the shape of the kitchen. Also, be sure to leave plenty of space around all sides of the island.

Depending on the function you need served, islands can have several levels to accommodate your needs. Counters can be either high or dining table height. A raised level above the eating level can conceal messes from the rest of the room.

A variety of appliances and accessories can be built into the island. You can choose from a sink, microwave, dishwasher, trash compactor, cook top or a warming drawer, which can be especially convenient to keep plates and food warm when the island is used for buffets.

The theme in any kitchen needs to be “function first.” Islands need to be effective in order to make them earn the space they will occupy. Following are four things that islands can add and some design suggestions for each function:

Cleanup:
Be sure to provide clearance for the dishwasher door to be opened completely.
You can place pull out garbage and compost bins next to the sink.
You can create easy access to dishes and silverware.
You can store dish towels, dish soap and other relevant items.
You can create dual height counters to hide dirty dishes from view.

Food Prep:
You can add outlets for small appliances.
You could have a refrigerator or cook top close at hand.
You can create easy access to compost bins or disposals.
You could add a prep sink or a butcher block countertop.

Cooking:
You can add a heat resistant countertop, made from stone, tile or metal, for hot pans.
You should plan for at least 18 inches of space on either side of the cook top or range.
You should add an overhead vent hood or downdraft fan, with a second exhaust fan in the ceiling.
You can include a raised eating area where guests will be protected from spatters.

Informal Dining:
You can design your counter height and width for standard sized chairs or stools.
You can create a comfortable counter by using contoured edges.

An island can give you valuable space for both working and storing extra items, and most people will agree that extra storage is always a critical need in the kitchen. On the public side, take advantage of shallow cabinets, installed back to back with deeper cabinets facing the kitchen. Use these public cabinets for serving items, napkins, cutlery, platters and other things that do not need to be in the food prep area.

On the working side of the island, create plenty of room to store the things that you need for the activity the island supports, because the advantage of the island is also its biggest downfall. It is isolated. If you are using the island for cooking, you will want your pots, pans and spices to be readily available. The space under the cook top is great for deep drawers where you can keep pots and pans. You may consider hanging these things from an expensive pot rack, but these racks do not hold the deeper pots or the lids, and they can get in the way of your view.

If you are using the island for prep work, you will want to include storage for knives and small appliances such as mixers and food processors. You should also consider adding pop-ups, platforms that swing out from behind a door in the island base, or appliance garages for these items. You will also want convenient access to the trash can in your island if it is being used for food prep. If the island has a sink and will be used for clean up, you will want a place for dish towels, detergent and brushes.

For children’s storage ideas visit this site for storage cubbies

If you place a sink in your island, the under counter storage space will be very limited, as it will if you install a dishwasher or oven. You will have to plan more carefully to accommodate these things. The same is true if you install a cook top with a downdraft fan, the machinery for which will be stored in the cabinet below. One way around this limited storage concern is to use the ends of the island. Rounded ends are great for lazy Susans. Almost any island can accommodate open shelving or even a shallow cabinet.

Before you choose the island that you want to see in your kitchen, or before you decide if an island is even right for your kitchen, you should consider a few planning details.

Countertop: Choose a solid surface, such as Corian, and it will be very easy to clean. Such a surface can be ideal for rolling out cookies or piecrusts. Many people are happy with this material.

Electrical outlets: You could install an electrical outlet on either end of the island. It is recommended that you install plug for each appliance, such as a mixer, that you might want to plug in on the island. Some people even plug a laptop in at the island, or even a small TV. If you are running electricity to one outlet on the island, it wouldn’t be that much more difficult to install two outlets.

Cook Top: Many people now choose to place the cook top in the island. One popular option is a Jenn Aire with a downdraft exhaust vent. Many consider the island the best location for the cook top. But that decision should depend on the general layout of the rest of your kitchen. You will want to consider what you need most in your island, more counter space, a sink or the cook top.

Overhang Eating Area: If you extend the countertop on either side, about 12 inches at each end and curve it slightly to 18 inches in the middle; the island can become an area where you can enjoy a meal. There will be plenty of room for breakfast and lunch each day. If you have company, you can visit with your guests while you are preparing the meal. This kind of island can work well as a buffet or serving area too. You can even use it to keep food warm by turning the burners on to low with your additional cook top in the island.
Whether the island contains a cook top, sink or cutting board, it is generally recommended that you add an overhang. Even if it provides enough room for one stool, you will be able to sit while doing some of the food prep work. You could even sit and have a cup of coffee while reading the paper in the morning.

Lighting: Do not forget about adding lighting above your island. You do not want your island area to be too dark. Most people install lighting that has a dimmer switch over the island.

Keep in Mind: You will need to have a minimum of two feet around the island for traffic flow. You will need more space if you plan to have an eating area.