Kitchen islands add a decorative element to the kitchen. They also add extra work and storage space, which is often falling short. Some provide additional areas for cooking or an extra sink for cleaning up. There are designs and features for every lifestyle.
Choices Available in Kitchen Islands
The simplest kitchen islands resemble a table. They are useful for preparing foods and serving meals buffet style. Furthermore they add a design element to the room. The downside of these islands is they don’t add additional space for storage.
Another simple island is a simple flat counter area with storage space underneath.. They can be built to fit perfectly into the structure of your kitchen. This gives more storage space under the island, rather than the wasted space of a table top design.
More elaborate designs include custom built islands. These can include a sink, cook top, warming oven, small refrigerator or dishwasher. A granite island top or any other solid surface will allow you to roll dough and prepare food directly on the counter, without the need for cutting board. Butcher block allows you to cut right on the counter. You can have any combination of these features included in your island. The design elements of a custom built island are flexible, as it is built to suit your needs.
Multi level islands offer more flexibility and design choices. They have a smaller overall work space, but allow you to integrate a variety of different functions. Many of them also include areas for food preparation and separate eating areas.
Measuring for Islands
The sizes of kitchen islands vary widely. You need to make sure the one you want will fit your space. Conventional measuring of the area is one way to determine how much room you have. This might make it hard to get a convincing feeling since it´s just two dimensional measurements. A more ideal way is to place a piece of furniture or boxes with a similar size like the island in the center of the kitchen. Leave it for a few days and see what impression you get.
When taking measurements, make sure you have at least three feet of space around the island. You want to have room to move and easy access to the rest of your kitchen. Make sure you will still be able to open all the appliances and have room to work with the island in place. You don’t want to end up opening the dishwasher and hit the island or open the oven and not have room to maneuver when cooking a meal.
If space is too limited for a large island, you should consider a portable one. These are often on wheels and can be moved out of the way when they are not used. They are great for adding additional workspace when needed while still being portable. The downside of these is they will only provide an additional work area. You won’t be able to add features like a cook top or extra sink.
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