KITCHEN ISLAND DESIGNS

from Building Engineering magazine issue 13

LOW COST BUILDING MATERIAL

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f you’re considering sprucing up, redesigning your kitchen or you’re right in the middle of a building/renovation project and you’re wondering what options you have for that kitchen space then consider this your ultimate guide to kitchen island designs. You may be dealing with cramped kitchen cabinets or lacking ample kitchen counter space to fully utilize your gadgets such as your coffee maker, toaster or needing more space for that meal prep. It is therefore no surprise today that most kitchen renovations today will include the addition of a kitchen island.

The move towards larger open plan kitchen extension has made the kitchen island to become an essential feature. It is not only the visual centerpiece in the space but it undoubtedly helps increase the kitchen’s efficiency and functionality. The kitchen island serves several purposes from providing extra cooking prep space to even housing a sink and other appliances. When it comes to the kitchen island you can afford to go wild on this one with a bolder finish or color or perhaps an even more expensive finish which would normally be a prohibitive thing to do for an entire room.

There is a vast pool of options when it comes to material and design for the kitchen island. You can go for marble, granite, exotic timber or even reclaimed timber such as railway sleepers all depending on your desired finish. Whatever you do remember to include kitchen island lighting as this undoubtedly turns a good looking unit into a showstopper!

Below are a few ideas to consider for your kitchen island;

The slim kitchen island

There’s a huge misconception out there that you need huge kitchen space in order to fit in that kitchen island. A simple tongue and groove paneling can actually produce that slim kitchen island which can even double up as a breakfast bar and a loverhanging work station.

Power up that kitchen island

You may have to consider including ample power sockets in your kitchen island, these are not only essential for making use of those kitchen appliances such as your mixers or food processors but also for charging laptops or phones.

Add a few bright bar stools/ create more seating

When it comes to kitchen island designs a few bright colored bar stools can have a show stopping effect in your kitchen. However acquiring new furniture can be expensive, all the more reason why you may want to hold off on splashing money on bright colored furniture pieces. If that’s the case you may want to consider furniture pieces that can easily be switched when you no longer like them. For something even less permanent, a vase of flowers will do! If your space lacks a proper dining table or you’re looking into creating a more casual bar-seating option, adding seating to the island is an easy way to increase functionality and make the environment more social for both guests and the cook. You can even create a counter overhang to tuck in chair/bar stools when not in use.

Create more storage

In addition to creating more counter space, a kitchen island is also a way to add more storage options. This is greatly beneficial if appliances are taking up more of your cabinet space or you’re simply looking for a unique way to showcase some of your appliances.

Make it multilevel

You can even add another dynamic to your kitchen island by creating variation in height of your island. Using the island for multiple purposes such as food prep or eating, will maximize the functionality of the kitchen island. For example you can have an appliance at one level like a sink or stovetop then breakfast bar on a higher tier.

Add appliances

Incorporating sinks or stovetops into the surface is one way to spread the workflow throughout the kitchen but installation can tricky and may require an expert to put in place the plumbing and ventilation. Overhead venting can be expensive and you’ll have give up some space for in cabinet pipes for the sink.