PROJECT KITCHENS Standout

S t a n d a l o n e s t a t e m e n t

To make your island a great asset to your scheme, plan its dimensions, position in the room and practical features

W O R D S PAU L A WO O D S

From the top down

Marble or stone worksurface slabs require joining if an island is longer than 3m. So use two different surfaces for an interesting contrast, and to disguise the joints. Composites, on the other hand, provide a seam-free finish no matter what the size of the island. Bespoke Fascination kitchen painted in Farrow & Ball Down Pipe with Belgian Black limestone worksurfaces, semi-cantilevered, bleached maple breakfast bar and mirrored plinths, from £30,000, Mowlem & Co (mowlemandco.com)

A new addition

Retrofitting an island is possible if it is simply for storage or seating. But for a multifunctional design that includes a sink or electrical appliances, you’ll need to start planning before the flooring is in place to allow for the installation of pipework and power supply. Q Line kitchen in Tempesta Ceramica and Diamante Ceramica, from £30,000, Mereway (mereway.co.uk)

Adaptable layout

A mobile unit with lockable castors is a versatile option for a small or open-plan space. Move it closer to the oven or sink for food prep, or to make room for an extended dining table. Bespoke cross-sawn timber cabinets and moveable island with Carrara marble worksurfaces and glazed units painted in Farrow & Ball Green Smoke, from £45,000, Blakes London (blakeslondon.com) Get the light right

Use pendants to draw attention to an island or peninsula. They double up as task and mood lighting when fitted with a dimmer. Add LED strips beneath an overhanging worksurface to create a lovely ambient glow. Brooklyn Cone pendants in pewter and copper, Dia300xH305mm, £69 each, Industville (industville.co.uk)

Up against it

A peninsula design attached to the wall has some advantages over an island. ‘It’s less space-hungry than an island, but has the capacity for storage and multitasking,’ says Richard Moore, design director at Martin Moore (martinmoore.com). Services can be chased or run through the adjoining wall. Handcrafted K1 kitchen in painted tulipwood, from £25,000, Brookmans by Smallbone (brookmans.co.uk)

Room to spare

When deciding on the size of your island, allow for at least 1m clearance all around it. This provides enough space to pull out bar stools, open cabinets and access appliances. Arbor kitchen painted in Dulux Chiltern White with quartz worksurfaces and oak island with black granite worksurface, from £20,000, Harvey Jones (harveyjones.com)

Centre of attention

The luxury of ample floorspace allows you to bring all the action into the heart of the room. This split island has food prep at one end, storage at the other and a bridging breakfast bar for sitting at the centre of everything. Bulthaup b3 furniture with oak bridging bar, from £50,000, Kitchen Architecture (kitchenarchitecture.co.uk)

Working the space

If you incorporate a peninsula as part of a U-shaped kitchen layout within an open-plan space, it can act as a room divider. Include an overhanging worksurface to make a breakfast bar. Reconfigured open-plan layout defined by exposed steel and U-shaped peninsula kitchen with porcelain worksurface, £POA, Rise Design Studio (risedesignstudio.co.uk) Chef’s special

Create a cooking zone with all you need close at hand. Arrange to have utensil drawers below the hob with the deeper pan drawers beneath. Classic and Urbo matt lacquer bespoke kitchen in Little Greene French Grey Mid and bookmatched walnut island with a worksurface in Silestone Calacatta Gold, from £30,000, Roundhouse (roundhousedesign.com)

Useful and beautiful

Use an island as a way to bring a standout design feature to your scheme. Choose materials, colours and finishes that contrast with the rest of the kitchen for dramatic impact. Bespoke kitchen painted in Fired Earth’s Oak Apple with a central island clad in Paonazzo marble, from £45,000, Blakes London (blakeslondon.com)

Structural issues

If knocking down walls or extending gives rise to unavoidable structural supports, ask a designer or architect to incorporate them as part of the island design. This minimises their impact and avoids unnecessary obstructions. Cambia kitchen in Indigo with Dekton Zenith worksurfaces and timber bar, from £18,000, Rational (rational.de). Design by Open Haus Kitchens (openhauskitchens.co.uk)

Keep an open mind

Whether it’s in a small room or an open-plan layout, a freestanding island or peninsula will make everything feel more spacious. Select storage-only pieces to prevent plumbing or service outlets spoiling the look. Sebastian Cox timber kitchen stained in Inky Blue Black and Natural with aged copper and oak worksurfaces, from £15,000, Devol (devolkitchens.co.uk)

SIZING IT UP

Expert advice on how to get the dimensions right from Matt Baker, kitchen designer at Harvey Jones (harveyjones.com)

● If you’re planning to use an island for storage or as a breakfast bar, there is no need for it to be huge. But as a general guide it should be no smaller than 1,200mm long and 600mm deep if it’s to be a workable addition to your kitchen. ● Wide islands are sure to make an impact, but they are not always terribly practical, especially if you can’t reach the middle. Try and make it no deeper than 1,400mm. ● If its primary function is storage, avoid adding a sink and socket tower as these take up valuable cabinet space. A flush- fitted induction hob or built-in pan drawers will make the most of every single inch. ● When adding a breakfast bar, allow for an overhang of 250- 400mm to ensure adequate legroom and make space for bar stools to tuck neatly underneath. Anything deeper than 300mm will require support from legs or brackets, although the thicker the worksurface, the larger an unsupported overhang can be. ● I recommend allocating 600mm of space per stool for comfort, but in small rooms this can be reduced to 500mm, particularly for seating that will be used by children. ● If your island is for sitting at as well as for cooking, leave at least 350-400mm between the seating area and the hob for safety’s sake.

WORTH PHOTOGR APHY DARREN CHUNG, SIOBHAN DORAN/TANYA JONES STUDIO, JACK HOBHOUSE, MARY WADS Extend your options

An overhanging worksurface is a space-saving alternative to a dining table. L-shaped configurations create the most sociable layout, but even a small extension will provide valuable extra seating. Classic matt lacquer and rough-sawn horizontal grain oak bespoke kitchen in Little Greene Basalt with box shelf in Farrow & Ball Cornforth White, worksurfaces in Antique White concrete and Ocean Stone porcelain, from £30,000. Roundhouse (roundhousedesign.com)

Consider some curves

Rounded edges will soften the look and give a better sense of flow. They are also safer than sharp corners in busy family areas. Pronorm kitchen with dark grey matt lacquer base and island units, grey elm laminate wall units and island table, stainless steel island cladding, and Unistone Bianco Carrara worksurfaces, £POA, Snug Kitchens (snugkitchens.co.uk) Right for your budget

Combining flat-packed or ready-made units can be cost effective, but the layout will be limited to standard dimensions. Going bespoke will be pricier, but guarantees a tailor-made design and fit, plus a wider choice of materials. D2 modular kitchen with fixed island and freestanding table-style ends, available in a range of materials, from £30,000, Davonport (davonport.com)