5 Considerations to Make When Designing a Kitchen Island

August 11, 2017

Kitchen islands have been incredibly popular over the recent past, and it’s not hard to understand why. They provide extra counter space, more storage, an area for entertaining, and heightened esthetics in the kitchen. But not all kitchens are able to accommodate an island. Without careful consideration. an island can overcrowd the space and make it less practical than it once was.
Before you design your kitchen island, be sure to take the following into consideration first.
kitchen islandShape and Orientation
After making sure that you’ve got the space to comfortably house an island, one of the first things you need to do is determine the shape of the island and its orientation with the rest of the kitchen and walls. For instance, if your kitchen is a rectangular shape, the island should obviously be positioned so that the longest edge is parallel to the longest wall to maintain an open feel to the entire space.
Size and Scale
In general, kitchen islands are commonly used as the hub for cooking, since they allow homeowners to face guests or others in the area while prepping a meal. As such, your island should be no less than 8 to 10 feet long to provide adequate counter space and make access to all areas more practical. If your intention is to allow people to sit at the island to eat or drink, be sure you allow enough room for this purpose as well.
Type of Countertop
You can always use the exact same countertop material on your island as the rest of the kitchen counters, or you may opt to use something totally different. These days, it’s not uncommon to see kitchen islands with counters that are unlike those of the rest of the space. Just make sure that the countertop you get is a one-piece slab with no seams or joints, which is sometimes difficult with islands that are oversized. At the end of the day, the colour and material of the island’s countertop are very important to the final look.
kitchen islandAppliances
Many kitchen islands house certain appliances, and the ones you choose will depend on how you plan to use your kitchen island. Before the island is even installed, talk to your contractor to make sure that all the appropriate electrical and plumbing lines are properly installed to allow for easy hookup.
Lighting
You’ll probably be spending a lot of time on your island, so the right type of lighting will be necessary from both a functional and esthetic perspective. If you don’t have adequate lighting, you’ll not only be compromising your food prep area, but also the overall look of the space. Ideally, pendant lamps that hang over the island work best, so make sure you inform your contractor of your intention so that the appropriate electrical hookups are done in the ceiling above.

Let Hope Designs Help You Design Your Perfect Kitchen Island

Designing a kitchen island is no small feat. It requires careful planning and a certain amount of knowledge of how to work with specific types of spaces. Before you design your island, get the pros from Hope Designs to help. With our experience and expertise, we can help you design the ideal island that complements your kitchen perfectly!