5 Things to Consider When Designing Your Toronto Home Kitchen Island

Interior Decorating, Interior Design

The kitchen is the centre of the home, but it’s also one of the most challenging rooms to design. In addition to the cabinets and countertops, there’s also the issue of the island to consider.
Here are 5 factors to think about when designing your kitchen island.
Determine What the Function of the Kitchen Island is
The first thing you should do is decide what the kitchen island’s main function will actually be. Will you be using it wash dishes? Chop and prepare foods? Store pots and pans? Enjoy meals with the family and friends?
If you need appliances and a sink in the island, you’re going to need a lot of space. The kitchen island essentially acts as an important component of the overall flow of the kitchen. How you plan on using it will play a key role on designing it.
Determine How Much Storage Space You’ll Need
If you’ve a lot of cabinet space to house your kitchen utensils and pots and pans, then you may not necessarily need as much storage space in the island. On the other hand, if cabinet space is limited, the island may be the perfect solution to keep your kitchen items out of sight.
Just make sure that you don’t make the island too big, or it will overpower the space. Ideally, designers suggest making the island about 3 feet wide for average-sized kitchens, and anywhere between 4 and 7 feet long. Whether or not you need to accommodate a sink or dishwasher will obviously affect this number.
Determine the Appropriate Height for the Island
Before you come up with the height for the island, identify the appropriate seating height first. If bar stools will accompany the island, you should decide if it should be either 36 or 42 inches high, which is typically the heights that bar stools come in. Of course, you can always choose to make the island double-levelled, so that the working counter is lower and the dining side is higher to making the seating area more comfortable.
Determine How the Island Will Flow Within the Layout of the Kitchen
Considering how much people move about in a kitchen, it’s important to remember to keep the layout conducive to optimal flow. When designing your island, make sure that the working end of the island functions well with the opposing countertop. Consider whether or not it all makes sense. For instance, if you’ve got a stovetop on the island, you’ll want to make sure it’s directly opposite from the oven on the opposite counter.
Determine Whether or Not You Need a Design Professional
Unless you’re a kitchen contractor or professional interior designer yourself, you’ll most likely need to involve the experts in Toronto Home kitchen island design. These professionals have a solid sense of proportion, scale, and creativity, and can efficiently plan the island and its surroundings appropriately so that the kitchen island not only fits well in the space, but also suits your specific needs.
Hope Designs can help you determine the perfect kitchen layout for your home, as well as come up with an ideal design for your island. Contact Hope Designs and book a consultation today!