The kitchen is the most complex space in a home. There is a lot of foot traffic, and plenty of different elements to consider. Cooking, eating, spaces to do homework, easy clean up, and of course, storage are all factors in designing a kitchen. Well the Kitchen island is a great way to maximize counter space and check off a lot of those element boxes. Here are some things to consider when designing your kitchen island.
Determine island’s function
Before dreaming about your dream appliances, decide what your island’s main function is going to be. Food prep, entertaining, eating or cooking? Many islands have a side dedicated to cooking and a side for eating.
What appliances do you need in your kitchen island?
You need to plan for function as well as spacing. If this is going to be your food prep area, make sure to have trash and recycling nearby. If you plan on having a sink in your island, you need to consider also incorporating a dishwasher as well.
How much storage do you need?
If your kitchen layout has tons of wall cabinetry and storage, island storage may not be necessary. But for the average person, we have more stuff than space. Consider how much extra storage you need. Don’t forget about neat storage solutions too, such as pull-out spice racks, trash cans and cabinet drawer conversions.
The floor around the island requires some calculation. 3 feet of floor space on the ends of the island should be adequate to keep traffic jams from happening. The working sides of an island should have 42 inches of space as a minimum, but more than 5 feet usually isn’t necessary. If there is an entertaining//eating side of the island, it should be facing toward the exterior of the kitchen, toward the dining or living room.
