#Kitchen Island Ideas

6 considerations for creating an outstanding kitchen island.

A kitchen island unit can add style, storage and efficiency to any kitchen space. Whether you already have a small kitchen island or you’re going to install a new one, you can bet that it is one of the most well used spaces in your kitchen. Whether you’re looking to redesign your existing kitchen or you’re building an entire kitchen area from scratch, be sure to take in these six important considerations into account to ensure you get a kitchen island that not only looks good; but works good too.

In smaller kitchen areas, an island unit could potentially make a cramped kitchen feel full and cluttered. By using light colours on the surrounding cabinets and countertops, you can accent the island with a splash of colour, and help make the room feel more open and light.

Countertops might need to be durable, but when they have multiple tiered levels, you can better divide the space for specific purposes. A raised counter space on a kitchen island makes for the prefect location for serving and eating. While a lowered tier is excellent for keeping dishes, cups and hot dishes contained in their own safe place. Other tiered sections might serve perfectly for cleaning, cutting or even countertop appliances like stovetops and built-in grills. You can even divide a multi-tiered kitchen island with separate colours to accent a small kitchen island space.

When limited space prevents you from having the kitchen island of your dreams, you can use an old trick: the wheeled cart/island. When space is at a premium, you can use a wheeled, mobile island unit which you can roll into a corner or against a wall when not in use. Whenever you need to cut veggies, stack plates or serve guests, you can wheel out the mobile kitchen island and put it to work.

Appliances

Kitchen islands can be so much more than just a place to do the cutting and chopping. Appliances can help fully utilize the middle-of-the-kitchen space. Because you may need access to gas, plumbing or electricity for your appliances, you may need to add a utility line under the floor—a gas fitter’s or electrician’s help should be sought for a project like this.

From ranges, to built-in grills to warming trays, there are a large number of warm/hot appliances that can be installed in a kitchen island. However, because they produce so much heat, a ventilation system may need to be either installed overhead or under the countertop.