Many houses now utilize the kitchen as the main area for meals, conversations and, obviously, cooking. With householders employing a breakfast bar, complete with stools, you can guarantee the kitchen is a busy area. When it comes to designing your kitchen with the intention of installing a kitchen island, you need to make sure you put the space at your disposal to best use. Before you start, it is best to ask yourself some questions, so you ensure you make the correct decision.
What Will You Use It For?
It’s all well and good taking the time, effort and cash to build a kitchen island, but what will you use it for? You need to determine its main function. Many islands are used for cooking, complete with stove top, while some are bench spaces with a double sink cut into it. Some are both, and some have neither and are merely used for entertainment. So, if you chose the former, then you will need a larger area to contain your stove and sink while making sure there is ample room left to serve up dishes and prep food. If you are using it to entertain, then you need to look at the kind of seating you wish to use, then determine the size from there.
What Appliances Should You Add?
If you are adding a sink into your island, then it would be wise to add a dishwasher under your bench. This ensures that utensils, plates, cups, and saucepans can be easily rinsed then added to your dishwasher. You will need to determine which side you want your dishwasher placed. If you are using the island for the prepping of food, then you will need a garbage bin installed underneath. You don’t want to be transferring offcuts and vegetable waste across your kitchen to a garbage bin on the other side of your cooking area. Likewise, do you want a compost area? Where will that be installed?
What About Storage?
If you possess a small kitchen you may not have enough cupboards and drawers to store all your cooking utensils, let alone foodstuffs. If you are using the island to entertain, then you will have room below to build a selection of cupboards and drawers. However, if you are going to cook, wash and prep food you will need space for the underneath of a sink, pipes to run your water to the sink and dishwasher, space for that dishwasher and an area to place your garbage disposal.
What Height Do You Build It?
If you are going to do a lot of cooking and prep at your island, then you need to make sure that the bench’s height is comfortable for you to do so. You don’t want to have to lean dangerously across hot pots and pans, nor do you want to be chopping food with your elbows up to your ears. If you are entertaining then you should look at what bar stools you want and the height they sit at. You might even decide to set the kitchen island at two levels, one higher for eating and one lower for prep.
Will It Fit Into Your Layout?
It is important that your kitchen design encompasses your island to maximum benefit. Ideally, you can carry out the majority of your kitchen duties within a triangle area – the sink, range, and refrigerator. You do not want to be walking back and forth to find ingredients, knives, and plates. Perhaps you should accommodate a separate prep area or even a sink. Will your bar stools fit, so that guests have easy access and are not pushed up against a wall? You should have no more than 1.5m of space on the working side of the bench, while the entertaining side would ideally be open plan.
Is A Designer Required?
The kitchen island is not the easiest part of the kitchen to get right. You really need to take into account many potential issues, to ensure you get the best use of your benchtop. As this will be the main place for your household and guests to relax in, you need to think very carefully about design. This is why you many need the services of a kitchen construction professional to assist you. You may find that not only do they design you an excellent kitchen, but they save you time and money.