Kitchen islands are a valuable addition to many homes, but they can be both functional and impractical. They take up a significant amount of space and require regular maintenance. The size of your kitchen plays a crucial role in whether an island is necessary, as it can overcrowd the area and hinder movement. Additionally, the placement of the island can affect the functionality and aesthetics of the kitchen.
A modern kitchen island can provide prep space, storage, seating, and space for many undercounter appliances. However, it is essential to consider the pros and cons of adding an island and whether creating a kitchen without an island might be better for your space and lifestyle. Some designers argue that kitchen islands can crowd a space, especially in smaller kitchens. If the island is too large or not, it may not be practical to incorporate it into your new layout.
In conclusion, kitchen islands can be a great addition to many homes, offering benefits in terms of functionality, social interaction, and aesthetics. However, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each option before deciding whether to incorporate them in your new layout. By understanding the difference between the pros and cons of kitchen islands, you can make an informed decision about whether to incorporate them in your kitchen design.
📹 What I Think About Kitchen Islands
Check out my design solutions here – https://www.mtkd.ca Join in the conversation as we chat about kitchen islands. How they’ve …
Can I design my own kitchen island?
In order to create a bespoke kitchen island design, it is recommended to consider the use of standard counter-height base cabinets, the combination of base and wall cabinets to create a two-tiered island, or the use of wall cabinets only to create a bar-height island.
Do I really need a kitchen island?
A kitchen island may not always be necessary, especially when incorporating built-in appliances. In limited space kitchens, integrated appliances like ovens, microwaves, and dishwashers can eliminate the need for an island, allowing for a more open and streamlined layout. While an island is a desirable feature in many kitchens, it doesn’t necessarily indicate its necessity in terms of functionality or aesthetic appeal.
To answer the question of whether a kitchen island is necessary, interior designers can provide their expertise. They can help determine if a kitchen island is necessary for a specific space and if it is a good idea to avoid it.
What is the golden rule for kitchen design?
The work triangle in a kitchen design connects the cooktop, sink, and refrigerator, ensuring efficient movement between tasks like cooking, cleaning, and food preparation. The distance between these zones should range from 4 to 9 feet. The kitchen layout should also include provisions for power outlets and electrical appliances like the dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, stove, chimney, and RO water filter. Ensure that the doors of the refrigerator or dishwasher do not hinder movement within the kitchen.
Are kitchen islands out of date?
Interior designers and kitchen experts agree that kitchen islands are not outdated but should not be a necessity when designing a kitchen. They provide expert advice and ideas to help make the right design decision for your space. Lauren Sullivan, a designer who specializes in wellness, helps her clients curate beautiful homes across the US. The collection of expert advice and ideas will help you make the right decision for your kitchen.
What is the 3×4 kitchen rule?
The 3×4 Rule is a crucial rule for home cooks, stating that there should be three separate counters, each about four feet long, dedicated to each cooking phase. This ensures that cooked food is not placed on spaces that previously held raw chicken, and dirty mixing bowls do not crowd out fresh vegetables. The four-feet-long rule provides enough space for boards, bowls, baking sheets, and other paraphernalia for each phase of a typical recipe.
Potter suggests that this rule is approximately the size of two cookie sheets in the oven, with room for a bowl of cookie dough in between. This optimizes the kitchen for efficiency at all stages of cooking.
What is the rule number 1 in the kitchen?
Kitchen hygiene is crucial for maintaining cleanliness and prevents the spread of bacteria. Regular handwashing is essential for both adults and children, and it’s crucial to teach the entire family how to properly wash their hands. Other hand hygiene tips include avoiding wearing rings, keeping nails short, and not wearing nail polish. If a cut is made, clean it immediately and apply a plaster. Additionally, it’s important to tie back long hair when making dishes, as it can carry germs. Professionals often wear hats and hairnets to protect themselves from germs. Overall, proper kitchen hygiene is essential for maintaining a healthy and hygienic environment.
Why are people getting rid of kitchen islands?
Less-expected island styles are gaining popularity in kitchens that don’t fit traditional island designs, catering to awkwardly shaped and small spaces. As homes work harder, adaptable spaces that serve multiple purposes are becoming increasingly important. Kitchen islands are often fixed features that may not work in limited spaces, so peninsula islands can be a space-saving option. Open-concept counters can be incorporated within a kitchen/dining space by extending countertops into other rooms to create better flow.
Table linen designer and content creator Rosanna Falconer found a Caesarstone-adorned peninsula kitchen island to be a beneficial alternative to the classic layout, making her space feel functional and visually appealing. It’s essential for cooking, flower arranging, and perching around with drinks, making the space feel open and welcoming.
What are the rules for kitchen island design?
The NKBA guidelines recommend a seat width of 24 inches, although the requisite knee space is contingent upon countertop height. For an island with a height of 30 inches, a depth of 18 inches is recommended. For an island with a height of 36 inches, a depth of 15 inches is recommended, while for an island with a height of 42 inches, a depth of 12 inches is recommended.
Is a kitchen island a waste of space?
A kitchen island can have several drawbacks, including space constraints, high costs, and limited design flexibility. It is crucial to consider the size and layout of your kitchen before choosing an island, as it may consume valuable floor space and restrict movement. Alternatives like peninsulas or mobile kitchen carts may be more suitable for balancing space and functionality. Additionally, kitchen islands can be expensive, as they require cabinetry, cupboard doors, countertops, and seating.
If you request a unique or complex design, the cost can be even higher. Furthermore, adding a kitchen island may not always be feasible in a design, as it may not be practical or aesthetically pleasing.
Are waterfall countertops out of style in 2024?
In 2024, the kitchen is expected to see a surge in the popularity of waterfall edges for kitchen countertops. These eye-catching designs are designed to elevate the kitchen, making it a central hub for family meals, baking, and holiday dinners. The kitchen is essential for a home’s functionality, and selecting the perfect countertops is crucial. With options in size, shape, material, color, pattern, and finish, there are four trends to look forward to in 2024.
What are the kitchen trends for 2025?
This list of six key kitchen trends for 2024 and 2025 includes smart and speedy appliances, updated kitchen islands, shaker cabinets with unique details, concealed kitchens, bigger, better pantry designs, and sustainable kitchen design. With the average size of kitchens in America increasing since the 1980s, builders and designers are constantly monitoring trends to provide homeowners with the latest features and updated styles. The list includes kitchens that span 400 square feet or more, showcasing the importance of sustainable design and features in the home.
📹 Interior Design Tips: Kitchen Island Lighting Rules
Hey everyone… Today I’m going to talk about pendant light fixtures over your kitchen island! The main purpose of a pendant light …
I’ve been binging on your articles bcause we’re retiring in the Philippines. Our house is being built while we’re still in the US and the layout our architect made is beautiful but I have other ideas. Your articles just confirmed thst my wishes are not too crazy. No to OTR, no to sink on the island, big sink (2 separate sinks actually), don’t like high chairs on the idland, etc… Thank God space is not an issue
In the 50s, my grandma had an island. We called it a worktable, so technically a piece of furniture, but it was big enough that I assume it was built in place. Large, square, with cupboard and drawers on 3 sides (4th was against a wall in the smallish kitchen). Along the other 3 walls were the wood cookstove, the stand with the pail for well water, and the refrigerator. I believe the top was something like linoleum. All kitchen work was done at that table.
Totally agree with your comment about island seating and depth. Please, help us, banish forever, the deadly uncomfortable “counter height” and “bar height” stools that are horribly designed and completely inhumane. I’ve actually designed and custom built some bar height stools that people actually want to sit in and are comfortable using. I NOT a designer and I didn’t want to do this, but was forced to because the people who make kitchen bar stools are beyond clueless in terms of good design, ergonomic considerations and overall use-ability.
Be sure, as well, that you plan storage underneath the island. On the back side of the island where we have bar height stools, we have both door and super deep pullouts that store both our very occasional use serving dishes and utensils and our holiday serve-wear so we no longer have to run to the basement or attic. The original island that came with our home, a spec house, had the stupid builder grade cabinets with he faux wainscoting and faux “legs” like some of your pictures that wasted a huge amount of space and added design flourishes that were completely irrelevant to the the rest of our house and the kitchen style.
Don’t let the island design mess with the traffic flow through your kitchen space. Think about how you prepare/cook food and who, if anyone else, is working with you and how much space you need to be able to work comfortably together and, also, what happens when you have company and where they like to hang out while you do final prep of food and/or beverage service. Any island that becomes a blockade to getting food prepared or serving your guests — or allowing them to self-service — while you work and socialize — is a failed kitchen island design.
Our last 3 houses had essentially a peninsula, and other than the 2 that had a lunch counter height, I LOVED them! The last house had a super-deep (42″?) granite counter that gave me tons of workspace and the availability of (comfortable, extended overhang) seating, which we did use. This house has a wall between the huge kitchen and dining/living area, and we want to open it up to be a peninsula. People currently drag chairs into the kitchen to chat while I’m cooking, and we’re constantly wanting to talk between the kitchen and living room. The kitchen is big enough we’re considering putting in an island, too. (BTW, this wall blocks the view of the lake from the living areas! I anticipate sitting at the peninsula instead of the table once it’s open!) I’ll probably be getting in touch with you soon for a consultation, Mark. How far out are you scheduling?
I have a standard L-shaped kitchen with window over sink. It’s not big enough for an island. I have to say that the wide galley kitchen with sink on opposite wall (no window) and adding a bigger prettier large window where the sink is currently has turned my head. How do people feel about galley kitchens with 6 feet between them, and having sink and stove farther apart, versus a standard L-shape, small kitchen sink window, where sink and stove are closer? I’m bored.
Want to send pictures of laminate which was fabricated in one piece but don’t have email to send to, don’t have social media so if you could supply email I will send pic of kitchen. The cabinets are a lil over 11 1/2 foot long and the cabinet maker did a great job at laying laminate in one piece, yes the 45 degree corner gives me more counter space as I have plenty of room in my kitchen.
This is so random but I came to this article and saw the comment about you talking too slow. I’ll have you know that I am pregnant with my 3rd child and have always had trouble sleeping(way before kids). My sleeping schedule is all kinds of whack. I envy my husband who’s able to sleep so fast and easily while I’m here struggling lol. Anyway, although I love your regular articles, I normally come to your live stream replays and just fall asleep listening to you talk about kitchens LOL. (I’m also hoping it’ll help me dream about ideas of my dream kitchen one day in our old home haha) Your voice is therapeutic and helps me to sleep, even if it’s just a quick nap. You’re right up there with Bob Ross 😅
Having an island with a cook top or sink makes me wonder about people using laptops and phones with electricity so close to splashing/spilling water from sink and boiling water/frying grease from burners. Whenever I boil a large pot of water for pasta, soup, or whatever, I always push it to the back burner to avoid people getting scalded (me, as I cook reaching for something, or oblivious family walking by). When I see that narrow island at the end of your article with cooktop, it looks like you could push yourvpot off the back, or kids could knock something off the cooktop while running, etc. It just looks like an accident waiting to happen. The back is so exposed. Perhaps it needs a guardrail of some kind.
Hello. What about decorative lighting over a window with sink below? I learned today that a pendant is not in code over such a sink, so either recessed, semi flush, or flush mount lights are approved. A wall sconce in our case is also not approved because of the load-bearing beam above the window. What is the scale / proportion width for a 58″w window, 32″ sink? Thank you!
Dear designchickee, I look forward to your “lessons”. Thank you for being so generous with your expertise. We are in the middle of a new build, and are as we say in Australia ‘owner builders’. All the decisions are ours alone and it is a huge task, with so many options! Your design lessons really help. I really like that you pick one issue and discuss it fully. It makes the information much more digestible. When it is just one big task it becomes overwhelming!!😳 but broken down like you are doing – means I stop panicking and just do one step at a time! 🙂 Thanks again, warm regards Debby.
Hi, this was a very informative article. However, one question I have is how to line up the pendants. In other words, do they need to be centered down the middle or can they be offset? We have a big island (10′ long) by about 38″ wide (which includes a 25″ base and a 12″ overhang for seating). The electrician centered the pendants down the main section of the island not including the overhang. He said that way the lights were more for the work space and the lights wouldn’t be so much “in your face” when seated at the overhang side. Does what he’s saying make sense? Most spacing guides talk about the spacing of the pendants along the length of the island but not where according to the width, so it would be great to have your opinion. By the way, we plan to put three pendants over the island. Thanks much 🙂
Hi Designchickee. I am in the middle of a custom build and have surfed hundreds of articles/pin photos for the right pendant lights to have over my kitchen island. I love the wrought island/glass pendants with the edison bulbs in the white kitchen with the huge range hood and the black island. What brand are they and where can I find them? Thanks!
Great article. I’m starting a new home build next month and this was extremely helpful. My kitchen is rectangular without windows, though will have solar tubes. There are openings on each short end. The island is 3×6’. Do you have any thoughts on size? I’m not overly fond of looking at a clear bulb from the size. The cabinets are white, granite with white background, and medium tone wood floor. Very little wall space for paint around openings. I’m wondering if I need visual weight thru color. Thanks for the article!
Thanks for the article, it is very useful. Question, what about having the lights at different heights? I am about to install one lamp with three lights and have the option to move each of them up or down. I personally prefer the three aligned, but family say that at different heights they look nicer. A lot of work to to change the layout once installed so wanted to know if there is an argument against of favor. It is a modern kitchen, with a central rectangular island.
Wondering what to do when you have a bunch of canned lights all overhead that don’t align well with the replacement of those canned lights with pendant lighting. Do I swag the pendant lights? Or do I have to fill in the canned lights completely and the cut more holes in the ceiling for pendants? Currently I have three canned lights that go across the kitchen and one of the three is aligned right along the edge of the kitchen island countertop where some would sit.
Hello Designchickee. Great articles. I’m building a house. Very modern. All white kitchen with white quartz counter with black veins. Not sure what to for task lighting over island. I want to bring some black dome lighting. What your thought besides done shape? I’m also doing some black hardware on the cabinets or the new (gold-ish) to include the same color scheme for the spray facet. I’d like to mix hardware color? What do you think? The island is 9’ x 4’. Any advice or a picture or 2 would be great? Once again, great articles. Keep up the great work.
is it 12″ of clearance from edge of island on each side or 6″ each side x 2 = 12 inches? Also, my island (white quartz countertop) will have a lil extension on the left side to accommodate for universal design features (that has a butcher block countertop). total length of the island is 7 feet, including the extension (which will take up perhaps a quarter of the island). Question is, do I put the 2 or 3 island pendant lights centered on the whole 7″ or just the length of the white countertop portion of the island? thanks
I have a 2 meters long kitchen island. Currently the design incorporates 3 pendant lights (oxford style) 23 cm diameter each with 50 cm spacing wire to wire. I am considering replacing with 2 industrial domes 40 or 50 cm in diameter. Which diameter suits better and what would be the ideal wire to wire or edge to edge spacing between them? Thank you! 🥰
I have a design challenge for turning an old small kitchen bar counter into a bakers cabinet. I cannot move the support beams there so its hard to reconfigure/imagine. Its sits right between kitchen and family/game room. Want to hide all portable appliances like coffee maker, and toaster kinda of stuff in it. Wondering if I can send some pics and ask for some suggestions? Might make for a great new article idea?
Hi, one thing you don’t mention is the ceiling location of the pendants in relation to the island surface. i.e. center? Off center towards a front bar/seating area? Or off center towards the kitchen work/sink/prep area? And if off center, what ideally is the distance left on either side towards the edges of the counter? Thank you
Thank you sooooo much for this article. For years now (really) we have been putting off lighting above our kitchen island because we just couldn’t figure out the math of lighting. The island is a square and because we had adequate other lighting we just chickened out so to speak. Thanks to your tips I think I know exactly what we will be going for. Looking forward to your next tips.