Designing the Kitchen Island

Whether working with a large or small kitchen space, island design paired with functionality can be difficult. Islands are the heart of your kitchen’s floor plan, either enhancing or diminishing your kitchen’s performance.

When choosing to upgrade your home with a kitchen island, be sure to consider:

• Size,
• Cleanliness,
• And design.

Size

There are plenty of pros to adding an island to your kitchen. For one, it adds space to your kitchen that’s needed for preparing and serving your family’s food. Also, space appears beneath the island for pots, pans, and other kitchen appliances and tools.

Photo: Chalon Handmade

In smaller kitchens, an island may be an impractical decision. Kitchen islands limit space and may interfere with your normal kitchen activities as an obstacle to get around. If space is a premium for your kitchen, a rolling island that stows away may be the best option for your home.

Photo: Pohlenz Cucine

Be realistic about size when considering your kitchen island and how it will play into the kitchen. Do you want it to improve the room or create more of a mess?

Cleanliness

Grime overwhelms a kitchen’s surfaces, and your kitchen island is no exception. But, island cleanliness doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.

Photo: Nancy Hugo

Depending on your island’s materials, here are simple ways to make your island’s surface sparkle:

• Marble – Marble can damage with ease. Reserve this material for cooktop areas of your island if you are to use it. To clean a marble countertop, crush chalk, dip a damp cloth in the powder, and rub it over the surface. Rinse with water after.
• Wood – Wood, too, is a damageable and stained material. Using mild dish detergent and warm water, wipe clean in a circular motion. After, use oil soap and repeat. Last, wipe the surface dry with a soft cloth.
• Granite – Island designers agree that granite is one of the best countertop materials to use for your kitchen island. But, be sure it’s sealed. When cleaning, do not use harsh cleaners. Instead, wipe spills as soon as possible and use a gentle dish soap and nubby or soft washcloth to clean.

Design

Oftentimes, kitchen island designs match your kitchen’s design. To avoid creating an eyesore of appliance clutter, many homeowners use a kitchen island for prep only. As a preparation station, they have a prep sink and cutting board incorporated into its design.

Photo: Garabedian Property

Again, design an island that allows you to continue your food prep cooking habits. To accommodate a larger family, an island with an overhang allows for face-to-face conversation.

Be creative with your island’s design! If you have a traditional home style, make your island appear as a sculpture –– functional, but fun. After all, everyone will be hanging around your island to enjoy your good eats and conversation.