March 26 2019 • Jolemy Bermudez • Kitchen
The Importance of the Kitchen Island
The island is one of the main elements in a modern kitchen. It is a complicated task, a design within the design. The island can have the same cabinets as the rest of the kitchen as well as the counter-top and thus maintain the same conformity. It could also become the contrasting piece of the kitchen when playing with different colors and constructive elements.
An island must have access to all work areas and it must be free without anything obstructing that circulation. There are some things that must be taken into account such as the passageway which has to be 36 inches wide minimum, in work areas walkways must be 42 inches for one cook or 48 inches for more.
The islands take up a lot of space and the functionality of the island, which in most of the cases will also determined the size of it. You must also apply and incorporate appliances such as dishwashers, stoves, sink, trash cans, and even seating space. A standard isle dimension is at least 4 feet long and around 2 feet wide, but it must have room for people to move around. The height can be 36 inches or 42 inches if you want an island with a bar height or upper tier with 12-18 inches of overhang, 12 inches will provide room for the stools under the counter but with 18 inches you will have knee space without pulling the stools too far in.
An island can fulfill any of these functions: cook prep, cooking, storage, washing, eating and sitting. Before designing the island you must decide the role. The island should be integrated into the design of the kitchen in a subtle and elegant way, they should not feel heavy or crowded, they require a significant space, and they are not practical nor are they recollected in small kitchens. It is very difficult to add them in a remodel. That is why it is recommended to hire professionals to obtain the desired result.