Dynamic Custom Kitchen Island Design at Your Fingertips
A kitchen island is the must-have feature of modern kitchens. Situated usually somewhere in the middle of the kitchen, islands are as practical as the old farm table once was—providing ready workspace and a place for family and friends to gather. Today’s version of the farm table can be just as simple or as elaborate as you wish.
Define Kitchen Island Design
Kitchen islands can be extremely versatile. They optimize existing kitchen space for all types of functions and form a centerpiece to your overall kitchen design.
Design your island for functionality first. Do you need a workstation allocated for prepping, cooking, baking or cleanup? Will you need a stove with overhead venting, an overflow refrigerator or warming drawer? How much space do you need for countertop or storage? Perhaps room for dining and gathering is a priority. If space allows, well-integrated kitchen islands will accommodate multiple activities—from cooking and dining to homework and socializing. Even well designed small islands can reshape the flow of your kitchen.
You can customize your kitchen island to match the rest of your kitchen or to contrast with it. A unique, contrasting island design can be an economic way to add elegant definition to your kitchen.
Shape Your Kitchen Space
Allow for ample room around your kitchen island—an average of 42″ or 3½ feet.
Shape your island to fit your kitchen space, running in parallel lines. A long and narrow kitchen will function best with a long and narrow island. If overall space is tight or unwieldy, consider ways to curve your kitchen island into oval, crescent, hexagonal or other unconventional shapes. For even more economy of space, and budget, incorporate a small portable kitchen island—a rolling table or cart, which can be alternately rolled into different spaces for a workspace or a dining table.
Add Dimension and Functionality with Multi-layered Surfaces
The surface levels of your kitchen island can range from dining table height to bar height and in between. Multilevel kitchen island design allows for visually separating work areas and stovetops from the “public side” of seating and dining.
Distinguish separate island activities with different surface materials. A sink might be tile, a prep area butcher block and counter space granite or concrete. Different textures and finishes add interest and dimension to your kitchen.
Include open shelves instead of, or in addition to, kitchen island cabinets.
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Create Custom Alternatives
Customize your kitchen island design to fit your particular needs. While you can have your island tailored to match your kitchen, you can also enhance your kitchen with simple, unique and clever alternatives.
Furniture turned into a kitchen island is a simple solution for a beautiful combination table and prep area. Run electrical wire into the hollow of a table leg. Designers and homeowners use everything—from workbenches to antique cabinets and old dressers to painted stock cabinets—to bring old-fashioned functionality into the middle of the modern kitchen.
Custom kitchen island design can be as elaborate or unique as you desire. But for a convenient workspace and gathering space, consider even the simplest solutions for functionality at your fingertips.
QUICK TIPS
• A kitchen island is at the top of the list of must-haves for most homeowners and homebuyers.
• Customized kitchen island design can be anything from an old antique table to handmade cabinetry fully loaded with appliances.
• A well-designed kitchen island should reflect your unique space, while placing convenience within easy reach.
• Design your island for functionality first—whether for workspace, storage, dining or other social activities.
• You can customize your kitchen island to match the rest of your kitchen or to contrast with it.
• Allow for ample room around your kitchen island—an average of 42″ or 3½ feet.
• If space is tight, consider ways to curve your kitchen island into oval, crescent, hexagonal or other unconventional shapes.
• A portable kitchen island can be rolled in and out of a small kitchen for a workspace or a dining table.
• Multilevel kitchen island design allows for visually separating work areas and stovetops from the “public side” of seating and dining.
• Furniture turned into a kitchen island is a simple solution for a beautiful combination table and prep area.
• Unique items from workbenches to antique cabinets add old-fashioned tabletop functionality to a kitchen.
• Depending upon your needs, you can customize your kitchen with the most elaborate kitchen island design or with a simple table, to place functionality at your fingertips.
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