Islands are one of the most versatile spaces in any kitchen design. For some, they’re the only space large enough to hand roll pasta or focaccia dough; for others, the kitchen island is the weekly happy hour hangout or the daily homework station – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Therefore, personalizing the kitchen island is one of the smartest things you can do to ensure your kitchen functions efficiently for you today – and into the future. If your Orlando kitchen contractor does the job right, your kitchen should stand the test of time and life’s inevitable transitions.
Kitchen Remodel Pro Tip: Personalizing the Kitchen Island
A kitchen layout is essential to function and workflow. And, while variations in overall kitchen design come and go – like open-concept or more traditional galley/U-shaped layouts – kitchen islands continue to be a popular design addition.
Good kitchen island ideas sharply contrast with those that don’t pan out. Careful planning with your kitchen’s primary functions in mind is essential for keeping your island out of the latter category.
Avoid These Kitchen Island Design Mistakes
One of the best ways to optimize an island’s design is to avoid making some of these common kitchen island mistakes.
Making It Too Big For the Space
We might argue that a peninsula, rather than an island, makes more sense in a small kitchen space. However, even a larger kitchen space should have limits on the size of the island.
A too-big island means:
- You can’t comfortably reach the middle from either side (usually between 36″ and 47″ wide).
- There isn’t enough room for someone in a wheelchair/walker to comfortably maneuver around the island (kitchen workflows in any home fare best with at least 40″ between fixed elements).
- There is more seating than you’d use during an average month (usually, more than four to six seats is overdoing it).
While a kitchen island can undoubtedly be an attractive feature in a home, designing for looks – rather than function – is never a good idea.
Not Customizing Its Purpose
The kitchen island should have a primary role in addition to extra prep space or seating/dining. If you have too many things going on in the island design, you’ll miss the benefits of building for efficiency and flow.
Forgetting to Add Outlets or Lighting
Finally, the island is a great place to tuck away extra electrical outlets that always come in handy. We can tuck them out of sight, but guarantee you’ll appreciate them during busy food prep moments, parties/gatherings, or when guests need to charge their phones.
Focus On These Kitchen Island Must-Dos
During your initial design consultations, the kitchen designer should be gleaning all they can about your household and how the kitchen fits into the daily routine.
Choose the Island’s Main Theme
From this information, they can help you choose the island’s central theme or role in the space.
Examples are:
- Cooktop and food prep central.
- Sink and dishwashing station.
- The wet bar and snack hub.
- The star player in a baker’s kitchen.
- The coffee bar, reading, home office, and homework arena (when this is the case, the island – rather than the kitchen – becomes the true heart of the home).
By naming the island’s primary purpose, we make it an uber-functional part of the kitchen space so that everything is within reach when you need it.
Customize the Cabinetry
Don’t forget all the ways you can customize cabinets in the island to boost its function and kitchen storage.
In addition to customized storage spaces, the island is also a great place to:
- Install warming or refrigerated drawers.
- Add a wine cabinet.
- Build shelves to house favorite cookbooks or to display decorative accents and seasonal decor.
- Add charging stations.
- Integrate pull-out drawers for trash and recycling.
There are so many options, but the key is to be proactive in planning how a customized kitchen island will best serve your needs now and accommodate future changes and your household’s evolution.
Think About Visual Appeal
Because the island is in the center of the kitchen, it is inherently a focal point. This allows you to think about using fun contrasting colors or mixing materials to add textural elements to the scene.
Perusing prospective kitchen remodel companies’s portfolios is a great way to get ideas for island design ideas you might not have thought of on your own.
Let Details Construction Group Customize Your Kitchen Island Design
Kitchen islands take up significant real estate, so you want yours to be as functional and attractive as possible. If you’re moving forward with a kitchen remodel, schedule a design consultation with Details Construction Group.
We are skilled at getting to know our clientele, so their kitchens – and island spaces – are customized to their lifestyle. Let us show you what’s possible.
