A kitchen island is a practical element whose purpose is to provide extra space for working in the kitchen, but it is also a design element that gives the kitchen extra personality and style. Kitchens with island fit best in open space homes and make meal preparation easier if you choose to incorporate the sink, hob or other appliances into the island. However, a kitchen island can also be used as a dining space.
Kitchen with Island in a House
The advantages of a kitchen island
The way you choose to integrate the island into your kitchen space depends a lot on your needs and preferences. Even though the kitchen is a multifunctional space and a large part of family life takes place here, you need to think about what role you want the island to play and how it can be integrated into the available space. Do you want to prepare food here, cook, or do you just want it to serve as an eating table?
A small island equipped with a cooktop and space for dining
Kitchen island features
If you have decided what role the kitchen island will play in that space, then it is very simple to choose its features. So, if you opt for the island to be used as a food preparation area, then we recommend that you incorporate a sink, dishwasher, chopping board, knives and a trash can. If cooking is your focus, you’ll need an island large enough to accommodate the hob, oven, and hood. But don’t forget, you’ll also need space to keep your cooking utensils and dishes within reach. For those who choose the kitchen island to be the place for dining, then cutlery, plates and glasses can be stored under the island, and the chairs can be placed very easily under the counter when not in use. Not sure? You can incorporate them all, but you need a kitchen island with a generous size.
The Kitchen of a Villa in Dubai, Practically Designed in a Classic Style with Oriental Accents
Storage space
If you have enough wall cabinets, the island can be smaller, focusing on a simple design, and adapted to its main role. If you still need more storage space, you can incorporate various storage solutions into the kitchen island – drawers, hangers, shelves.
Kitchen with Island and Dining Area
Kitchen Island Dimensions
When choosing the size of your kitchen island, we recommend that you start with a width of 60cm, the most common size for kitchen countertops. Once you have established the starting point in terms of size and have also established the role that the kitchen island will mainly perform, you just have to start working, achieving the desired result in the end.
If you want your kitchen island to be a multifunctional space, from preparing food to serving the meal, but also with storage underneath, then choose a sufficient length but as much as your space allows. To incorporate a sink, you must take into account its dimensions and add the space necessary for preparing the meal. You also have to keep in mind that you need space in front of and behind the sink. If you opt for a hob and oven built into the island, then the dimensions can reach at least 1 x 2 meters, so that you have enough space for all the features.
Kitchen with Cooking Island, Dining Area, and Integrated Storage Space
Remember that you need some space to walk around the kitchen island, so consider a 80-100 cm aisle.
The height of the island – a very important aspect. If you choose the island to have the functionality of preparing food, then it can be as high as the rest of the countertops in the kitchen. However, if the island is used for serving food, choose a standard height of 70-80 cm. For a multifunctional kitchen island (preparing food and serving food) you have 2 options – either choose a stepped countertop, or opt for high bar stools.
