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In nearly every kitchen, you will find two primary workspaces - the countertops and the table. However, you can go one-step further in the form of kitchen island designs, adding another dimension to the workspace, making the room far more practical. For many years, the kitchen table was the center of family life, both as a workspace and meeting place. Then in recent years, we have seen the popularity of the kitchen island skyrocketing, now taking over many of the table duties.
Many experts in kitchen planning will tell you one of the first rules of kitchen island designs is to let the permanent shape of the room dictate the shape and location of your kitchen island. In deciding where to place your kitchen island, it is also important to decide if you want the island to separate the main cooking area of the kitchen from the rest of the room, or be used for additional space without creating a divider. One of the main reasons for this placement is to divert foot traffic away from the work that always seems to be going on in a busy kitchen. In the planning stages of kitchen island designs, or when you are planning a new kitchen in a new home, it may be a good idea to jot down a few ideas on what you want the kitchen island to do. Will it be just an extra workspace, with few if any storage places underneath? Will it have plumbing, electricity, and all sorts of nooks and crannies for storage? Perhaps the kitchen island will used sole for prep work, breakfast meals, or a place where kids can plop down to do homework. Professional home decorating consultants and interior designers will probably tell you that today’s kitchen is generally larger, featuring more heavy-duty appliances. For that reason, the kitchen island has become a primary workspace. When considering kitchen island designs, you and your family will probably want to decide early on whether this addition will be the center of all activity or one of three workspaces that shares the same or additional activities. Okay, so what is a kitchen island made of? Most permanent kitchen island designs include quality wood cabinets and shelving, in addition to a solid wood or stainless steel top. There are also kitchen island designs that are made to move, with strong, heavy-duty casters that allow you to put the island out of the way when more space is needed in the kitchen. A mobile island made from wood with a steel top can cost less than $400 whereas a butcher-block design with two doors underneath may cost as little as $225. Of course, if you want the most elaborate kitchen island that can serve as a cooking area, breakfast bar, and primary storage space, you will be committing to a permanent structure that involves more expense. Some kitchen islands at the higher levels of cost will include a full stovetop, draft hood, electrical outlets, and much more. No matter how extensive your thoughts on kitchen island designs, this addition to one of your home’s most important rooms should be just want you want it to be - no more , no less. |
Kitchen Islands 
