A kitchen island can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen. Not only can you prepare meals there, but it also increases your storage space; what’s more, family and friends can even gather round it, because as everyone knows, the kitchen is the heart and soul of the home. But what should you bear in mind when designing a kitchen island if you want to make the most of the possibilities?
What size of kitchen is suitable for a kitchen island?
When people think of a kitchen island, many picture a huge, spacious kitchen; however, even in smaller kitchens, we don’t have to give up on our dreams. In this case, we simply need to plan a little more cleverly, and due to the limited space, there will be certain factors that we absolutely must take into account.
The kitchen island should not take up more than 10% of the total kitchen area. If we exceed this limit significantly, we will not be satisfied with the result, either aesthetically or functionally.
It’s also very important to have enough space around the kitchen island, so that you can move about comfortably, walk all the way round it, and use your kitchen appliances properly – for example, there should be enough space to open the dishwasher or the oven – and ensure that no kitchen cupboards remain unused simply because you cannot open their doors. As a rule of thumb, there should be a minimum of 100–120 centimetres between the kitchen units and the island.
What should you bear in mind when setting up your workspace?
If you plan to store and use various kitchen appliances permanently on the kitchen island – such as a coffee machine, toaster, kettle, etc. – make sure that a suitable power supply is provided.
If you want to bake, cook and wash up, or even fit an extractor hood above the hob on your kitchen island, don’t forget about the water and gas installations and the other work involved. In the case of a newly built flat, you can plan for this right from the start, whilst when renovating your existing kitchen, you’ll need to factor in the costs of these works as well.
How do you determine the depth and length of your kitchen island?
As we’ve already mentioned, the size of your kitchen island is largely determined by the size of your kitchen. If you’re planning a new house, you can of course start by deciding what you want to use your kitchen island for; if, however, you have to work with the existing layout, you’ll need to adapt its functions accordingly.
A kitchen island 60–80 cm wide is perfect for gaining extra worktop and storage space, or perhaps sitting down next to it to have your breakfast. You’ll need to allow for a width of 90–100 cm if you’re planning to include work stations and kitchen appliances. 120 cm is ideal if you want your kitchen island to double as a hob or if you’d like to be able to wash up there too.
If you’re dreaming of a proper, eye-catching kitchen island – rather than a peninsula – then you should be thinking of a length of at least 100–120 cm. It can, of course, be smaller than this, but you’re unlikely to be truly satisfied with it in terms of both appearance and functionality.
Don’t be put off by all these design tasks – Mobilan’s experts are here to help with everything. Not only do we undertake to design your dream kitchen with you, but we’ll also advise you on what technical work will be required before your dream kitchen can be fitted. Don’t miss out on this opportunity – book a free design consultation now via our contact details, and we’ll fit your kitchen units in as little as 3–4 weeks!
