Kitchen island is a dream for many of us. Unfortunately, it has been known for a long time that fulfilling your dreams is not so simple – especially when it comes to a dream interior design. However, it isn’t worth giving up! Here are my suggestions as to which mistakes you should avoid when designing your own kitchen island.
Do you have a large kitchen? In that case, you should consider installing a kitchen island. It’s an extremely functional and fashionable solution. Unfortunately, its flawless design is not easy – it is not difficult to make a blunder, which will later haunt us every time we want to use the kitchen. What are the most common mistakes to watch out for?
#1. Not enough space around the island
A common mistake when designing a kitchen island is its incorrect location. For an island to be fully functional, it must have not only the right dimensions (about which we’ll discuss later), but there also have to be enough free space around it. It’s crucial that the island in no way hinders communication or opening the cabinets in the kitchen! How much space should you leave? Generally, the more, the better, but it is assumed that the kitchen island should be at least 60-90 cm away from the wall and kitchen appliances – this distance will allow convenient movement around the kitchen and collision-free opening of the cabinets or the fridge.
#2. Putting the island in a small kitchen
Kitchen island is a very convenient solution, but intended only for large (minimum area 15-20 m²) kitchen or apartments in which the kitchen is open to the living room or dining room. If you only have a small, closed kitchen, it is best to simply give up the island – this type of solution will not pass the exam and will only be a hindrance.
#3. Inadequate countertop height
The optimal height for kitchen cabinets with the top altogether is from 85 to 90 cm. However, it is worth remembering that these values are adapted to people of average height. If you’re rather tall, you should work at the standard height kitchen counter to see for yourself if it suits you, before making the final decision. Note: high islands (100-110 cm) may seem disproportionate and massive, so some people choose kitchen islands with two levels of countertops. So one of them is for work, while the other is for eating.
#4. No hood above the island
If you plan to place an induction or ceramic hob on your island, then you should remember three things. First: around 30-40 cm of worktop should be left on the sides of the board. Secondly: the heating plate should not be placed on the edge of the countertop on the other side of the island, as this promotes burns. Thirdly: a cooker hood should be located above the island with a hob. This will effectively eliminate unpleasant smells, smoke and excessive moisture from the kitchen.
#5. Arrangement mismatch with the rest of the decor
Proper design of a kitchen island poses many problems. It is because the island is an element that simultaneously belongs to two interiors: kitchen and living room. It therefore has a dual character. On one hand, it is a kind of connector, and on the other, an element that clearly separates zones for different purposes. Therefore, the kitchen island should blend in with the whole space. The problem arises when we used different styles in the kitchen and sitting area – in such situation the island should refer to both of them.
