Kitchen Island Design

By Jason Albright

Kitchen islands have been part of kitchen design since the medieval times, where cooks used a large worktable to do preparation work for making meals. Having a custom kitchen island in your home will make your kitchen more functional and comfortable. When you choose a kitchen island, you’ll need to pick a design and size that are appropriate for your kitchen space and your needs.

Kitchen islands serve several purposes in the home. While they, of course, function as a good place for doing prep work, kitchen islands also make a good gathering area for friends and family. A kitchen island can even serve as additional eating space.

If you are planning your own custom kitchen island, there are a few considerations that you need to address. Keep in mind that kitchen islands work best in larger kitchens that have an L, U, or G layout shape. Using a kitchen island in a kitchen that is too small is a sure way to make the kitchen a terrible place to be. Small to medium sized kitchens can benefit from the use of kitchen cart for extra workspace, rather than a full-sized kitchen island.

Kitchen islands with a cook top need to include a ventilation hood to reduce smoke and cooking odors. A range hood should extend at least three inches beyond the cook top on each side so it can properly remove all smoke. Besides a cook top, another popular choice for kitchen island additions is a second sink. You should choose a kitchen island sink that is deep enough to wash large pots and pans. It should also include a garbage disposal so it can be used as a prep sink for vegetables and fruits.

Countertop materials for your kitchen island should coordinate with the rest of your kitchen, but it doesn’t have to match exactly. Countertops of butcher block, granite and marble are all popular selections for kitchen islands.

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Jason Albright is a contributing editor at Cookgroup Marketing LLC. His background is with lifestyle topics including: Gardening, Outdoor Living, Home Decor, Travel Destinations and Food and Wine.