Kitchen Island – Easy To Add Addition Every Kitchen Should Have
Make your kitchen the gathering space it used to be by adding a kitchen island. But, first, learn the basic measurements and features you need before you buy.
At one time, the heart of every home was the kitchen, but with today’s busy schedules and catch-as-catch-can relationships, your kitchen, like so many others, may have become the most ignored room in the house.
It’s a shame since so many of our cherished childhood memories revolve around the busyness of cooking and gathering in the kitchen for holiday fun, complete with the warmth of Christmas cookies and the aroma of that stuffed till bulging slow-roasting turkey in the oven.
It’s hard not to associate the idleness of a kitchen with the separation of loved ones and the death of tradition.
So, putting sentiment aside, what can a homeowner do to bring back interest in the kitchen? How can a family be coaxed out of the TV room back into the room that was once the gathering place for warmth and refreshment?
The answer is simple; introduce an island. It is an easy-to-install kitchen furniture piece that instantly creates additional workspace, an attractive serving station, more storage, or expanded entertaining accommodations.
Think about it. A kitchen island is a perpetual invitation to “come and sit” and do homework, read the newspaper, or enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee. It’s a pit-stop for visitors—a casual dining area—a functional focal point dividing the kitchen from the rest of a large melded great room.
Unfortunately, every kitchen is not suited for an island. They perform best in kitchens designed in the shape of an L, U, or even a G with a minimum of 121/2 to 13 feet wall to wall or cabinet to cabinet. A smaller space will not provide enough room and create cramped frustration.
Prepare yourself before shopping for a kitchen island by identifying the features or functions the island must provide. For example, you may utilize the additional room to test recipes and prepare meals, then a butcher block top with no seating is the best choice. On the other hand, if the kids are underfoot and homework needs to be supervised, consider a dual-purpose laminate or recycled surface with kid-friendly seating.
When children do not need to be factored in for more formal use, and entertaining is the priority, go glamorous with marble, cement, or molding embellishments with corbels and posts of elegant hardwoods such as Cherry and Oak.
Don’t overlook the benefit of additional storage. What kind of storage is needed?
Cookbooks, cookie sheets, and pans require a different design than an island for entertaining, where you might need a wine rack or table linen drawers. Consider the traffic pattern your new kitchen island will create. Does it block the refrigerator door from opening all the way? Will it bump into your butt every time you pull a yummy out of the oven? In other words, identify the specific characteristics needed before you buy for a perfect kitchen island experience.
One last thought, if it’s not too much of a hassle, consider adding additional track or custom hung accent lighting above the new island. It will add to the “wow” factor of your fresh and oh so wonderfully inviting kitchen addition!