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Kitchen Island: Form and Functionality |
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Written by Doresa Banning
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Monday, 01 September 2008 |
 To the eye, a stand-alone platform in the center of a kitchen might not seem like much of an asset, but it is. Chefs, both amateur and professional, swear by them.
“An island is the center of function in a kitchen,” says Suzi Lunt, who with her husband, Ron Lunt, co-owns CR Woodworks, a Reno-based home cabinetry company.
An island is located conveniently between all the kitchen’s workstations, including preparation, cooking, cleanup, and storage. Sometimes it encompasses one or more of those stations, increasing storage areas and extra countertop space.
An island can add seating and eating area to a kitchen. It also can divide two rooms, allowing for greater social interaction between them.
From a decorative standpoint, a new kitchen island alone can update or embellish a kitchen, as it’s a dramatic element. It gives homeowners the opportunity to infuse the kitchen with their style—elegant, country, contemporary, or any other.
Not only do today’s kitchen islands run the gamut in styles, but they also can accommodate a wide array of both functional and aesthetic features.
“There is so much out there now,” says Sandy Tyler, proprietor of Affordable Kitchen & Baths, a Reno-based kitchen and bath cabinet and remodel company. “There are no rules anymore. You can have whatever you want.”
Options
An island base can be made of wood, stone (marble and granite, for example), and iron. Wood bases allow for greater design flexibility, as they can accommodate drawers, cabinets, and pullouts whereas stone and iron bases can’t. The decision boils down to function versus aesthetics.
“If you want one designed out of cabinetry, options are endless,” Lunt says.
What you choose for your island top should suit both your needs and taste.
“Anything that you would put on any kitchen countertop you can put on an island,” Tyler says.
People who bake frequently might want a marble or granite countertop so they can knead dough directly on the surface. For those who cut and chop often, a butcher-block countertop may be the best choice. Stainless steel, tile, laminate, marble, concrete, Corian, and quartz all are possibilities. One product that’s gaining popularity, Tyler says, is a composite stone product, made by Shirestone. Woods, such as walnut, zebra, and maple, also are used.
“These are hard woods whose joinery is done properly, and they’re sealed,” Tyler says. “They don’t have to be germ catchers.”
You may opt for a combination of materials for your island top. You really may want butcher block for all your kitchen prep work but love the look of stainless steel. Consider having one segment in one material and the remaining segment in the other.
An abundance of features are available for an island. Having appliances—refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, wine and/or beverage chillers, warming ovens, trash compactors—installed in an island is possible. In fact, appliances now are made in the “drawer” style specifically to accommodate islands. These include refrigerators, dishwashers and microwaves.
Island stovetops and sinks are common. Storage places include drawers, cabinets, wine racks, and pullout and fixed shelves. Other options include electrical switches, drop leaves, and towel racks.
Homeowners who want their island to resemble a piece of furniture can select from a number of embellishments offering that look. They include shelving; decorative wood corbels, which are architectural blocks projecting from a flat vertical surface; pilasters, which are shallow rectangular columns; and legs or feet. Turned legs, for instance, provide a furniture look and accommodate pullout baskets, which are all the rage.
When selecting the style and look of an island, you can match the color and style of your existing cabinets and kitchen, or opt for a contrasting, or complementary, look, Lunt says. The current trend leans toward the contrasting look. To accomplish a contrast, you can use the same wood but with a different finish or color. For example, for a light-colored kitchen with, say, natural maple cabinets, consider an espresso or darker-finish island. Or, use a material for your island top that’s different from your countertops. A nice contrast with tile or granite countertops is a butcher-block island top.
The space in your kitchen dictates what shapes it can accommodate. Islands can, however, be crafted in almost any shape—square, round, rectangular and more.
“If you want a kidney-shaped island, you can have it,” Lunt says.
An island’s dimensions also depend on your kitchen’s size. Ideally for one cook, a 42-inch walkway should exist between the island and the other fixtures and countertops in the kitchen, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. The absolute minimum width is 36 inches. For multiple people cooking simultaneously, the walkway should be at least 48 inches wide.
Some kitchens can’t house an island because they’re too small. Others can only fit a compact island. For smaller kitchens, a small mobile island is an alternative. Typically on wheels, these islands, often called kitchen carts, can sit in the kitchen when they’re being used and can be removed when they’re not. They obviously can’t accommodate appliances and sinks; however, they offer extra work space and possibly extra storage space as well. They’re available at home, department, kitchen, and hardware stores.
Fixed, or stationary islands, can be purchased either as-is or custom made to your size and materials specifications. DuraSupreme, for example, is one company that offers non-custom, fixed islands. The smallest fixed islands are about two-by-two feet in size, without cabinets, Lunt says. The largest available, non-custom stationary islands are about four-by-five feet in size. Typically, anything larger has to be custom made.
Most islands are the same height as kitchen countertops—36 inches, including the countertop. However, heights can vary, and one island can have more than one height. Some people may want a higher island for breakfast bar-type seating. People in wheelchairs likely would want a lower island.
Considerations
If you’re thinking about getting an island, whether for an existing kitchen or a new home, consider the following: Who will use it? How many people will use it at once? What will they use it for? Browse kitchen and home-decorating magazines for an idea of what styles and looks are available and which ones strike you. If possible, determine the amount that you want to spend for the island.
For a custom kitchen island with a wood base, contact a company that specializes in kitchen or home cabinetry. They will measure your kitchen, help you determine what style, look, and features you want and will craft the island for you.
For a custom kitchen island with a stone base, contact a stone company. They, too, will measure and create your base.
If you prefer to do it yourself, you could measure your kitchen, determine the island size, then purchase some cabinets at a warehouse-type store, and either make the countertop yourself or have it done elsewhere. When shopping at one of these stores or in and out of showrooms, take your measurements and a general layout with you.
The cost of a kitchen island depends on the materials, size, and features. Someone could purchase a basic, custom three- to four-cabinet kitchen island for $3,000, but expect to spend more like $5,000 for one with more features.
“If someone wants to load it up with appliances, it’s going to blow the roof off the price,” Tyler says.
Non-custom and mobile islands, of course, cost much less.
Final words of wisdom for those considering an island are:
“Anything you can do in your kitchen, you can do in your island as long as your space allows it,” Lunt says. “If your kitchen opens up to a great room, your freedom is endless.”
With so many options available, Tyler says, “Be adventurous and open to new ideas.”
Doresa Banning is a Reno-based freelance writer. |
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