Still not sure how to design your kitchen island? Our Designer at Large, Celia Alida Rutte, has a few pro tips to help you create your most stylish kitchen island yet!
In the last decade the built in kitchen island has become such a sought after feature in today’s kitchen, that it is arguably one of the biggest value added improvements you can make to your home.
Let me clarify for you why this is.
In today’s uber fast paced world most of us are challenged when it comes to leading a balanced life.
In order to keep up with the demands of modern day existence, we are expected to do more things in less time. The best room in the house to assist a person in performing multiple tasks at once is the kitchen.
In the kitchen, the central task of food preparation can easily be combined with socializing, working on a project or computer, monitoring and/or assisting with homework, planning, eating, feeding family members and pets, listening to music, and watching television.
Therefore designing a kitchen that supports multi tasking has become, for many families, a necessity; and the key component that allows this to happen is the kitchen island.
Tips on Designing Your Kitchen Island
Generally located in the center of the kitchen, you can think of island as the axis around which all things in the kitchen rotate.
For a kitchen island to support productivity and interaction between family members it must be well designed.
If you try to cram an island into a kitchen that is too small, this will negatively affect traffic flow. Without adequate room to move around people will not be drawn to the kitchen because the kitchen slows them down and/or causes them stress.
A well designed island will draw people into the room because it provides them with a reason to go there; like electrical sockets to plug in their computers and phones; snacks from easily accessible fruit bowls, jars and bar fridges; and most importantly comfortable, attractive seating to sit and do homework, chat with the chef, or look up a recipe.
Choose the Right Seating
The ever increasing popularity of the kitchen island is having a direct effect on the demand for bar stools and kitchen appropriate seating.
Some of my favorite eye catching bar stools in the Inspire collection are the Devan, the Burton and the Rio.
http://inspireathome.com/stools/adjustable-height-stools/burton-adjustable-stool-in-red.html
http://inspireathome.com/stools/fixed-height-stools/rio-counter-stool-26-in-walnut.html
For more comfortable seating with padding and back support I love the Venus, the Bolo and the Teeka.
http://inspireathome.com/stools/adjustable-height-stools/venus-gas-lift-stool-in-white.html
http://inspireathome.com/stools/adjustable-height-stools/bolo-2pk-gas-lift-stool-in-brown.html
http://inspireathome.com/stools/adjustable-height-stools/teeka-gas-lift-stool-in-black.html
And when you plan on grafting a full kitchen table to the back of the island to encourage meals together, consider the Maxim, the Chicago and the Jazz.
http://inspireathome.com/dining/chairs/maxim-2pk-side-chair-in-white.html
http://inspireathome.com/dining/chairs/chicago-2pk-side-chair-in-white.html
http://inspireathome.com/dining/chairs/jazz-2pk-side-chair-in-charcoal-grey.html
When including seating around a kitchen island remember to provide adequate space between guests and a comfortable amount of room under the counter for knees. From more information on How to Choose the Right Kitchen Stool check out the inspire post…..
Are Kitchen Islands Here To Stay?
I would say yes!
They continue to be one of the biggest renovation trends. So many of my clients opt to remove an interior wall to open up space. When combined with the design of a new kitchen that almost always includes the addition of an island.
Not to mention that I don’t see our love affair with ‘crazy busy’ slowing down anytime soon!
I suspect they will be trendy for a very long time, and represent a good – and stylish – investment.