10.22.08
Kitchen Island Design
Kitchen islands reflect lifestyle. A more informal attitude and a more open and attractive kitchen has lead to the resurgence of kitchen islands. The kitchen is no longer isolated from adjoining rooms and is open for conversation and informal joint effort food preparation. A few of the islands we (Architectural Cabinetry and associates) have worked on are presented here for comment and inspiration. I have rated them on a scale of 1-5 and hope that a critique suggests that a beautiful and expensive island may or may not be a functional island. Good design includes form, function and beauty. Make sure your prospective island addresses at least these five points. See www.acfavorites.com for custom kitchen island 3d consultation.
Rating scale 1-5 (one point for each of the following areas)
1. Large enough to be useful
2. Is not in the way, needn’t walk around it to work in kitchen
3. Secure, won’t tip over
4. Improves kitchen layout and workflow
5. Innovative
Island 1
Review
Overall island rating 4
Pros: Innovative raised wine cooler on end
Nice layout for entertaining, plenty of bar seating
Multiple access points to kitchen, multiple workstations
Provides landing space closer to refrigerator
Island provides kitchen large enough to accommodate multiple workstations.
Provides easy access in and out of kitchen and dining areas
Cons: Kitchen has only one sink with multiple workstations.
Raised countertop on range end closes in work area close to range.
Island 2
Review
Overall island rating 4
Pros: Provides water closer to cook-top.
Provides landing space closer to refrigerator
Island provides kitchen large enough to accommodate multiple workstations.
Provides easy access in and out of kitchen and dining areas
Cons: Island is fairly small, and is very expensive per foot due to 3 exposed ends to finish and plumbing.
Note: A flaw in the kitchen design is that the only way into the home from the garage entrance is directly through the kitchen.
Island 3
Review
Overall island rating 3
Pros: Bar seating on backside
Large open workspace with furniture appeal
Island provides kitchen large enough to accommodate multiple workstations.
Provides easy access in and out of kitchen and dining areas
Cons: The island cuts the refrigerator out of the work triangle, it is in the way.
Provides landing space close to Refrigerator but can be more difficult to access due to bar stool seating.
Island 4
Review
Overall island rating 3
Pros: Innovative seating on 2 sides with bookshelves for cookbooks in front of the cook-top.
French country furniture appeal
Island provides kitchen large enough to accommodate multiple workstations.
Provides easy access in and out of kitchen and dining areas
Cons: The island cuts the refrigerator out of the work triangle, it is in the way.
Provides landing space close to Refrigerator but can be more difficult due to the raised height and stools for seating.
Island 10
Review
Overall island rating 5
Pros: Accent furniture appeal with dish storage on front and drawers and microwave on back
Multiple access points to kitchen, multiple workstations
Provides landing space close to refrigerator
Prep sink is a convenient distance from range and refrigerator
Provides easy access in and out of kitchen and dining area.
Open kitchen that works well for multiple cooks or just one person
Cons: May not appeal to someone who likes the microwave at eye-level, although the microwave could be relocated next to the refrigerator without any change to the island.
Island 11
Review
Overall island rating 5
Pros: Accent built in appeal with multiple levels and suspended seating
Downdraft cook-top in island
Multiple access points to kitchen, multiple workstations
Provides landing space closer to refrigerator
Accessible dishwasher next to sink
Provides easy access in and out of kitchen and dining area.
Cons: Kitchen has only one sink with multiple workstations, suspended seating limits bar seating to 4.
Island 12
Review
Overall island rating 5
Pros: Simple island with open countertop workspace
Multiple access points to kitchen, multiple workstations
Provides landing space close to refrigerator
Accessible dishwasher next to sink
Provides easy access in and out of kitchen and dining area.
Innovative cost effective application of island turned posts
Cons: Kitchen has only one sink with multiple workstations.
Island 5
Review
Overall island rating 4
Pros: Simple island with open countertop workspace
Multiple access points to kitchen, multiple workstations
Provides landing space close to refrigerator
Accessible dishwasher next to sink
Open plan, island seating does not conflict with work space
Cons: Island prep sink is same distance from range as main sink.
Island 9
Review
Overall island rating 3
Pros: Accent furniture appeal with 36-inch wide drawer storage
Multiple access points to kitchen, multiple workstations
Provides landing space closer to refrigerator
Accessible dishwasher next to sink
Provides easy access in and out of kitchen and dining area.
Cons: Kitchen has only one sink with multiple workstations, small island with limited seating options.
Somewhat in the way of direct access from sink to refrigerator
Note: this island is an alternate to a peninsula bar with the trade off of bar seating and refrigerator/sink connection vs. better kitchen access, better dishwasher location and a more modern look. It is a tough call sometimes.
Island 6
Review
Overall island rating 4
Pros: This island kitchen has been very popular. The island is essential to the layout.
This has been a cost-effective kitchen. The corner pantry provides low cost storage and the kitchen cabinet count is under 12 boxes.
Provides landing space close to Refrigerator
Island provides kitchen large enough to accommodate multiple workstations, yet convenient enough for 1 person. Having the kitchen open on both ends provides easy access to dining area and hall/living area. It provides an inviting conversational area with plenty of bar seating in a relatively small kitchen. It is open and spacious in looks and feel.
The caution with this layout is to be sure to provide a small cabinet between the sink and dishwasher so that when the dishwasher is open it is still comfortable to stand in front of the sink.
Cons: The angles on this island create a void of unusable space except in a custom cabinet application where the sink base ends are flared out to provide access to the void, which still makes the space difficult to access because it is under the sink.
Island 7
Review
Overall island rating 4
Pros: Island provides kitchen large enough to accommodate multiple workstations, yet convenient enough for 1 person. Without the Island the working distances between the sink, refrigerator and cook-top (Work triangle) would wear out the cook.
Island sink provides water and prep space closer to range
Provides landing space close to Refrigerator
Cons:
Island storage is only accessible for one side.
Note:The garage entrance runs through the kitchen rather than to the kitchen which is less than ideal.
What do you like or dislike about your island? What is your favorite feature? What rating criteria would you add? Which of the islands pictured here is your favorite? Why?
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