Kitchen islands are the central powerhouse of the most used room in any home - everything revolves around this essential element found in most kitchens and if you're in the lucky position of building or designing the best kitchen island for your new home or redesigning your existing island, there are quite a few options to consider!
Designing the Best Kitchen Island for Your Space and Style
If you're working with an existing kitchen island and don't have the space to extend, my first suggestion is always to switch any doors with shelves to drawer storage. Your back will thank you for years to come, and there is a much lower chance of losing pots or appliances and other tools in the depths of the island, never to be found again, when you can pull drawers out fully.
The client project above had the room to extend their existing kitchen island, but rather than additional storage, we used that space to create a waterfall counter for two (or four) to eat breakfast. We saved a good amount in the investment budget by using the original cabinetry, opting instead to update the hardware and painting it a fun, fresh color.
If you can build a new island like the one above, choosing your countertop material is a big decision, and should directly reflect your true lifestyle - not the ideal reality you would like to have :)
I always prefer low-maintenance surfaces, so marble is not going to be a suggestion from me unless you fully understand the ramifications of using that stone in a well-loved kitchen. If you don't cook, then by all means have a gorgeous marble kitchen! Otherwise, a quartz or quartzite will be my personal go-to as the best of both worlds - great looking and easy to maintain. Just know that nothing is bulletproof, but we can do our best to mitigate worst-case scenarios with thoughtful upkeep and cleaning.
A little tip from my kitchen to yours: just to be on the safe side with heat resistance and possible staining, I keep our counter appliances like our coffee pot and our slow cooker sitting on a cutting board or other heat resistant surface on the counter when in use (though never unattended). Better safe than sorry, I always say!
Again, we see a full drawer set up on this island, and because this client is an avid chef, we had very specific requirements for what needed to be stored in these island drawers.
Starting in the right upper corner, we installed an open paper towel holder for easy access, yet more discreet placement. Under that is the trash pullout drawer to contain smells and chaos out of sight (food prep then sweep into the trash, what's not to love), and then cooking utensil drawers along the top. The deeper drawers on the bottom hold wok pans, waterbottles, and tall cooking oil bottles that can be grabbed quickly mid-saute!
Lesson of the day: know thyself!
This family of four (possibly more) wanted to be able to eat together communally at the island for daily meals, so planning an island large enough to seat six was definitely a priority! We also included a farmhouse sink large enough to soak long pans plus the dishwasher, a dual trash/recycling center pullout drawer, and if that wasn't enough, a microwave on the opposite side of the island as well.
They had plenty of storage on the perimeter of their kitchen along with a built in bar area, so appliances could take up the below-counter space of the island while also serving as an additional dining area and workspace for the family.
Say it with me: know thyself, and your family's priorities in the kitchen!
If you're looking for help with your own kitchen remodel, or need designer guidance in other areas of your home, please don't hesitate to contact us here!
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