Kitchen Islands: The Hub of Activities in a Kitchen

A kitchen is the focal point in any home where members of the household come together to eat and share their day with others. Basically a kitchen has three components: work space, cabinets and appliances. The layout of these elements has changed through the ages. Before World War II these three components were laid out as stand alone sections and after World War II the kitchen space got smaller with all these components put together (such as bar stools) in a single space with built-in counters and cabinets, with just enough room for one person to cook.
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Today the kitchen layouts has come a full circle, with more open space and as a place for family gatherings. Every member pitches in to make some contribution to the kitchen activities. It has become a place to hang out and share things with each other in a relaxed setting. This progress has added a new component to the kitchen layout called the ‘kitchen island’ combined with kitchen lighting. This kitchen island is an adaption of the good old work table but with stylish attributes and unlimited possibilities.

In case you are thinking of adding a kitchen island over your existing kitchen floor, you have to consider it very carefully because these modern work tables require a lot of space. Be absolutely sure whether your kitchen needs it and whether it will suit you existing kitchen layout before starting your project. To install an island your kitchen should have a width of at least 13 feet. You also have to take into account various factors like, if there is enough walk space between the island and the cabinets, whether you can open all the doors including cabinets and appliances, whether you have space to include barstools or chairs. Kitchens that are G, U or L shaped are best suited for installing islands.

Now coming to the applications of a kitchen island, the possibilities are limitless. The best part of it is that it is accessible from all sides. You can have your stove top installed on the island with space around the stove for chopping and other activities or you can opt to have the sink on it. If there are more than one cooks in your family, an island is the perfect setting for everyone to pitch in together without any jostling. Or you can keep the island free for your kids to do their homework while you carry on with your cooking. It is also the perfect place for an impromptu breakfast or dinner. An island also provides more cabinet space all around it. Just make sure that you have space to open all the doors. You can custom shape your kitchen island to have multi-levels or other shapes.

Though the island has numerous useful functions, the most notable is that it helps to create a social atmosphere. It acts as magnets for people to join you for a conversation or just give you company without stepping on your feet. They can even help you out with cooking or baking but with their own separate work space. Apart from being functional, a kitchen island is the highlight of your kitchen that gives an aesthetic look to it. You can either make it stand out or blend in with the general décor, depending on the materials and accessories you use to build it. You can put it in the spotlight by adding attractive and colourful mouldings or other decorations to the island. If your kitchen can accommodate an island then you can go ahead and indulge.

Related Posts:

1. Tips and Ideas for Planning the Ideal Kitchen
2. Perfect furnishing with kitchen bar stools
3. Kitchen cabinet refacing must complement with the floor
4. How to Make the Most out of a Small Kitchen?
5. Kitchen should be well-organized

This entry was posted on Monday, April 27th, 2009 at 3:17 am and is filed under Kitchen. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.