Add
an Island to Maximize the Kitchen
Ask most homeowners and
they'll tell you that there's not enough countertop space on the
kitchen cabinets, no matter
how much or how little they have.
Whether you need a second work
station, a space from which to serve an informal buffet, or just a place to toss
the day's mail, kitchen islands are popular solution to the lack of kitchen
cabinets space. According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, over 50 percent
of kitchens created include islands.
With the wide range of in-stock,
ready-to-install
kitchen cabinets,
accessories and trim moldings available today, it's possible to create an island
that will be just right for your kitchen, at less cost than if you turned to a
custom cabinetmaker.
If you are planning a kitchen
remodel that will include an island, consider these tips:
- Most importantly, there should
be sufficient space between the island and other work surfaces to allow for
opening cabinet and appliance doors, and for two people to work without
jostling one another.
- Depending on your specific
needs, the island can be located so it functions as an integral part of the
work area. It can also serve as a divider between the kitchen and the family
room.
- Adding an island permits a
reconfiguration of the classic "work triangle" of refrigerator,
cooktop and sink,
because it is an ideal place to relocate either the cooktop or the main
sink, or to install a second sink as the focal point of a second work
triangle.
- If the cooktop will be located
in the island, with a wall oven elsewhere, consider pull-out trays or
drawers below the cooktop to store pots and pans. If the island will be a
second work station with a prep sink for cleaning veggies and the like, NKBA
suggests including a pull-out wastebasket in the kitchen cabinets below.
- Be sure to plan for the
mechanicals necessary for the locating the cooktop or sink in the center of
the room. For the sink you'll need supply and drain lines, and for the
cooktop a ventilation system-either an overhead unit or a downdraft model.
Both the plumbing
and downdraft unit will require breaking through the floor. That's fine if
you have a basement or a crawl space beneath, but could present problems if
the room is on a slab.
- If your island will separate the
kitchen and family room, it can become a multi-purpose unit that shows a
different face to the family room. The use of shallow, glass-fronted doors
can be used as display space, while the kitchen side uses standard-depth
base
kitchen cabinets for no-nonsense storage. The generous countertop is ideal for
staging a buffet.
- And finally, don't forget about
adequate lighting.
Without it, the island will lose much of its functional appeal.
From The National
Kitchen and Bath Association
Kitchen Cabinet Depot
Sales/Customer Service 866-272-3176 toll free
Fax 877-847-8552 toll free fax
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