Dos and Don’ts for your kitchen island design

        In most kitchens now a days, the island can be the heart of the entire kitchen, where families gather to have meals, and to share their daily stories.  Apart from their social function, islands should be designed and installed for a specific purpose.  Homeowners are now opting for a multi-functional island, equipped with sinks, cooktops and even bar fridges.

Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to designing your kitchen island:

Dos:

• Plan for electric: If you are planning on using your island as extra countertop space, having an outlet on either one, or both sides can assist in extending your space for your cooking needs.
• Design: It is always best for your island to match the style and theme of your kitchen, but playing it up with different colours to textures can make for a nice subtle pop.
• Design the right size island to fit your space: On one hand, an island that is too small for your space, won’t be functional. On the other, an island that is too large may cause interruption in the work flow of your kitchen.
• Docreate a kitchen that allows for more uses than just cooking. Other common areas include a computer work area, or a seating area apart from the eating table where children can do homework.

Don’ts

• Not enough storage: Homeowners can get caught up in the ideas of an island that they forget to allow room for storage to help make their island function more efficiently. Make sure to plan for organized storage, it can save you steps and make your island more functional and easier to use.
• Wider isn’t always better: islands that are too wide are a very common mistake. Islands that are too wide can prevent you from reaching the center of the island, which makes it more difficult to utilize all the space, or even properly clean your countertop.  Instead make sure your placement and function is based on the size and layout of your kitchen.
• Don’t sacrifice safety for aesthetics.
• Don’tassume a family has only one cook. In a lot of dual-income households, families participate in meal preparation, so individual work areas are important. This might mean including a second kitchen sink or a cooktop on an island away from the primary food preparation area.

Hopefully this list helps you prepare for your kitchen remodel and reminds you of the little things that can easily be forgotten! For any of your kitchen island needs make sure to call or visit Verbeek Kitchens and speak with one of our experienced designers today.

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