An island is a wonderful addition to your kitchen since it allows you to increase your counter and storage space. You can easily eat there without having to ferry the food from the kitchen to the dining room, and you can even have cabinets installed to store any excess items you have or appliances you aren’t going to use in the meantime. Such perks are enough to convince most homeowners to install a kitchen island in their homes. However, there are some instances when mistakes are made when it comes to kitchen islands.
Not Thinking Through Its Purpose – Your kitchen island can fill a bevy of roles, such as storage, preparation, cooking, serving and washing up. Before designing, decide which of these rolls it will fulfill. Of course, that all depends on the island’s size; the larger it is, the more stations you can install in it like a stove, sink and dishwasher in one side. Decide your kitchen island’s purpose first during the design stage before you move onto the next steps.
Making It Too Large – You might think a large kitchen allows you to have a large island, but that’s not necessarily the case as a kitchen island that’s too large can still make your kitchen feel cramped. It’s also recommended that you don’t add an island at all if your kitchen is less than 13 feet wide.
Making It Too Small – In contrast to the aforementioned mistake, some homeowners also make their island too small. A kitchen island should also be at least two feet long to be useful, so keep that in mind when designing your kitchen island to avoid making it too small.
Obstructing Workflow – One of the mistakes you should avoid when installing a kitchen island is obstructing the working triangle in the kitchen, which is the path between the sink, stove and fridge. Obstructing this path cuts down on your efficiency in the kitchen, so keep the island far enough from it as possible.
Too Many Seats – One of the reasons homeowners have a kitchen island installed in their kitchen is the breakfast bar. However, one of the mistakes they make is adding too many seats in the bar, making the space cramped. When adding seats, make sure they have at least 24 inches of space between them so they don’t accidentally elbow one another during their meals.
Poor Lighting – If you’re doing your food preparation on the island, make sure there’s enough light to see what you’re doing. Pendant lights can be a great way of boosting light over your kitchen islands. Make them dimmable as well so it won’t be too bright when you eat.
For the best contractors in your home, turn to Nuss Construction Company for your remodeling needs. We are your number one provider of kitchen and bathroom remodeling services. Give us a call at (856) 988-9982, or fill out our contact form request a consultation. We serve homeowners in Cherry Hill and Moorestown, NJ, and other nearby areas.