Although the kitchen island is the prerogativelarge kitchens, there are compact options for small spaces. What it looks like, what they are needed for, where to put them and what should be taken into account when installing them - all this in our review. The kitchen island is an additional work space in the kitchen, and it is usually located in the center of the room. In a modern interior, this is a very original and stylish solution.
What is a kitchen island
This is a compact headset that is independent ofmain furniture, located in the center of the kitchen. There are many variations when the kitchen island has a stove (electric or gas), a sink and cabinets. The kitchen island can also serve as a dining table. The set looks complete if a hood is installed above it. Stanislav Orekhov, interior designer: - A kitchen island is a very convenient and useful form of organizing space that can be used for cooking and as a bar counter. A kitchen island is convenient because it creates a correct working triangle: the hostess can take food from the refrigerator, put it on the island, wash, cut, and then send it to the hob. This arrangement allows you to place all functions within walking distance in order to significantly save time on cooking. Experienced housewives who love to cook will confirm that there is no such thing as an extra work surface in the kitchen, so the island is an excellent assistant in this matter. A stove with a hood, a work surface and a sink can be placed on the kitchen island. The island can also be used as a dining table in the format of a bar counter. Thus, you can refuse a full-fledged dining table and save space. But you need to provide legroom and arrange bar stools around the island.
What is convenient?
As you know, all items in the kitchen carrya certain load. What is the convenience of a kitchen island? It fits perfectly into the space, especially when the living room, dining room and kitchen are combined. In addition to being a dividing element between the zones, the hostess has the opportunity to cook and communicate with household members or guests at the same time. The convenience of such an idea is that you can approach the kitchen set from any side, everything is at hand, so the conversation can take place face to face. Elena Krylova, interior designer: - The kitchen island has long been an important attribute of a modern home. After all, such a layout of the kitchen space not only allows you to create an additional work surface, but also a functional place for storing kitchen utensils. You can place a sink, stove, hood, sockets for household appliances, hanging shelves and much more on it. Considering that we work with many famous customers, often cooking unusual dishes becomes their hobby and an opportunity to surprise guests. For example, this was the case when creating the interior design of an apartment for Bari Alibasov. The kitchen island became a kind of stage for him, where he, performing solo in front of guests, surprised them with his original recipes. With a standard kitchen layout, such a food show will not happen, so it is advisable to place the kitchen island in a room with an area of at least 15 square meters.
Stylish accent
Besides being functional, the kitchenisland and looks quite attractive. Various shapes, lighting and original design can make the island a beautiful and stylish accent of the kitchen.
What kitchen area is needed for such a set?
Of course, the more spacious the room, the easier it isinstall a kitchen island in it. However, there are still some limitations. It is recommended to place a kitchen island if the area of the room is not less than 15 square meters. Otherwise, it is better to use mobile options on wheels that are easy to move. Our opinion: - It is more convenient and functional to plan an island kitchen when its dimensions exceed 20 square meters. Therefore, combined options (kitchen plus dining room) are considered suitable for them. The smaller the area of the kitchen, the less functional the kitchen island will be. Irina Krivtsova, interior designer: - For rooms in small apartments, the arrangement of kitchen set elements is mostly the same. You can only swap kitchen appliances. Unfortunately, in a kitchen of less than 15 square meters, it is impractical to arrange an island, since the passages from the kitchen cabinets to the island should be at least 100 cm. Otherwise, the comfort of movement is lost. In more spacious rooms, the situation is different, the hostess needs to cover greater distances, so the concept of organizing the work area in such kitchens should be different. In combination with a bar counter, a kitchen island in large kitchens becomes even more practical and convenient. It also zones the room into "cooking" and dining areas. If you decide to build a hob into the kitchen island, then take care in advance to provide ventilation for the hood above it. If you arrange a sink, then also take care of the water supply and drainage of waste water.
Safety comes first
There is one more thing to consider when planninguse a kitchen unit with a sink or stove: all electrical and communications work must be done before installing the kitchen island. Safety should be taken care of. Therefore, all wires and contacts must be well insulated so that moisture does not get there. It is recommended to run the electrics not along the ceiling, but along the floor. It is better to use the services of a specialist. Our opinion: - Keep in mind that to run the communications, you will have to raise the floor a little. If you have high ceilings, then this is not a big deal.
What types of kitchen islands are there?
- Kitchen invisible island for a small kitchen
Very convenient and functional to usepull-out kitchen island in a small area. It is easy to install anywhere, and after cooking, accordingly, hide it in the kitchen set. Such compact options are also suitable for the role of a table. Mobile islands on wheels are an interesting and functional modern solution that can be chosen for any style.
- Bar counter-island
The bar counter is rarely used as a separatekitchen element. It is usually combined with open shelves, closed drawers. Or two-level options are made, when the work surface is lower and the bar counter is higher.
- Round or oval island
In terms of compactness and safety (no sharp corners), it is better to use a round or oval kitchen island. It does not look as massive as a rectangular or square one.
- Crescent-shaped headset
One of the convenient kitchen islands is considered to be a half-moon set. Thus, the outer part can be used as a dining area, and the inner part - as a work area.
- Kitchen island-buffet (chest of drawers)
The kitchen set in the form of a buffet is perfectfor placing dishes and storing various utensils. And the upper part is used as a regular tabletop. Island-showcases look beautiful, where tableware is visible through transparent doors. If space allows, it is better to turn such a buffet element in the direction of the entrance door.
- Transformer
It is known that a kitchen island “eats up” space.To somehow save space, choose compact transformer options. They are equipped so that the edges of the countertop fold or rise if necessary. Our opinion: - If you want to make the kitchen visually more spacious, choose a mini-counter island with a through bottom. The optimal width of kitchen islands, at which it is comfortable to cook, is considered to be 1-1.5 meters.
Stanislav Orekhov, interior designer:— The island can be 1,100 mm high (like a bar counter). In this case, it is convenient to dine behind it, but not to work. The island can be as high as the kitchen countertop — 850 mm. It will be convenient to cook behind such an island, and to sit, you should provide either a second, higher part — a second level, or one and a half bar stools. In order to design an ergonomic kitchen with an island, you need to provide for a passage around the island of at least 1,100-1,200 mm. As for the design, the island can become an accent and central element that will create the entire image of the kitchen.
iemo.jp, makeover.nl, decosfree.com, pinterest.com, some photos provided by Svetlana Kotlukova
