A kitchen island feature is created using a combination of cabinets generally placed centrally within the kitchen and is a great way to incorporate a social hub to the kitchen. Any number of features may be included, for example incorporating curved cabinets within the design to create a softer more organic look or wide drawer cabinets to create a more linear, contemporary feel.
When thinking about including an island feature in your new kitchen design, there are a number of factors to consider; the space within the kitchen and therefore the overall size of the island, how the kitchen and ultimately, the island will be used, and what if any appliances etc might be incorporated.
Island Examples
Space required for an island feature
It’s also important that careful consideration is given to the space required to accommodate the island. The depth (front to back) of our islands are either 600mm or 900mm (nominal), with the overall width being governed by the size of your room.
When planning your kitchen, you should be aware that an oversized island can make the kitchen appear small and cramped and the visual aesthetics aside, can make the everyday use of the kitchen impractical. As a general rule, we recommend that an island should be positioned a minimum of 900mm, and ideally 1200mm, from any adjacent base cabinets or walls.
Once you are happy with your island design, it’s a good idea to place masking tape on to the floor in the position of the island and ensure that the layout of the kitchen works within your requirements.
Planning the kitchen island feature
Some island designs may incorporate a sink/food preparation area and whilst this is a good practical feature, please remember that the island will be the main focal point of your kitchen and as such, your unwashed dishes may be on display for all to see!
Other designs might include a cooking zone with a gas or electric hob and, whilst this creates a real social atmosphere when cooking for friends and family please consider the safety implications of cooking with hot pans in such close proximity to your guests. It’s for this reason that we would always recommend that a 900mm deep island is used in this scenario.
If either of these features is required, or if you wish to incorporate a built in appliance, remember that all plumbing and electric work needs to be installed prior to the main kitchen installation commencing.
Creating the island feature
To create a 600mm deep island, all that is required is a standard base cabinet with a back panel fixed to back of the cabinet.
If a 900mm deep island is required, simply fit one of our reduced depth (300mm deep) cabinets to the back of a standard base cabinet.
The image below shows a basic unit layout of how a 900mm deep kitchen island would look. For a 600mm deep version, you would remove the reduced depth 300mm units and use a large end panel to get a clean finish to the back of it.
In case you were wondering, 560mm+300mm does = 860mm. The thicknesses of the doors on either side would give you a depth of 860mm + (2 x 20mm doors) = 900mm depth.
Island Inspiration
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