Picture this: you invited your friends for dinner. Instead of being stuck in the kitchen while everyone mingles in the living room, you remain the center of action preparing delicacies on your beautiful kitchen island. You chat with your guests perched on the stylish bar stools. Does it sound appealing? Well, then you are not alone.
Over the past decade, kitchen islands have gained immense popularity. You can turn your kitchen island into everything right from your morning coffee station to an entertaining hub and a homework headquarters for your kids. Combined with storage, seating, cooking space and serious style points, your kitchen island stands as a carefully crafted package.
Are you ready to dive into the world of kitchen design with islands? We created the blog to help you explore the different types available, uncovering their game-changing benefits.
What is a Kitchen Island?
A kitchen island refers to a freestanding unit that helps in augmenting the functionality and aesthetics of your cooking area. Traditionally, this rectangular-shaped section acted as a breakfast counter. You can use it as an area for preparing your breakfast, use it as a storage or make it an important zone in your modular kitchen.
The best part of the feature is that you can access it from all sides. With an extra kitchen countertop space for meal preps, additional storage options and seating arrangements for casual dining and entertainment, your kitchen islands are excellent multitaskers. Varying in styles from small workstations to expansive units that include sinks, appliances and even complete cooking areas, the kitchen islands embrace the aesthetics and functionality of your kitchen.
Key Features of a Kitchen Island
Although aesthetically pleasing, your kitchen island offers more features than its appearance. Enlisted are some of the key features that you experience after introducing a kitchen island.
Built-in Appliances
Does your microwave oven and dishwasher block your way? Islands are the perfect place to keep them, allowing more space to your counter and improves the look of your kitchen. Your family members can heat the food or coffee without blocking the main kitchen space. Besides, prepping your meals on an island is easier as you will not need to move back and forth continuously, thus enhancing the kitchen triangle concept.
Storage Pull-outs
With a kitchen island, you get more space in your kitchen as you add extra cabinetry and drawers. The pull-out cabinets are one of the popular features that most homeowners love adding to their kitchen islands. The most favourite pull-out accessories include utensil pull-outs, spice cabinets and drawers and pegboard dividers, for seamless organization of bowls and pots. You can also add a trash pull-out, keeping your trash and recycling bins out of sight as it contains smells.
Beverage Cooler
Wishing to install a wine cooler or a beverage cooler? Your kitchen island is the perfect spot for installing it, allowing your guests and family to grab a drink without crowding the main traffic area. Besides, it creates a convenient space for easy access of drinks for those wine and charcuterie nights. Moreover, it’s the best place to store your juice boxes and snacks for your kids. Since the fridge is right at your kids’ level, they will not bother you every time they need a drink.
Popular Kitchen Island Design Ideas
Here’s a list of some of the trendy kitchen island types for various kitchen layout and sizes.
Movable Island with Countertop
These island tables come with wheels attached, helping you move them from one area to another. Made of wood or steel to make it light weight, it’s the best choice for your medium-sized kitchen. The best part of this type of island is that you can move it to other areas for storage.
Permanent or Fixed Kitchen Island
As the name suggests, the island counter remains fixed to a particular area of your kitchen. You cannot move it to your desired location while doing kitchen planning. You can customize its shape and size according to your choice and size of the room. Add some bar stools or island chairs as per your design.
Double-tiered Kitchen Island
Similar to the fixed or permanent kitchen island, the double-tiered has two levels of counters. The two tiers function as dividers. You can use the higher level as a wet bar and buffet table while you host dinner parties. The island serves a dual purpose- you can cook on the lower level and dine on the higher level.
Fully Functional Kitchen Island
With a fully functional kitchen island, you get everything present in a countertop- electrical space, kitchen sink, drainage and ample space. Besides, with a countertop overhang, you enjoy space for seated preparation work, in-kitchen dining and entertaining. Moreover, since the supply and drainage system does not tap into the main convenient plumbing line, there might be a rise in the cost of installation, thus increasing the total modular kitchen cost.
Rolling Kitchen Cart
Instead of a prominent or permanent feature, rolling carts are similar to portable prep areas that you can place at the side of the kitchen. The butcher block cart stands as one of the most popular and widely used types of rolling island. If you are looking for small kitchen island ideas, investing in a rolling cart is the best choice. Whether you have a small galley, a U-shaped or L-shaped kitchen layout, you can even lock the rolling carts in a central location on a semi-permanent basis and move it to an open space when required.
Kitchen Island Design Tips You Must Consider
Ideal Size of a Kitchen Island
Most Indian homes have modern and compact kitchens, making it difficult to include an island within the available space. When installing a kitchen island, ensure that it must not make your kitchen look cluttered. However, if you have sufficient space to use your kitchen area, create or choose a standard kitchen island with a dimension of 80 x 40 inches.
If you are living in a home with a spacious kitchen, adding an island is beneficial. You must adhere to the guidelines for your kitchen island size. Here are the essential guidelines and measurements, unlocking the secret to a well-sized island. It ensures you have enough space for movement and usability.
Width: Besides affecting your island’s functionality, its fit affects your kitchen’s floor space. if you have a small kitchen, choose an island with a width between 24 and 36 inches. An island with a with between 36 and 48 inches is perfect for a medium kitchen, a width between 48 and 72 inches is a good fit for a large kitchen and an island having a with or 72 and above is perfect for extra-large luxury kitchens.
Length: Selecting an island with a perfect length is vital. A small kitchen must have an island whose length is between 36 and 60 inches, while an island of length between 60 and 84 inches is a good fit for a medium kitchen. If you have a large kitchen opt for an island of a length between 84 and 108 inches and choose an island with a length of 108 inches and above for an extra-large kitchen.
| Kitchen Size | Island Width Range | Island Length Range |
| Small Kitchen | 24-36 inches | 36-60 inches |
| Medium Kitchen | 36-48 inches | 60-84 inches |
| Large Kitchen | 48-72 inches | 84-108 inches |
| Extra-large Kitchen | 72 inches and above | 108 inches and above |
Height: Another aspect that you must consider is the height of your kitchen island, as it plays an important role in functionality and comfort. If you are using your island as a work surface, a height between 36 and 38 inches is ideal. If you want to convert your island for seating and dining, consider one with a height between 28 and 30 inches. However, if you want a multi-functional island that will serve as a bar, select one with a height between 42 and 45 inches.
| Island Function | Standard Height Range |
| Work Surface | 36- 38 inches |
| Seating or Dining Surface | 28-30 inches |
| Multi-function (Bar) | 42-45 inches |
Space Required for a Kitchen Island
While implementing your kitchen design, you must follow the rules of the kitchen triangle. The kitchen triangle refers to the design concept that recommends the position of the three vital work areas- the sink, stove and refrigerator. Experts recommend positioning these items in a triangle manner. It minimizes the distance you require to travel to reach each zone, offering efficiency and comfort.
Distance between Kitchen Island and Counter
Within the work triangle, you need to consider other distances such as the distance of the islands and counters from the walls. Experts recommend leaving a distance between 42 and 48 inches between the perimeter countertops and your kitchen island. If you place your oven in the work isle, you must leave a clearance space of 48 inches.
Kitchen Walkway Spaces
You must also consider the walkway, where your family, friends and other guests will go through the kitchen. A walkway isn’t a part of the kitchen triangle because it’s not part of your working prep area. Ensure to leave a minimum width of at least 36 inches for a walkway.
Kitchen Bar Seating Spacing
The clearance recommendations are flexible and you can change them according to your needs. If you are having a breakfast bar or in-kitchen dining area, ensure that your chairs have a distance between 32 and 44 inches from the chair back to the counter or wall. If you have elderly at home and require accommodating a wheelchair, ensure that your kitchen as a clearance space of at least 60 inches.
Placement and Spacing of Dishwasher
Your sinks and dishwashers must be in close proximity as they shared drainage and water supply, making the space extra crowded.
- Distance between Sink and Dishwasher: The distance between the dishwasher and your adjacent sink must not extend beyond 36 inches.
- Distance between Dishwasher and Base Cabinets: The dishwasher should have a gap of at least 21 inches from its nearest cabinets and other obstructions
| Space | Distance (in inches) |
| Distance between island and counter | Minimum 42 inches or 48 inches for kitchen with 1+ cooks |
| Walkway space | Minimum 42 inches near a work area and 32 inches elsewhere |
| Dishwasher to sink | Maximum 36 inches |
| Kitchen bar seating | 32 to 44 inches, depending on the location and the amount of foot traffic nearby. |
Conclusion
If you are planning to invest in a kitchen island, remember, no one-size-fits-all. You must have clarity about your kitchen and kitchen islands. Therefore, before having a beautiful kitchen island, you must understand the purpose it serves in your house. You can consider the details provided above to design an island that perfectly fits and enhances your kitchen.
Brick & Bolt, a leading construction firm in India, deals with every aspect of your dream project from start to finish. Whether you are building a new kitchen or renovating an existing one by installing a kitchen island, the professionals associated with the organization will take care of it. With the firm, you no longer stress about contact with the suppliers or subcontractors. With Brick & Bolt’s technology driven platform, you enjoy real-time tracking, seamless and transparent communication and regular updates at every stage.
Apoorva H P Achar