Are Kitchen Islands Done?

ProSource Wholesale | 4/17/2024

Tricks of the Trade is an article series dedicated to providing answers to commonly asked questions. The interviews are conducted with ProSource Wholesale® trade professional members, looking to offer their insights and experience to these thoughts that arise during the building or remodeling process.

Sandra Taylor is the owner of Taylor’d Designs and an interior designer member at ProSource of The Inland Empire (CA). 

 

Kitchen islands are not going away and are here to stay.

While there are certain types of islands may longer be popular, it does not mean that the vast majority of my clients do not want kitchen islands. For example, the two-tier island was popular at one time, because it was a way to hide the clutter behind where people are sitting to eat.

 

 

Not only has the two-tier kitchen island declined, kitchens with this particular island trend are those now being remodeled, requesting to have that type of island replaced with a single surface island that visually opens up the space.

The reason why there might be any type of decline in kitchen islands all goes back to client preference and functionality.

Select Disadvantages to a Kitchen Island

Because of their size and use in a given room, kitchen islands may not be as conducive to areas where a family discussion can occur, making them less attractive in a kitchen.

Some have also had issues with kitchen islands as a space for dining. If everyone is sitting in a row, it’s not as easy to have an interactive conversation. With specific islands in spacious kitchens with abundant traffic flow, high-top seating at the kitchen island isn’t as widely conducive to cross-conversation dining as they might like.

If a home does not have a kitchen island, it can be costly adding one, especially if adding cabinetry and appliances to it. That means additional construction, electrical, and plumbing work.

For kitchen islands, it’s all about client preference. What does the homeowner see as the value for the island? Those clients seeking more efficient storage options or more seating will choose kitchen islands, while those looking for formal dining and smaller kitchens may not, opting for a more traditional option in the dining room.

Benefits of a Kitchen Island

Islands are a great source for additional countertop space. By having an island, there is more open space to prepare meals, and it can even use it as a buffet for family-style dining. Many people lay the food out on the island and have their party guests go through with a plate, serving themselves.

If conversation across the line of chairs isn’t the focus, then islands with limited seating can provide a more relaxed dining experience. It’s also great if there’s a person cooking and moving around the kitchen. They can maintain conversation or assist a child with homework without stopping what they’re doing.

Many clients look to kitchen islands for storage solutions as well. Whether it is shelving built into the island to store books or cabinets to store pots and pans, there are so many opportunities to clear the clutter when choosing a kitchen island for the home.

Appliance placement has become increasingly popular, building these features into kitchen islands. Putting appliances, like a microwave or wine fridge into an island does not take any additional floor or surface space that would have otherwise been used.

Many islands also have had prep sinks for cooking purposes. Clients like to rinse their vegetables in that sink and use the main sink over a window for its dishwashing and garbage disposal capabilities.

From a design perspective, kitchen islands function as a room divider. Before kitchen islands became popular, the room had walls that separated the dining room from the kitchen from the family room. Now, by having an open concept with no walls, the island helps manage traffic flow.

Considering a Kitchen Peninsula

Kitchen peninsulas also gained popularity at one point. The initial thought was that it would help with traffic flow and increase countertop space, but as the years have gone by, the number of clients requesting peninsulas has decreased. 

Homeowners have found that it doesn’t help with traffic flow, and it takes up space in the kitchen. They’re basically surrounded by four walls, and even though the peninsula is smaller, often, it takes up more space than an island.

Addressing Concerns with a Kitchen Island

With space in the kitchen being at a premium, there are certain changes needed, in order to address the concerns that clients may have. For example, this may include drastic measures like  decreasing the size of their kitchen island during a remodel. Large kitchen islands are all the rage right now, and with the size of that client’s particular kitchen, they required a smaller kitchen island that took up less space without giving up their seating that backed up toward the stove.

Many of the instances where the island impacts the overall design of the kitchen is related to the narrow nature of the room. In those instances, it may require making the island mobile, putting it on wheels. That way, the island can be pushed to a side of the room, just as easily as its ability to function in the middle of the space.

Most clients see a kitchen island as necessary to the room. If the island is missing, some walk into the room with the same level of concern that they would if the stove or refrigerator was missing.

What clients have shown over the last few years is that from a functional perspective, islands have become an important component to the kitchen design for its storage properties and informal dining capabilities. With open concept homes, formal dining rooms have faded away, making the relaxed nature of kitchen island seating more and more attractive to homeowners.

Choosing a Kitchen Island

For homeowners considering a kitchen island, they have to look at the space, and create a plan. Whether the kitchen island is permanent or movable, the size of it needs to be chosen to fit within the given space.

When size is considered, homeowners need to think about how they may use the kitchen island. Functionality is vital. If a homeowner says, “I currently don’t have enough counter space,” then an island is an option that addresses that very need.

If a kitchen island is being chosen purely for aesthetic reasons, functionality still needs to be figured out. Is it just going to be a big piece of furniture that’s in the way? Determining functionality can help figure out adding storage and adding appliances like a microwave drawer, wine fridge, and other customizable options.

Homeowners that want to add a kitchen island or change their existing island by making it larger or different must budget for these changes. This goes beyond the price of the island itself and also includes the appliances, the electrical work, and the plumbing if the extra expense of a sink is going to be added to the design.

With so many variables across kitchen size, budget, and personal preference, the options involved with a kitchen island ultimately come down to client preference. Whether the island needs to be smaller for the space or is larger and trendy, client satisfaction is the priority.

Tagged: Cabinets Countertops Kitchen Dining