Get More From Your Kitchen Island
by Kathryn Peltier
work harder for you with these examples
as inspiration
Many kitchen islands open directly into
another room. If you don’t require seating on that other side of your island,
it’s a great opportunity to make the island serve purposes other than cooking
and eating. When planning for an island, consider how it can be used to your
advantage, whether it’s incorporating additional display space, extra storage
or even strategically separating — or connecting — other spaces. Here’s how you
can make your island work harder for you.
Get More Display and
Storage
These open shelves wrap
around the island to create display space on two sides. This makes for a much
more eye-catching addition in an open floor plan. Can you imagine staring at
solid planes of material here? Meanwhile, a small countertop at the opposite
end still accommodates some island seating.
Although this island also has shelves below,
the real eye catcher is the ceiling-hung shelves, which create a bright, casual
cookware display. What a visual feast for diners!
Where seating is not required, think about
incorporating bookshelves along the length of your island — perfect for all
those cookbooks.
Full-height cabinets block
kitchen messes, provide storage and hold a TV here.
Get a Divider or Transition
A simple, narrow dividing wall, which seemingly arises from the island, partially hides the cooking area and creates a stunning art wall. Notice how the sculpture niche is finished to match the cabinetry, creating the transition from kitchen to the living-dining area.
A simple, narrow dividing wall, which seemingly arises from the island, partially hides the cooking area and creates a stunning art wall. Notice how the sculpture niche is finished to match the cabinetry, creating the transition from kitchen to the living-dining area.
This island does double duty with a working
kitchen side and a buffet dining side, but it doesn’t stop there: The
beautifully detailed end wall hides any mess and creates a lovely focal point.
In this very open space, the island ends in a
fabulous display area that looks like furniture. This concept blurs the line
between cooking and living areas.
Want to hide your dirty dishes but still
converse with the guests? Use meticulously detailed cabinetry as a horizontal
backdrop to your dining area — much more interesting than drywall. A narrow
continuation of the countertop even serves as a buffet space.
In the same space seen from the kitchen side,
small cabinets actually form the top of the dining “wall” and provide storage —
bonus!
Get Table Seating
In this kitchen a working island is paired with a built-in banquette, making an attractive, handy spot for dining. This would work equally well with a rectangular island.
In this kitchen a working island is paired with a built-in banquette, making an attractive, handy spot for dining. This would work equally well with a rectangular island.
Ease a Level Change
Many homes have a step or two from the kitchen to a living area, typically with a railing of some sort. Why not create a casual dining area as a buffer between the two instead, utilizing some great cabinetry?
Many homes have a step or two from the kitchen to a living area, typically with a railing of some sort. Why not create a casual dining area as a buffer between the two instead, utilizing some great cabinetry?
Need help creating an awesome island for your kitchen? Stop by Cabinet-S-Top (located at 1977 Medina Road, Medina, OH 44256 ~ 330.239.3630) we'd be glad to assist you. www.cabinet-s-top.com
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