What should I have on my kitchen island?
Kitchens islands have been around in one form or another for many years but in recent times its had a bit of an upgrade. That’s to do with the advancement in appliance technologies like downdraft extractors but also the developing function of what a kitchen is. Originally just a place to make food, tucked into a backroom out of sight, kitchens have now become a focal point of the home. The social hub and the island is the main component of that. So in this blog were going to give you a few pointers of features to include on your kitchen island.
Hob (downdraft)
Over the past few years this new technology has grown from a small niche to a widely adopted practice. With its ability to remove an overhead extractor from the equation many people opt to have this applaince on their island without the consequence of and ceiling hung extractor fan. Its important to note that yoiull need to discuss with your builder and architect if youre able to have this in your project before constaulting the kitchen company about it. The ducting will need to be run under the flooring to the exterior of the building. This is normally achievable in the event of larger scale building project like a full renovation, new build or an extension but may prove to be hard to implement if its just a new kitchen renovation.
Manufacturers:
Siemens - https://www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com/uk/
Bora (Gas/Induction downdraft) - https://www.bora.com/en-gb
Elica (Gas downdraft) - https://www.elica.com/GB-en
Breakfast Bar
Probably like the most common of all. Breakfast bars help with the social fabric of the home whilst offering a seamless design. Normally the bar is formed via a worktop overhang (270-350mm) to allow enough room for knees. To hide the overhang and make the island feel more complete in its aesthetic its popular to use a stone waterfall detail on the side of the island linking in with the worktop. Additionally you can use a different material with a different thickness to the main worktop like a 40mm wooden section to bring some more contrasting textures to the space.
Wine Cooler
Wine coolers are used to further enhance the social feel to the island/kitchen space. Primarily found on the breakfast bar side or maybe on the side of the island if space permits. This is because you want it to be closer to the social areas of the house like the living room and any other areas that are in close proximity to the kitchen. We try to keep the wine cooler as far from the working areas as possible, this is to avoid crossed paths whilst someone is preparing food.
Wine coolers tend to come 300mm and 600mm wide. The price difference is not drastic so the decision tends to come down to the space available.
Suppliers:
Siemens - https://www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com/uk/
Pop-Up/ Swivel Sockets
A great way to discreetly put a power supply on the island space. Depending on the brand/product the worktop will sit on the lid of the pop-up sockets to create a more seamless feel without unattractive electrical devices on the worktop. The pop-up sockets are counter weighted, this means we a gentle push, the pop-up socket will spring up slowly. When you’re done using the socket you can just gentle push down and it will click into place. For the swivel sockets its the same practice but you will not have the option to have a stone worktop attached to the lid.
These devices are a handy addition and we think its worth it for those of us that work from home or like to help the kids with their homework in the evening whilst you prepare the meals etc. Your kitchen designer will recommend if they feel like your lifestyle suggests the need for it.
Suppliers:
Deep Drawers & Cutlery Insert
If your cooking area is located on the island we would suggest you put extra deep (710mm deep) pots and pans drawer there. This will allow you to get quick and easy access to these items whilst cooking.
Bottle Storage
Same as above. If the cooking is on the island you’ll want to keep your olive oil, salt & pepper etc off the worktop. Especially if you have a breakfast bar as this will make the space less enjoyable and ultimately will end up with people not using it for is desired purpose. We have a base unit (W.150 - W.300mm) with a pull-out mechanism to tackle this issue.
Spice Insert
Another great addition to the island to stop a cluttered worksurface. We tend to locate this in the unit directly under the hob for easy access. The insert lays the spice jars at a slight incline so you can see the label name.