An independent unit that complements the existing design, the kitchen island can become a “kitchen within a kitchen”, with its own lighting, surrounding stools, separate sink, tap, hob, oven and extractor hood.
From the Simplest to the Most Complex: Kitchen Islands
Kitchen islands range from practical, economical and mobile options to complex, expensive and fixed designs. Let us take a closer look at the most familiar solutions.
A kitchen island is primarily a food-preparation and storage unit that creates a focal point at the centre of the kitchen. Yet it is more than furniture: it is a place of connection. For families, couples or individuals who value socialising, an island is somewhere to gather, relax, cook, enjoy themselves, entertain and share a conversation.
Points to Consider When Planning a Kitchen Island
For convenient use, compost and pull-out waste bins should sit beneath or near the sink. A covered opening in the worktop lets you drop preparation waste directly into the bins and close the lid when it is not in use.
There must be enough clearance to open the dishwasher door comfortably.
Provide sufficient storage for washing-up liquid and other cleaning supplies.
Keep serving and preparation equipment within easy reach.
An electrical supply must be brought through the floor for small appliances or an oven.
Position the seating area away from the hob or sink.
If you are not integrating a sink or hob, make use of the space above the island with a suspended rack. Hooks can hold pans and utensils such as ladles and strainers. These racks can also be used for foods left to dry.
For a less cluttered alternative, suspend a two-tier shelf above the island and fill it with fragrant plants such as basil, trailing plants, books and vases.
Kitchen Island Types
Wheeled Serving Trolleys
Wheeled serving trolleys are chosen for preparing food away from the busy main kitchen rather than forming a prominent, permanent focal point. As portable units, they can be positioned wherever suitable. Their advantages are affordability and mobility. Their limitation is that they cannot accommodate sink or hob functions.
Small, Non-Mobile Kitchen Islands
Unlike serving trolleys, these models have the appearance of a true kitchen island and are also sold flat-packed. Without wheels, they sit firmly on the floor and match standard kitchen height, even if their furniture design or style differs from the rest of the room. Usually intended for small kitchens, these models measure no more than 120 x 50 cm. They cannot accommodate a sink, hob and extractor together, but they provide extra preparation and storage space. You may need to finish the top with a material suited to preparing and chopping food. If you are looking for the latest technology with exceptional durability and hygiene, nothing better has yet been made: T-One by Kale offers options for kitchen worktops, furniture and bathroom furniture. The T-One family is an innovative material with low water absorption, a focus on hygiene, non-combustibility, easy cleaning and long life, along with high resistance to scratching, staining, breakage, wear, UV rays and temperature changes. With its waterproof properties and resistance to scratching, wear and stains, T-One by Kale is an excellent choice for wet areas with abundant water, moisture and steam.
Fully Equipped Kitchen Islands
These models are designed entirely around function and offer at least as many solutions as the main kitchen: electricity, a sink, oven, hob, dishwasher and generous worktop space. Rectangular, elliptical or semicircular forms complement the kitchen’s shape and available area, with one section used for serving. Some islands have stepped worktops, with bar-height seating and an outward-projecting surface on the outer side. This arrangement conceals the preparation surface from outside.
