Every year, designers come up with something new, offering owners of apartments and houses interesting variations in space arrangement. Relatively recently, there has been a trend to add a new and convenient element to the kitchen room - a kitchen island, the size of which directly depends on the dimensions of the room.
What is a kitchen island
Under this mysterious name lies a large functional area placed in the center of the kitchen. If desired, it can be equipped with all necessary appliances, have a work surface, and also serve as a dining table.
The idea was borrowed from restaurants where the chef is required to prepare a dish not only tasty, but also quickly. Combining in one place a cutting table, an oven, a sink and a compartment for storing dishes and products helps a lot with this. As a result, a small kitchen area is used rationally, and the cook does nothave to run from one zone to another.
In an ordinary home where the kitchen is small, the kitchen island is designed to solve the main problem - to make the space more ergonomic. For very small rooms, this option is not suitable, it is advisable to use it for those who have at their disposal a kitchen of 18–20 square meters. Particular attention should be paid to the shape and size of the kitchen island when planning.
What makes him so good
Previously, we could only see this element of the kitchen in American films and in ultra-modern celebrity interiors. The island in the kitchen set is assigned the role of a working area with a stove, sink and cutting surface. And also with the modest dimensions of the room, it can be equipped with a dining area. It, as a rule, is an additional countertop in the form of a bar counter. The lower part of the kitchen island can accommodate storage cabinets, a small wine section and a built-in oven.
Benefits
Depending on the size, the kitchen island has the following advantages:
- Increasing the working surface. Due to the fact that the central part of the kitchen is being filled, which is empty with a standard layout, about 25% is added to the working area of the table.
- Functionality. The design features of the island allow you to build in it all the necessary household appliances, equip the area for cooking and washing. And also, with appropriate dimensions, a kitchen island with a diningzone can be combined.
- Capacity. With the right design, additional storage compartments appear.
- Aesthetics. The kitchen with the island looks spectacular and well-groomed, everything is in its place. In addition, this element becomes the main accent of the interior, a kind of highlight.
- Zoning space. In studio spaces or if the kitchen and dining room are located together, the kitchen island will visually delimit the functional areas.
- Possibility of collective cooking. Thanks to the functionality and the right shape, several people can cook at the same table at the same time.
Dimensions
The main parameter when choosing a kitchen island is the size of the room for which it is selected. The standard size with a table top is 180 x 90 cm, height is 100 cm, the minimum allowable values are 120 x 90 cm, height is 85 cm. Height parameters are considered variable, they are usually selected according to the size of the working surface of the main headset. But the size of the bar counter with a kitchen island may differ, it is possible that the first one is slightly higher.
Depth is also a modifiable parameter. In this case, it is important that the hostess can freely reach the items located on the opposite side of the table. But the width depends on how much space remains after the arrangement of the main kitchen furniture.
In large rooms there are no restrictions, but in a cramped kitchenthe rule is observed - the distance between the island and another piece of furniture is at least one and a half meters. Otherwise, it will be difficult to move around and inconvenient to cook.
Shape
The shape of the main table determines how harmoniously the kitchen island will look in the interior. There is a large selection in stores, and the island can be made to order in individual sizes and in the desired shape:
- Multilevel system. If the kitchen is quite small and the island can hardly fit there, then it makes sense to abandon the traditional dining table and eat right behind it. This is a common solution for small spaces, so you can save space. If you make a kitchen island with a dining table smaller than the standard size, then due to the working area it will still be roomy. However, in this case, most often they make a two-level surface that hides the dining part from prying eyes.
- U-shaped design. This is a more ergonomic option, in which everything you need is at arm's length. The U-shaped model of the kitchen island almost completely replaces the standard set, in addition, you can only hang a few shelves on the wall. All other necessary elements fit into one design.
- L-shaped element. Another option for successfully combining a kitchen island with a dining area. In this design, the island kitchen remains behind the people sitting at the table - the long corner cabinet becomes the back of the sofa, and in front of itthe table is set.
- Mobile island. A kitchen element on wheels is an original solution for those who dream of a kitchen island, but the size of the room does not allow a full-fledged module to be placed there. This is also a fairly functional option with a work area and a built-in storage system, but it differs from the previous ones in that, if necessary, it can be moved to a corner or to the center of the kitchen. A mobile island kitchen table is much easier to find in a furniture store, while a stationary one is most often made to order.
Kitchen Island Design
Choosing the design of this element is not as difficult as it might seem at the very beginning. The main rule is that it should be in harmony with the headset and become its logical continuation. And the dimensions of the kitchen set with a pencil case and an island are calculated based only on the dimensions of the kitchen space. At the same time, it does not matter at all in which stylistic direction the room is decorated. The kitchen island looks great in both retro style and ultra-modern interiors, if it meets the requirements of the chosen direction.
Diy dining area arrangement
Great solution to connect the island and the eating area. There are two ways, each of which is as comfortable as possible and maintains an aesthetic appearance:
- Using layered surfaces. This method of zoning is very effective. Small household appliances are placed on one of the surfaces and a working area is equipped,the second is used exclusively for the absorption of food. The height of these surfaces should not differ much, just a few centimeters is enough.
- Kitchen island with a folding worktop, which, in the event of the arrival of guests, can play the role of a full-fledged dining table. When choosing this option, you must take care in advance of sufficient free space around furniture and accessories of excellent quality, it must withstand the weight of dishes and food.
Option with bar counter
"Beautiful, stylish and unusual design" - that's what people say when choosing an island with a bar counter for their kitchen. This is a great solution for those who are tired of traditional gatherings and are crazy about stylish cafes and carefree parties. This option assumes two levels: one is a standard height for cooking, the second is high, for sitting on bar stools.
Such a kitchen island is usually equipped with a sink and built-in oven, dish hanger and a massive hood. An island with a bar counter is ideal for loft-style rooms and those where the main idea is minimalism.
Integrated sink design
Followers of practicality prefer the option with a sink. This, of course, is very convenient - you can approach the sink from any side, and wash the products without moving far from the cutting area. If a stove is also built into the kitchen island, then the hostess receivesa fully equipped area located in the center of the room. But this can only be reproduced in large kitchens.
But this option also has disadvantages, they are related to the technical component. To equip such an island, it is necessary to transfer the sink, so the process will be accompanied by additional work: raising the floor level, laying pipes and ensuring the necessary slope of the drain pipe, installing a pump that ensures proper water circulation. All these actions are accompanied by considerable monetary expenses.
A room equipped with a kitchen island, the size of which is not so important, is a really great solution. This helps to facilitate the work of the hostess and make it more pleasant and comfortable. Therefore, if you have several meters of free space in stock, then you should definitely consider this possibility.
