Islands
Paradise islands need not necessarily be tropical.
When most people think of islands, they typically think of primitive tropical paradises, separated from civilization by ocean and sand. When we think of islands, we think of kitchens. And far from a barrier to modernity, kitchen islands are at the cutting edge of contemporary kitchen design.
Kitchen islands typically function as stand-alone platforms in the middle of the kitchen, creating more workspace in the kitchen while providing a partial physical separation from either the rest of the kitchen or from another room in the house.
In many homes a kitchen island is the ideal way to separate the kitchen from the living room. Kitchen islands are often designed with cook tops, sinks, and embedded appliances such as ovens and pull-out drawer refrigerators. While providing some physical separation from other parts of the kitchen or house, kitchen islands do not typically reach the ceiling, allowing people in the kitchen to observe or interact with people (or televisions) on the other side of the island.
Kitchen islands are also rising in popularity. According to a National Association of Homebuilders survey, approximately 80% of home buyers consider kitchen islands desirable or essential elements of their kitchen.
One exciting advance in kitchen island design is the “mobile” kitchen island. Akin to an aircraft carrier in the ocean, a mobile kitchen island can function as a base for your more elaborate kitchen operations, such as a large dinner party. A mobile kitchen island can be wheeled in where a more permanent kitchen island is not possible due to design or budget restrictions.
Other newer kitchen island ideas include granite-topped islands, and islands with furniture-like features as pilasters. As a more mundane but very practical consideration, many people install their kitchen island with electrical outlets, both for current appliances and anything that may be designed in the future.
And don’t think that kitchen islands are exclusively the domain of new homebuyers. Depending on budget and design, some owners of older homes with an awkward kitchen floor plan with limited space can also benefit from redesigning their kitchens with a kitchen island. Closed off kitchens have been transformed into more open looking kitchens by lowering existing walls half way to forms islands between the kitchen and nearby living space.
Kitchen islands can be designed to reflect the style and design of your kitchen, and can be made from the same variety of materials used in your kitchen. Ask the experts at Prestige Kitchen and Bath about which kitchen island options might be right for you.
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