Island Kitchen

Island Kitchen - Increasingly Desirable

Island kitchen designs are especially desirable for most home buyers--one study estimated 80% of home buyers consider them so - and for good reasons.

Kitchen islands not only increase workspace and storage area but utilize open space in a way wall-bound cabinets and countertops can not.

Properly located, they help the designer achieve that very efficient 3-point arrangement of the sink, refrigerator, and stove by putting extra preparation and storage space in an open area rather than against the wall.

In large kitchens found in older homes and in open-space areas so common in contemporary homes, large islands are used to divide and separate the floor plan, and in small kitchens such as those found in apartments or summer cottages, a small island, particularly if it has wheels or is a cart, can augment the cooking area but be moved out of the way between meals.

A Focal Point Of Design And Activity

Experts in interior design know that kitchen islands provide a focal point in the overall design of the kitchen and in the family's activities, as well.

Available in styles that include Contemporary, Traditional, Rustic, Country, French or Spanish Country, European Chic, Avant Garde, and many other styles that might match or complement a kitchen's decor, islands create a natural gravity that attracts the eye and draws family and guests together.

Many designs feature drop-leaf or integral breakfast bars or eating areas that bring family and guests closer to the cook while keeping them safely apart, but all include features that speed the cooking, an essential requirement of modern life.

Cabinets, drawer, bins and shelves to store foods, cooking utensils, and serving amenities are common, as well as specialized features like wine racks and cooking surfaces.

Constructed of wood like Northern Maple, Red Oak, Yellow Birch, Beech, Cherry, and more exotic woods like Liptus, a plantation-grown species from South America, and topped with surfaces of Stainless Steel, Butcher Blocks, or stone like Granite and Marble, islands are an understandably popular way to enhance the kitchen's design and make modern life more convenient.