Kitchen Trends
Kitchen Trends
Top Ideabooks
How to Choose the Right Finish for New Kitchen CabinetsMaterial Pairings for Kitchens: 11 Combos Designers LovePerfect Pairings for Kitchens: 5 Combos NZ Design Experts LoveDesigning a New Kitchen? Find Your Dishwasher Sweet Spot
Appears in
Kitchens
Kitchens
Kitchens
Top Ideabooks
Renovation Insight: How to Choose a Kitchen DesignerA Good Fit: 10 Questions to Ask a Potential Kitchen Designer8 Dos and Don'ts for a Well-Functioning Butler's Pantry
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
Kitchen TrendsKitchen LayoutsKitchen RenovationsKitchen StylesKitchen FAQsKitchen Expert AdviceColourful KitchensKitchen SplashbacksKitchen CabinetsKitchen BenchtopsKitchen Island BenchesKitchen LightingKitchen Sinks
Kitchen Island Benches
Kitchen Island Benches
Top Ideabooks
Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island12 Tactics for Creating More Kitchen Bench Space10 Ways to Dress Up Your Kitchen Island
Appears in
Kitchens
Never thought you could fit an island in your narrow kitchen? Think again with inspiration from these clever designs!
Jennifer OttJanuary 23, 2017
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
More
Islands are workhorses in the kitchen. They offer an additional surface area, apart from the perimeter benchtops, that can be used for food prep, serving or as a place to perch and hang out with family and friends. Those with space-challenged kitchens often think there’s no way they can squeeze in an island, but you’d be surprised at just how compact you can go.
STEPHEN FLETCHER ARCHITECTS
Douglas Design Studio
The minimum width of a kitchen work aisle should be roughly 1000 millimetres for a single cook and 1280 millimetres for multiple cooks, to allow for adequate room to move. A walkway should be at least 900 millimetres wide. In a small kitchen, it can be tough to accommodate a standard-size island, which typically measures 600 to 1000 millimetres deep, and still have adequate space for aisles and walkways.
But there’s quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to the size and orientation of a kitchen island. It should be designed and placed to provide an additional surface without being in the way of crucial kitchen tasks. Many homeowners actually prefer a compact island because it allows for better flow – it’s easier to get around when moving from one area to another.
Of course, you don’t want to make the island so tiny that it’s no longer useful. The previous two islands are fairly skinny but still offer enough surface area to be useful for various kitchen tasks.
Shawn St.Peter Photography
It’s important to think about the function of your island. Do you need additional storage space at the base of the island? Can it be open, such as the island above, or do you need closed storage? If it’s going to be an open shelf, think about what you will store there, as it will take centre stage in your kitchen. Whatever is stored there could become a grease and dust collector unless it gets frequent use.
Gepetto
Or perhaps you need an island that serves as an in-kitchen hangout spot. Sure, you’re not going to serve a multi-course meal on an island like the one pictured here, but it’s the right size for a couple of people to sit, visit and enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. If you plan to set a stool or stools around the island, consider placing them so that the person seated doesn’t get in the way of the cook.
HOLAH Design + Architecture
Clearly, a narrow island is not going to be able to house a sink or a stovetop, but it can still be useful as a landing area when taking items out of the refrigerator or oven. In fact, for safety’s sake, if your kitchen lacks a surface next to your oven or stovetop, you may want to add a small island nearby so that you have a place to set hot things without having to walk too far.
KuDa Photography
An island needn’t be a fixed piece of cabinetry. This cool industrial-style kitchen features a free-standing cart as its island. Think about adding wheels so that you can move the island around the space as needed. Just be sure you can lock the wheels to keep your island from wandering off.
Beth Simmons Interior Design
Size your island to best fit the geometry of your space. If your kitchen is long and narrow, then you’ll want a long and narrow island. However, if your kitchen is more square-shaped, such as the one shown here, then an island that is similarly shaped will fit and function better.
Bethell Projects Ltd
Bigger isn’t always better. If your kitchen is a bustling space, I think giving yourself wider work aisles and a smaller island is preferable to cramming in an oversize island in a way that leaves you with uncomfortably narrow aisles and walkways.
TELL US
How have you squeezed a tiny island into your kitchen? Post and share a photo in the Comments.
