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Gain Space With Clever Designed Kitchen Islands
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Author: Guy Morris
Topic: Other
Viewed: 57 time(s)
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Kitchen islands are among the most popular items in kitchen
remodelling projects. They offer versatility in style and
function. People often add them as part of an overall refacing
project. You can choose to blend the island with your
countertops and cabinetry or choose a granite island with wood
or laminate surfaces.
Kitchen islands are available in a variety of colors, sizes and
materials to suit any home d?cor. Choose contemporary, country
homestyle or summer kitchen styles. Look through catalogs and
home decorating magazines to see the options and unique designs
available. Make notes of what you like and features you need in
your island.
Adding Kitchen Islands
You can add an island easily, if you have enough room. Look at
several islands and get the exact dimensions of the ones you
like best. Measure your kitchen; you will need to leave between
forty two and forty eight inches of space around the entire
island. You want to make sure you can open your refrigerator,
oven and dishwasher easily.
To get the feel for how much space an island will take up, try a
little experiment. Find a piece of furniture in your home that
is about the size and dimensions of your island. Move this
furniture into the kitchen and place it where want the island to
be located. Keep it there for about a week or so to help you
decide if you can live with it. If it's too large, look for a
model with smaller dimensions. Experiment with a few different
sizes to find the one that feels right.
There are no rules governing the height. It's a matter of
preference and function. You need to decide what the area will
be used for to determine how high to make the counter. If you
will be cooking, preparing food or using a built in sink, make
the height even with your other kitchen cabinets. Choose a lower
height for seating with tables, or a higher counter for stool
type seating.
Utilizing kitchen islands the clever way
Consider how you will use the island. Do you need more storage
space? Think about your lifestyle and what you will You have
several choices for cooking, preparing food, clean up and
storage.
+ For storage space, islands can be made to match existing
kitchen cabinets and counter tops. Cabinets, drawers or a
combination of both can be used to maximize storage space.
+ Adding bookshelves to the end creates a great place to display
your cookbook collection. Add a few collectibles to the shelves
for a more personalized look.
+ Wine lovers sometimes choose to add a wine rack in place of
shelves.
+ Cooking space can be built into the top of an island, saving
space above the oven. This is a great option for kitchens with a
double oven.
+ Consider how you will use the top when choosing counters. A
built in butcher block or cutting surface is great if you spend
a lot of time preparing food. This helps you avoid cuts and
nicks on the surface of your counter.
+ If you like to bake, consider marble. You can prepare and roll
out your dough right on the surface without sticking.
+ An island can be used for seating area. Adjust the height
lower for table type seating or raise it higher for barstools.
Allow about two feet of space per person for comfort.
+ Sinks and appliances, such as dishwashers and trash compactors
can be added to an island in place of cabinets.
+ Have an electrical outlet added to one side. This is great for
cooking with small appliances like electric mixers or blenders.
Portable Islands
A portable island gives you additional countertop area when you
need it. These are a great alternative for smaller kitchens. You
can purchase one unassembled and put it together yourself
easily. Portables usually are on wheels, allowing you to move it
out of the way when you need extra space.
You can purchase a moving island with a cabinet for storage
space, or get one that looks like a taller table. A built in
cutting board surface gives you additional space for cutting
vegetables and preparing food. The most common materials used
for the top are steel, tile and wood.
About the author:
Guy Morris is author and designer of the
http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com internetsite. Guy is
helping people finding the best solutions on kitchen islands (
http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com/kitchen-islands.html ) and
designs.
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