Kitchen - Islands
Other special features. Quartzite countertops. Marble mosaic tile backsplash laid in a herringbone pattern. Custom range hood. Hutch cabinet with patinated metal inserts. Zinc-topped dining table. Designer tip. “Work with prideful craftspeople,” Vincent says. “Find your tribe of local artists and engage them in the early start of the process. They know their scope of artistry and will help you elevate the vision and unique solution for your client.” Hood and metal hutch inserts: Raw Urth Designs
Other special features. Brass-and-glass shelving. Custom range hood. Designer tip. “Open shelves further lighten a kitchen and help it to feel more like the rest of the home — less bulky and more open,” Thornton says. “We also hid a dropped soffit above the cabinets and concealed the register with brass grates. It created a beautiful aesthetic and still allows airflow for heating and cooling in the home without any visible mechanicals.” “Uh-oh” moment. “Getting an island this large up an elevator was definitely something we thought about and planned ahead,” Thornton says. “It came in as sections. The top, the legs and the base were transported on top of the elevator cab and then assembled on-site. When the finely finished wood top is sitting on top of an elevator cab, I often hold my breath and pray.” Kitchen island fabrication: Lagormorph Design
6. Quartzite Is on the Rise Among natural stone surfaces, quartzite is gaining in popularity. It’s good for countertops, says Amy Oakley of the National Stone Institute. “The great thing about quartzite is it comes in so many colors, so a lot of it looks like marble, but it’s much stronger.” Silverwater quartzite was used for the island countertop in this room designed by The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn. Kitchen Counters: Quartzite Offers Strength and Beauty
Special considerations: Quartzite is a very heavy stone that requires professional installation by a licensed contractor. Looks vary from stone to stone, and since varieties often go by more than one name, make sure to examine and view each stone slab carefully. And consider asking for samples, says Robertson. “You can get a chunk of the stone from a fabricator and do the stain testing yourself at home. If you’re really concerned about what vinegar or lemon juice will do to the counter, try it out yourself.” More: 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials Browse all kitchen countertop guides Find licensed contractors near you
Maintenance: This varies depending on the type of quartzite you choose. There are varieties of quartzite that don’t have to be sealed every year, some that don’t have to be sealed at all and others that require regular sealing. Check with your stone fabricator for information on the quartzite of your choice. To keep your quartzite counters in top shape, clean up spills quickly and be careful with grease and acidic foods. You can use a damp, soft cloth to regularly clean the surface and use a mild spray disinfectant when needed. When in doubt, check with your stone fabricator for the best cleanser for your particular quartzite.
Advantages: “To me the greatest advantage is that it’s a beautiful stone with wonderful tone and variety,” says designer Sarah Robertson. “A vein-cut quartzite will have streaks that are very linear and have a contemporary vibe, while a cross-cut quartzite has diagonal lines with a more organic look to it.” Quartzite stands up to heat, but prolonged heat exposure can cause problems. Using trivets for hot pots and pans is a smart way to protect your quartzite counters. Disadvantages: While very strong, quartzite counters are costly and not indestructible. The quality of quartzite varies, and heavy use can cause etching, staining or scratching. Find a kitchen designer to help with your remodel
Concrete Think concrete is just for floors? Think again. Slightly edgier than other materials, concrete countertops have an industrial chic that fits right into a loft or adds interest to an otherwise traditional space. Pros: Concrete is extremely versatile: It can be cast in any shape and custom tinted any shade you wish. You easily can add unique inlays, such as glass fragments, rocks and shells. Concrete stands up well to heavy use, although it isn't as heat resistant as some other surfaces. Cons: Because it's porous, concrete will stain without frequent sealing. With time and settling, small cracks can develop. Concrete is extremely heavy and will need strong support beneath. Like stainless steel, its custom creation ups the price tag. Cost: $75 to $125 per square foot, installed
Stainless Steel Once found mostly in commercial kitchens, stainless steel has slipped into vogue within the past two decades. These countertops are custom made to fit your kitchen, so you're guaranteed a tailored look. Pros: There's a reason stainless steel is used in restaurants and other high-traffic kitchens: It's nearly indestructible, and it resists heat and bacteria. It also provides a very distinctive look that feels appropriate in contemporary and industrial-style kitchens. Cons: Fingerprints show and must be wiped off frequently, and stainless steel can also dent. It can be loud as pots, pans and dishware clang against the surface. Chemicals can affect its color and cause unwanted etching. Stainless steel is extremely expensive due to the custom fabrication. Cost: $65 to $125 per square foot, installed
Is it strong enough to span? Countertops are sometimes designed to span significant distances — over dishwashers, breakfast bars and desks, for example. Manufactured materials like quartz have specific maximum spans, but the fabricator may recommend a variety of solutions with stone, depending upon how large the unsupported portion is: a decorative corbel or other support; a concealed steel brace; or even a routed area under the stone for a steel or fiberglass rod. Your fabricator will help you determine how much support your counter needs.
The Aesthetic Element Another growing trend sees islands fulfilling more than just social or functional roles — aesthetics are becoming increasingly important. “In the future, we will see islands being made of different materials than the rest of the kitchen, so they will stand out as a design object, a beautiful icon of furniture design and quality,” Hornemann says. “The kitchen will change character and consist of more free-moving furniture of different materials and designs.”
. Wasted Space on a Kitchen Island Kitchen islands are great for increasing your prep and storage space but will work only if you have the room, Findlay says. If your kitchen is small, an island can be a waste of space. “Placing an island in the wrong spot is another recipe for disaster,” she says. “A poorly positioned island can obstruct the flow of traffic to and from the sink, refrigerator, stove and primary workstations, creating a bottleneck in your kitchen.” Solution: Choose an island only if your kitchen can accommodate it or specify a narrow one. Findlay suggests having about 40 inches on both sides of the island for good traffic flow. “Deciding how big or small your island unit should be will depend on what it needs to house and the proportions of your kitchen,” she says. “I would recommend a minimum width of [about 47 inches] for a kitchen island. But if you don’t plan on installing a sink or a stovetop in it, you could go as narrow as [about 24 inches] in width.
The island provides a nice transition between the great room space and the kitchen and can serve as a buffet when the drop-leaf table is serving a dinner group. The island is different from the rest of the cabinet in that it is painted gray and has a countertop of thick, leathered Fantasy Brown marble, which is harder than most marbles and is sometimes marketed as a quartzite. Perimeter countertops are leathered black granite.
Everest quartzite island
Quartzite?
8. Extra-Long With Dropped Baking Station Designer: Carol Hasler of Kitchen Village Location: Mount Prospect, Illinois Size: 328 square feet (30 square meters); 20½ by 16 feet Homeowners’ request. Bring back their 1960s ranch home’s original vibe but add modern conveniences. Island. The 130-by-45-inch island includes a quartzite countertop with a dropped pastry-rolling area at one end and seating for five at the other. “The daily functions were divided into school lunch prep, daily meal prep, pastry prep and informal family eating area and homework space,” designer Carol Hasler says. Other special features. “My favorite details in this kitchen are the midcentury modern touches that brought the original vibe back to this home,” Hasler says. “The pendant lighting, the island stools, the brushed-bronze decorative hardware and the wonderful wave tile really completed the project.” Designer tip. “I always recommend that clients pick their countertop material first before settling on a specific white paint for their cabinets, as it is much easier to find a paint color to blend or complement your countertop material than vice versa,” Hasler says. “Uh-oh” moment. “The 24 hours that we obs...
Big fat legs to support the overhang
Support for overhang.
Option for supporting the overhang.
Support for 2nd island with overhang on all sides. 4 Legs on one side. A wall on the other with leg at the ends.
Panels on island lower cabinetry on the side where there are no chairs. Also monochromatic cabinets & slab
Extension on island for lower seating
Island different color from cabinets
These cabinets are a cherry wood, so this picture will give you a good idea of how that might look. When picking out your own granite though, it's important to go to a stone yard to check out the slabs they have in person, especially when the pattern is this complex! Bring a sample of your cabinet finish with you to ensure that they look nice together. -Emily
The granite shown in this kitchen is an exotic stone called 'Betularie.' Other similar stones include Sienna Beige and Star Beach, or if you are looking for a more common and cost-effective stone in similar colors, Santa Cecilia and Giallo Ornamental are some great alternatives.
I am a big fan of stainless steel countertops and also as a backsplash. Great for cooking(doesn't dent, heat resistant, sanitary) It has as an amazing glow when there is lighting under cabinets. My choice for countertops!
Colors in walls, countertops, cabinetry, tile are connected in tones that vary just a bit for added textural interest. This look allows larger elements to read as a smaller scale than if otherwise designed, especially if cabinets were dark/countertops were light.
This creative kitchen in Ireland features an island that transitions into a curved banquette at one end. The other side of the island has a built-in wine refrigerator.
This English countryside cottage features original wood beams and posts that the designers used to integrate the new kitchen island.
A custom island made out of marble and wood makes for a sculptural showpiece in the center of this minimalist Australian kitchen.
Two salvaged wood beams bookend the curved island in this grand yet rustic Atlanta kitchen.
Brass accents play a starring role in this kitchen in Washington, D.C. A trio of CB2 Vapor stools sits beneath a marble-topped island with brass legs and a pair of glass-and-brass pendants.
The large overhang on all four sides of the island allows up to eight guests to dine in this contemporary Phoenix kitchen.
Space under the island to store stools
Beautiful and subtle pendant lights and island overhang with legs to facilitate seating
Curved island
Curved island
Seating at the head of the island
Very narrow island
Island & cabinet colors
Interesting leaf addition to island to be used as a table presumably.
Long / big Island like ours
Black and gold pendant light above islands to match platinum series black & gold range and faucet.
Beautiful black & gold pendant light option for kitchen island and/or powder room.
Smaller version of black & gold light for kitchen islands
White Kashmir granite countertop
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