10 Dos & Don'ts of Designing a Kitchen Island
Planning a new kitchen? Four design experts share 10 insider tips for designing a great-looking and practical island
Georgia Madden
8 January 2021
The kitchen is the heart of your home and a well-designed and functional island is key. We chatted with four kitchen-design experts to find out exactly how to achieve it.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautifully designed kitchen islands from the Houzz archives to fuel your design thinking.
We’ve accompanied this story with images of beautifully designed kitchen islands from the Houzz archives to fuel your design thinking.
1. Do choose a tough, easy-care benchtop material
Katherine Wallis, interior designer and director at Wallis Design says:
Kitchens are places of heavy traffic flow and productivity, so a good durable natural or reconstituted stone for the benchtop is crucial. You’ll also want it to be scratch-resistant and easy to clean – and the same goes for your joinery and skirting board materials.
Choosing good-quality fixtures such as sinks, tapware and handles is always a preference of ours as they get so much use and need to last.
Dreaming about a new kitchen? Find a kitchen-design expert on Houzz to help make it a reality
Katherine Wallis, interior designer and director at Wallis Design says:
Kitchens are places of heavy traffic flow and productivity, so a good durable natural or reconstituted stone for the benchtop is crucial. You’ll also want it to be scratch-resistant and easy to clean – and the same goes for your joinery and skirting board materials.
Choosing good-quality fixtures such as sinks, tapware and handles is always a preference of ours as they get so much use and need to last.
Dreaming about a new kitchen? Find a kitchen-design expert on Houzz to help make it a reality
2. Do get the proportions right
Getting the proportions of your island correct lets you work efficiency in the space and ensures that traffic flow is maintained.
Some key measurements to follow are:
Getting the proportions of your island correct lets you work efficiency in the space and ensures that traffic flow is maintained.
Some key measurements to follow are:
- You want a minimum clearance of 1,000 millimetres circulation space around the island.
- The overall height of the island should be between 920 and 940 millimetres.
- The minimum island width would ideally be 900 millimetres and length would be 1,200 millimetres.
- The benchtop should be between 20 and 80 millimetres thick.
- If you want to include bar stools around the island, you’ll need 300 millimetres of under-bench space.
Image: Tom Ferguson
3. Don’t forget to power outlets and appliances
Melonie Bayl-Smith, principal architect at Bijl Architecture says:
There’s nothing worse than a beautiful piece of stone ruined by ill-considered power outlet locations. Make sure power outlets and appliances are well-placed so they do not dominate the appearance of the island bench, are easily accessed and make the functionality of all sides of the island bench work really well.
Think about how both sides of the island can be ‘working’ sides and not just the ‘kitchen’ side of the bench. There’s nothing worse than a beautiful piece of stone ruined by ill-considered power outlet locations.
Think about what will be plugged in – it probably won’t just be hand mixers, but phone chargers, laptops and the like. A charging drawer for items such as these can be a smart inclusion.
3. Don’t forget to power outlets and appliances
Melonie Bayl-Smith, principal architect at Bijl Architecture says:
There’s nothing worse than a beautiful piece of stone ruined by ill-considered power outlet locations. Make sure power outlets and appliances are well-placed so they do not dominate the appearance of the island bench, are easily accessed and make the functionality of all sides of the island bench work really well.
Think about how both sides of the island can be ‘working’ sides and not just the ‘kitchen’ side of the bench. There’s nothing worse than a beautiful piece of stone ruined by ill-considered power outlet locations.
Think about what will be plugged in – it probably won’t just be hand mixers, but phone chargers, laptops and the like. A charging drawer for items such as these can be a smart inclusion.
Island benchtops can feature different heights to fulfil multiple functions
4. Do consider how you’ll use the island
If you like entertaining or eating everyday meals at a bench, then an island with more overhanging area and less cabinetry or storage underneath might be for you. Make sure you think about how you envisage using the bench both every day and on special occasions. We are very realistic with many clients who have families in pointing out that children will often sit at the bench and talk with parents, complete homework, use devices and eat (sometimes all at the same time) – I call this the ‘mission control’ island bench.
Think about whether the sitting area needs to be closer to the fridge and pantry – this is another way of managing who is walking in and out of the kitchen, and who can be kept on the outside edges of the island bench – for safety as well as to avoid overcrowding in the kitchen.
4. Do consider how you’ll use the island
If you like entertaining or eating everyday meals at a bench, then an island with more overhanging area and less cabinetry or storage underneath might be for you. Make sure you think about how you envisage using the bench both every day and on special occasions. We are very realistic with many clients who have families in pointing out that children will often sit at the bench and talk with parents, complete homework, use devices and eat (sometimes all at the same time) – I call this the ‘mission control’ island bench.
Think about whether the sitting area needs to be closer to the fridge and pantry – this is another way of managing who is walking in and out of the kitchen, and who can be kept on the outside edges of the island bench – for safety as well as to avoid overcrowding in the kitchen.
Some people like to drop down part of the island to table height (around 740 millimetres) rather than the standard 920-millimetre-high bench. This can work really well in some kitchens, but do be careful that you don’t inadvertently limit your storage and appliance options by having a really large table section on the island.
Browse more stunning images of Australian kitchens on Houzz
Browse more stunning images of Australian kitchens on Houzz
5. Do mix materials
Too many kitchens have enormous island benches that might provide a lot of bench space, but effectively take over the space and look like a big lump in the room. Using different materials can break down the scale of an island bench. But balance is key; too many materials and details start to look messy and fussy.
When you’re choosing materials and colours for your island, make sure they harmonise with any hues in the adjoining rooms.
Too many kitchens have enormous island benches that might provide a lot of bench space, but effectively take over the space and look like a big lump in the room. Using different materials can break down the scale of an island bench. But balance is key; too many materials and details start to look messy and fussy.
When you’re choosing materials and colours for your island, make sure they harmonise with any hues in the adjoining rooms.
6. Do make the island as long as possible without a join
Blake Riley, director at Blakes Of Sydney says:
Slabs of stone come in a range of lengths, but if your kitchen is big enough for one measuring around 3,000 millimetres x 900 millimetres, you’ll have the perfect-size island for preparing food and entertaining.
The maximum length of some brands and materials is 3,000 millimetres, so if you choose such a brand/material, keep the length at 3,000 millimetres or less, so the benchtop can be made in one piece without a join. Joins on islands are not aesthetically pleasing, so avoid this if you can.
A minimum width of 900 millimetres will enable you to have seating stools on the back side of the island, so your family and friends can sit up at the island to eat or marvel at your cooking!
Blake Riley, director at Blakes Of Sydney says:
Slabs of stone come in a range of lengths, but if your kitchen is big enough for one measuring around 3,000 millimetres x 900 millimetres, you’ll have the perfect-size island for preparing food and entertaining.
The maximum length of some brands and materials is 3,000 millimetres, so if you choose such a brand/material, keep the length at 3,000 millimetres or less, so the benchtop can be made in one piece without a join. Joins on islands are not aesthetically pleasing, so avoid this if you can.
A minimum width of 900 millimetres will enable you to have seating stools on the back side of the island, so your family and friends can sit up at the island to eat or marvel at your cooking!
7. Do integrate generous drawers…
For functionality purposes, it’s imperative to have your cutlery drawer on the island and potentially your bowls and plates too. This gives easy access to the important everyday items you usually use an island for, such as serving up food.
For functionality purposes, it’s imperative to have your cutlery drawer on the island and potentially your bowls and plates too. This gives easy access to the important everyday items you usually use an island for, such as serving up food.
…And a pull-out bin
Having your bin integrated into the island just below your work surface is another important functional element – it allows you to simply scrape the scraps straight into the rubbish.
It also helps you stay part of the action with family or friends when cleaning up the kitchen and helps keep your floor mess-free.
Having your bin integrated into the island just below your work surface is another important functional element – it allows you to simply scrape the scraps straight into the rubbish.
It also helps you stay part of the action with family or friends when cleaning up the kitchen and helps keep your floor mess-free.
8. Do prioritise functionality
Jenefer Gordon, principal designer at eat.bathe.live says:
Think about how you will be working in the space and include functional fittings and storage to suit. If this is going to be your main preparation area, include a minimum of 1,000 millimetres of clear bench space and easy access to knives and chopping boards. Also ensure that your bin and sink are close by.
Jenefer Gordon, principal designer at eat.bathe.live says:
Think about how you will be working in the space and include functional fittings and storage to suit. If this is going to be your main preparation area, include a minimum of 1,000 millimetres of clear bench space and easy access to knives and chopping boards. Also ensure that your bin and sink are close by.
A peninsula can work as effectively as a freestanding island benchtop when well-designed
9. Do consider alternatives if you haven’t got the room
An island bench that is too small will result in a cramped workspace, rendering it useless, so ensure you have enough space for it.
If you’re working with a smaller space, a better option may be a peninsula bench.
9. Do consider alternatives if you haven’t got the room
An island bench that is too small will result in a cramped workspace, rendering it useless, so ensure you have enough space for it.
If you’re working with a smaller space, a better option may be a peninsula bench.
10. Don’t be afraid to be bold
The island bench can be a great place to make a statement, so if you’re eyeing off some feature cladding or a bold benchtop surface then consider this your place to use it.
Your turn
What are your must-haves for a kitchen island? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Get more kitchen insights in Renovation Education: A Classic White Kitchen with Pretty Extras
The island bench can be a great place to make a statement, so if you’re eyeing off some feature cladding or a bold benchtop surface then consider this your place to use it.
Your turn
What are your must-haves for a kitchen island? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Get more kitchen insights in Renovation Education: A Classic White Kitchen with Pretty Extras
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I am in the middle of a remodel after living and mostly loving my relatively small kitchen for almost thirty years. I am going from a peninsula with a bar height counter and a cooktop to a storage and work surface island. Cooktop moved to a wall because I didn’t have space to create a safe zone around the cooktop ( and believe me, without a safe zone young children will find a way to touch or put something too close to the hot surface). The second reason we moved it was to have better venting with a hood. Overall I think I am losing some of the functionality I have been creating over the years but I will be creating some better traffic patterns. It is a tradeoff. I will miss standing at the bar to read my charging iPad, take care of personal business on the laptop while standing. I will even miss putting my hot cookie sheets on the bar. Now that is getting a big bang out of the 15 inch deep bar! And I will miss being able to hide many things behind the bar…stacks of recipe books, canisters, oils, S&P, rolling pin, etc. I now need to concentrate more fully on what I am cooking and cannot chat and entertain guests or I will burn something or forget to add ani gradient. It will be interesting to see how I adjust to these changes.
Vg for sockets, storage, cutlery drawers.
We are undergoing a remodel of the kitchen, dining room, addition and partially the living room.
The island we had was useless. Nobody sat there, it was small, storage minimal, and the cabinets couldn’t take much abuse.
The sink faced a wall, like the range. The cook’s back was always turned away and there was never enough space. My bowls would disappear into the upper reaches and I needed a ladder to retrieve them. Lighting was poor.
The new island now includes the sink, dishwasher, trash and recycling and microwave, plus drawer for utensils on one side. The other side includes space for dishes, glasses and anything to set the table. I did not set it up for seating since it abuts the dining room and a small seating area with a marble table for 4 to 6 to work on whatever. The range is on one end of the island where the sink used to be and the refrigerator remained where it was - now it is behind the sink and microwave. What is nice is that one can use the island to work and clean up easily, but also have the whole length of wall next to the refrigerator to work as well as next to the range.
The pantry is supposed to have pull out cabinets, though they have not arrived yet.
The addition, which was originally a small wasted space to us that included a closet pantry with poor ventilation, will now be the dining room with vaulted ceiling and lots of windows.
During Thanksgiving, we would end up in the living room with the tables clujjed together if all the family was here and people could not move around easily. Now, it will be easier to expand and include the space of the island, the work table that accommodates 4 to 6 as well as a drop leaf table that seats 9 plus the dining table that can seat up to 8.
There will also be a sofa that partially extends seating towards the kitchen for taller people. The furniture in the living room is Louis XV style side chairs and a settee and 2 easy chairs. The French furniture is for average height people (around 5’5”) and with an extended family who tower over me at 5’10” to 6’5”, seating for tall people is necessary. The easy chairs & sofa take the height into account. Hope is the vaulted ceiling will make it feel more open. The dining room chandelier (an iron chandelier which is painted white with green leaves and has little yellow lemons and 5 lights) is being repurposed to be hung from the 10 foot ceiling and had to be rewired (updated from its European wiring).
I can tell even without my furniture being back that the space is brighter. I know I am looking forward to this project finishing. It has been in the planning stages for a year and actual work since October. It could take another month or so to finish everything to include some overdue maintenance issues ( sump pump replacement, window washing, duct cleaning, exterior painting, return of furniture final interior paint, tiling, some yard work to minimize views from the street, completion of electrical, plumbing and so on).