Here at Mulberry Kitchen Studios, we’ve been designing and installing elegant bespoke kitchens for over 45 years, and if there’s one feature we always get asked about, it’s the kitchen island. Kitchen islands are highly desirable, and if you’re in the process of redesigning your kitchen, you might just be wondering what all the fuss is about. To shed some light on why kitchen islands are so popular and to give you some great inspiration for your project, we’ve compiled a helpful list of kitchen island advantages and design tips.
Helping You Achieve A Great Layout
One of the most important factors to consider when designing a new kitchen is your layout. From creating a welcoming atmosphere to ensuring your kitchen is practical to use, your layout will have a dramatic impact on your room. However, finding the optimum arrangement to maximise your space and complement your lifestyle can be tricky.
An island can help bring appliances, worktops and storage within easy reach of the rest of your kitchen. Creating a boundary between different areas of your room can also help you establish a practical workflow, keeping kids and visitors from getting under your feet while you’re preparing food or drinks. Islands are great for breaking up larger kitchens and open-plan layouts; however, you should avoid trying to squeeze an island into a space that isn’t big enough. Peninsulas can make an excellent alternative for more compact kitchens.
Extra Stylish & Practical Storage
As the bustling heart of your home, the kitchen often provides a backdrop to much more than just cooking. And so, creating a stylish kitchen that’s a pleasure to relax and spend time in is a must. However, achieving a design that’s as wonderful to use as it to look at can be a challenge, and here at Mulberry Kitchen Studios, storage is always one of our client’s biggest concerns.
The fantastic extra storage offered by a kitchen island allows you to forgo some of your overhead cupboards in favour of a much more open and inviting design. Furthermore, a bespoke shelving alcove on the side of your island makes a lovely design feature, perfect for displaying books and ornaments. There are lots of different ways you can customise your island to create the practical and stylish storage you need.
Additional Worksurfaces For Food Prep & Appliances
The worktop space gained from a kitchen island can create a whole world of new design potential. You may find sacrificing counter space and introducing tall units in other areas of your kitchen allows you to achieve your ideal ratio of storage to worksurfaces. Kitchen islands also make a great place to position appliances like sinks and hobs, allowing you to create the perfect work triangle. If you’ve got plenty of room, you might even want to double up and add a small prep sink; the possibilities are endless.
Create A More Sociable Kitchen
One of the most endearing benefits of a kitchen island is its ability to transform your kitchen into an inviting, sociable space. A central island creates a wonderful hub around which family and friends will naturally gather, allowing you to chat and entertain your guests while making hosting look effortless. If you love sharing your home with visitors, you might want to enhance your island by adding bar stool seating. Casual kitchen island seating makes the ideal spot to perch for a laidback brunch or fabulous cocktails!
Great For Families
When it comes to family life, it can often feel like you need to be in two places at once, and with a kitchen island, you can. An island with seating makes a useful addition to a busy household. Whether the kids need a hand with their homework while you’re cooking dinner, or you could simply do with keeping an eye on them while you get on with something else, an island with seating offers a versatile solution. And what’s more, a spacious island is the ideal place for family baking sessions and snack times.
They Look Stunning!
Despite all their fantastic practical advantages, one feature that simply can’t be ignored is their stunning looks. Kitchen islands offer wonderful design potential, allowing you to introduce an accent colour or contrasting worktop as well as stylish accessories like bar stools and pendant lights. A beautiful bespoke island makes an impressive design statement and an elegant focal point to your room.
From enhancing the practical capabilities of your kitchen to transforming the look and feel of your space, a kitchen island could be just what you need to complete your design. If you would like more advice on introducing an island into your new kitchen plan, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team. You can give us a call on 01502 711210.