Here are pics of my gas cooktop. It is centered on my large peninsula. I have a telescopic downdraft. So far I love it!

Sorry to flood you with pictures. I no longer have a camera, so I can't get a shot to show everything I want.

This is a picture at templating. The microwave goes in the open space at the middle bottom of the picture, and the counter above it is my prep space. It's actually quite a bit of prep space: 27" just across the microwave cabinet, plus some on each side, and about 36" in counter depth.

I included this picture as an overall and to show workspace on the left of the cooktop. There's 18.5" of space, and it's perfect. Big enough to set things and not worry about knocking them off the counter, but not so big that I try to repurpose it for prep. I've got an oil/bottles pull-out under there, and it's one of my favorite things in the new kitchen.

Finally, how it feels to be standing at an island cooktop with a big honking island hood: (I like it.)

Dimensions:

Bar = 92" x 18"
Island at widest = 87" x 36" (countertop - not cabinet - measurement)

Hth - I love having the cooktop in the island. Cate

The house I'm in now has a cooktop on the island. I didn't think that I would like it, but I really enjoy cooking on the island. However, I don't like the downdraft vent that came with it. It doesn't work that well at all. I wish I had a hood over it instead. I had to go with a slide in range in my new house, and I'm looking forward to having a hood.

Okay, I do love Cate's hood. I'm jumping between my thread and this one, and I'm glad I saw your pictures! That looks great!

We've got ours on a peninsula...I think I have about 2' on either side, but I only really use the space between the sink and range.

Cate1337 and Inersesion --

Would you mind telling me how high above the cooktop your vents are hung (that is, how far from the top of the cooktop to the bottom of the vent)?

Thanks.

let's see if I can post from kodakgallery?

I love island cooking and will do again at my new house.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

sw in austin - I'll have to check tonight for the measurements...the one thing with ours is that it is set back somewhat so that the front row of burners is only half covered by the vent. In some ways, this is great as my SO, who is 6-3, doesn't hit his head, but at the same time, I have to use the back row for stir frying or any heavy cooking...

Sw_in_Austin - My hood is 30" off the cooktop at its midpoint.

Fyi, if you have higher ceilings, like ours, you may need to buy a hood extension kit. It adds a few hundred dollars on to your cost.

Mrs. Andrews- Check out mine on the slideshow (arc1017). I have to be honest. I know you said that you're planning on downdraft..but FYI in case you do an updraft: The whole island hood has been such a fiasco. We have 8' ceilings and bought a best by broan hood. The placement at its max height was only 25" over cooking surface- bumping head and hating it...wanting tc cry, etc...so the only choice was to cut it. Totally misled by salesman, couldn't return it...I would just not do island cooking again because of this issue. In my next life I will be back to a wall range for sure. My sincere advice to you is to really do you HW with any ventilation in relation to you ceiling height, your height, and the look you want.

It appears you've already decided on an island cooktop...do you have children (or plan to) or grandchildren?

I strongly urge you to reconsider.

Here's a thread that discusses pros/cons about island placement... If after you read it you still want the cooktop in the island, then plan for a LARGE overhang if you have seating...at least 24" (more would be better) from the back of the downdraft/cooktop to at least offer some measure of protection to your children, guests, etc. If no seating, you will still need a decent overhang to protect people walking by. A 4' deep island will be at least allow that protection.

As to space on the sides, I've found that 24" is the bare minimum needed for a truly effective workspace on either side of the cooking surface...30" to 36" even better (at least on one side). If you have a cooktop on an island or near the end of a counter run w/no wall, I suggest the larger working surface where there's nothing to keep things from falling off the edge.

Sorry if I seem somewhat negative...but I feel very strongly that safety should far outweigh aesthetics/form. When it was suggested that the best placement for our cooktop was the peninsuala...we immediately nixed the idea b/c of safety reasons + the idea of a hood hanging from the ceiling blocking sight lines, etc was a turn off (and downdrafts, IME, are not particularly effective when needed most)

Function vs Form is more subjective...I've gone with both function first and form first on various elements of our kitchen...so I can see both sides.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thead: Range placement--wall or island?

Cate1337 -- thanks for the info about the vent height.

I have an induction cooktop in a one-level island. We have 2 small kids, aged 4 and 2, who sit on the other side of the island to eat their dinner. I can cook/prepare and face them and a large window behind them. We love this set-up and do not think it is unsafe.

The induction cooktop means that the cooktop does not get hot enough to burn, and it is out of reach of the kids (unless they climb onto the counter and crawl over to it, of course). They are close enough, though, to see what I am doing, and they can "chop" something to add (blunt knife!). I can give them a prep bowl to mix in, and they can see what is cooking, and how, on the cooktop. They are both interested in cooking (and eating!), and I've found it a really nice way to get them involved in both everyday meal prep and in baking/special recipes, etc.

I think with small kids, any kitchen set-up can be potentially unsafe. Its just a matter of determining the potential hazards in your own set-up and watching for these and making the kids aware of them too. In our last house (which had cooktop against a wall), when my little boy (then 2-3) wanted to help, he had to sit up on the counter between the cooktop and sink -- far less safe and not very comfortable for anyone.

Our island is about 4 ft deep by 6 ft wide. The cooktop has about 12-15 inches to the left and i think 30" to the right. There's about 2 ft of counter behind the cooktop. I do my prep on the island -- mostly in that 12-15" to left of cooktop (if I stand sideways, then I have 4ft wide by 12-15" deep!)

We have a no-name Italian island hood (Lux-Aire), which i got online for about $800. It seems to work OK, but its not quiet! I am vegetarian though, so I don't often cook meat/fish on the cooktop.

I'm linking to some pics below.

Here is a link that might be useful: island cooktop

I have used a downdraft electric cooktop in a 60" x 70" island for 19 years and love cooking on an island. Facing a wall while cooking just does not lend itself to the social interaction or viewing options that are possible when using an island. I accept the comments that downdraft systems are not nearly as powerful as a good updraft, however, that does not mean a good downdraft is not adequate for most cooking styles.

I am not a gourmet cook by any means, but my kitchen definitely gets a workout. Steaming pots of pasta, soups, searing meats, deep frying etc have all been well managed with my old downdraft. My cooktop will soon be replaced with an induction unit along with the telescoping downdraft system. I will be using Thermador brand which makes a 14 inch tall retractable vent. Certainly not comparable to the more powerful hood units but it does allow me to keep the visibility through my kitchen unobstructed by a large hood hanging over the island.

As far as safety issues are concerned, I believe if the island provides enough space around the cooktop there should not be any worries. My seating area is opposite the cooktop and has over 4 foot of island space in between. Using electric cooktops and induction in particular would seem to be desireable over an open flame if safety issues are paramount.

I know it is a matter of preference and cooking style, but I truly enjoy island cooking.

Wow! I was away for a few days and what a great response. Thank you all so much for your thoughtful details and for sharing your experiences/kitchens with me.

Luckily my island does not have seating. I'm glad you mentioned the safety issue though,buehl , because it'a good info. to pass along.

Coolmom- my island (in the plans) looks similar to yours but with no overhang, so that gives me a good idea of what it will look like.

BBL w/ more, gotta get the little ones!

Coolmom-oops just looked at yours again and realized its a peninsula. LOL

Thank you for all the great pics everyone. I just love this site and it helps so much in decision making. I'll make sure i have enough overhang for safety. Its very important to me.

Since we only have 8' ceilings, I wanted to do a downdraft rather than a hood since I dont want to obstruct the beautiful view into our yard.