I love the look of an island cooktop. They are great!! the only consideration you will have to think about is venting. If you are doing a lot of canning, you will want a hood that is good about pulling the heat and steam out of the kitchen. A downdraft hood that is commonly used on islands is a poor performer for the most part. They make island hoods that would hang down from the ceiling, but would that look bother you?

I'd hesitate to put a cooktop in an island with seating across for safety reasons, unless it's a mighty deep or multi-leveled top. We come home and put the day's papers, mail and kid stuff on the island to be sorted, the kids hop up there for a snack, and often do homework there. I don't like adding flames to that mix! In addition the vent hood required for heavy duty cooking would be hovering over the island, and I prefer it on the wall out of the way. However, if you have your heart set on it, here's a photo from the FKB of a nice set up. The island is very large and the range has a high backsplash so there is plenty of room and separation from the flames.

Here is a link that might be useful: Island cooking

thanks ya'll - you have actually brought up the concerns i have with this idea.
venting is my main concern, it's a rather small house - i worried about over crowding it with a big vent in the middle. oh, and i figured if we did go with the stove, we would put it on a lower level than the sitting area...honestly, i do prefer the one on the wall... lol, i was just trying to fit another window into my kitchen!

well, what about having the sink located on the island... any opinions on that??

thanks for the input :) any other thoughts?

I like the idea of a sink there, especially if the counter is bi-level to disguise some of the mess. I tend to spend more time at the sink than at the stove, and putting it in the island would reduce the amount of time I have my back to the "crowd".

Sink is better, not ideal....but I would still make the overhang at least 18" to keep from splashing people sitting at the island. For a range/cooktop, I recommend a 24" overhang.

Even multi-level counter heights require the deeper overhang...for two reasons (1) water and grease/steam/heat still travel regardless of the multiple levels and (2) the overhang, especially w/the different height, has to be deep enough to accommodate a place setting...figure 12" dinner plate (assuming yours aren't one of the bigger ones now coming out) + glass + space around them (you don't want them teetering on the edge where one wrong move can spill/knock them over).

Also, make sure you have enough workspace around the sink. You will have at least 24" on the DW side, but I recommend at least 24" on one side and 36" on the other side. (If it were me, I'd rather have at least 36" on both sides.)

A note about multiple levels...they definitely take away from the large expanse of workspace that islands/peninsulas add. Instead of having 39" or more of depth (along with the available width) to spread projects out--whether school, baking, or canning--you have reduced your island to two separate, shallower areas....24" deep and 15"/18" deep. Of course, if your island is going to be too narrow to allow large projects and will only have room for the sink & DW, then this may not concern you.

BTW....some will tell you that all you need is 12" for bar height seating (6" above a normal counter) and that is true if we're talking about leg room, but realistically, 12" isn't much for doing anything more than leaning on the counter while visiting...not enough for homework, eating, projects (except very small projects). 12" also will not give you the safety zone needed if you have a range/cooktop or sink.

Personally, I would try for nothing more than a prep sink on the island...assuming you have the space in the kitchen. If not, then the sink is the better choice....sort of the lesser of two evils!

Oh, and don't forget a place for your trash & recyclables...I recommend a pullout either next to or very close to the sink (Trash + Sink + DW type of layout).

Here is a link that might be useful: Finished Kitchens Blog

My sister has one, and it's really very nice. It's a bit like gathering 'round a campfire.

But she rarely fries, even eggs. Has no kids, and the island doesn't front another room [personally wouldn't want a cooktop on the boundary with the dining or other room, where smoke and grease could migrate everywhere.

Her cooktop is by Jennaire, and they got it so they could grill steaks indoors. But it simply isn't powerful enough, and the cleanup is too much hassel. The vent could be better, and takes up all the space in the cab below.

Actually, it very rarely gets used as intended when there's an audience. They do steaks outside [even in winter], and a big boiling pasta pot isn't something you really want to sit by. Things like a quick shrimp sautee would be nice, but by the time you are cooking that, everyone has probably moved to the dining room.

For me, the bottomline is that its' a nice idea IF your island is at least 42 inches, doesn't front another room, and both the cooktop and vent are powerful enough to make cooking fun.

I had one. Every time I was cooking I had to be careful not to put anything by the pots.
And the grease falls all around, even on the floor.