With perimeter counters on one side of the island:

25.5"counter depth + 36" (MINIMUM aisle width) + 27" (typical "narrow" island depth with 1-1/2" overhang on each side) + 36" (minimum aisle width on other side of island) = 10 feet 4-1/2 inches. If you wanted perimeter cabinets on both sides it would be 12 feet 6 inches. Minimum, with narrow aisles.

You would need more along the Length of the room unless you wanted a tiny 4 square foot island.

However, the real question is whether an island adds function in a small kitchen. In medium or large kitchens they bring work surfaces closer together while allowing circulation and multiple traffic patterns. In a small kitchen with a small island (2x4 or 2x5 would be the smallest useful island in a typical kitchen and this is really pushing the concept of useful)--this may not be big enough to put one of the actual functions on the island itself. Liking the "look" of an island may not be the best reason to have one.

I have a tiny island (18" x 36" cabinet with a 20" x38" top) but really it sits OUTSIDE my kitchen, and adds a psychological break, some secondary drop off space, and some drawers and a place for the garbage in a tiny kitchen that would otherwise lack these). It sits a bit in Front of the kitchen and separates it from the rest of a large (25'x 15' roughly, space.)

There have been a number of discussions on this forum about this very question. If you use the search at the bottom of the page you may be able to pull them up.

I had to finally dispense with the island in my kitchen, at least for the moment. My space is about 16' x 12', and we lost 3" off the 12' because we had to reframe the room after a plumbing problem. It just wasn't leaving enough room to walk around an island/open the dishwasher/range.

I might, later on add something similar to what was described above, since the far end of the room does not have any appliances in it; and if turned the other way would function more as a seating area - maybe I would make it more "L" shaped and I could get a small one in. But honestly - my kitchen now has plenty of cabinet space in it, and with the small table and chairs I have it's plenty functional. So I probably won't waste the money on creating one.

We considered this IKEA piece (see link) to use as an island for our kitchen. Its quite narrow and at $200 its not much of a risk. I have seen it in person and liked it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea sideboard

I second everything sayde says. My kitchen is about the size of hers. The island is certainly the most-used surface in the house; everything goes on there. I love it.

My kitchen is roughly 14' x 13' with an island that's about 27" x 52" with a plain top and cupboards for storage. My layout is U-shaped with sink on the left wall (as you're standing in the opening of the U looking into it), the stove at bottom of U, and refrig on the right wall. When we bought this house new about 18 years ago I said, "Great! an island!" What I've found is that the island creates traffic congestion. Aisle clearances are 30 1/2" between refrig (not CD) & island, 40 1/2" between stove & island, and 39 1/2" between sink & island. If I keep my kitchen configuration as is when I redo, I'm definitely taking the island out and putting in a peninsula. At this point the only way I can see keeping the island is if I take out the wall between the kitchen & dining room (refrigerator wall). I will say this island would work better if it was a good foot or so further from the stove.

Look at the island as not only what storage and function it will give you, but how it will affect traffic flow through your kitchen.

rhondamom3 - Palimpsest gave some great dimensional info. I don't know what you mean by "not large" - my kitchen is 12.5' x 15.5' which is not small but not large by some. It is an L shape and one of the short ends is mostly open to the dining room. We have a nice sized island (40" x 86".) We wanted wider walkways so we could walk by the open dishwasher and comfortably cook with the two of us, so one side is 38" and the other two 42" (fourth side open to dining.) My only complaint is we could have used a few more inches on the seating side, because the hall opens up to it, but it would just be to make it a bit more comfortable. We have three "boxes" with cabinets & drawers under the island it is open on three sides (with legs) - I think the openness of the island is one of the reasons it works in the space. I think a solid island this large would look too massive in my space, though it would "fit."

I figured that if the kitchen was a U shape, with a peninsula along transition to the dining room, the island would only be 50 inches the long way, almost a square that could have two narrow stools (we have three on long side and one on short.) At that point I would have had all the additional counter space and cabinets from the peninsula so I would probably have skipped the island. I hope this helps.

First, without actual dimensions and a layout, we cannot say one way or the other if it's feasible in your kitchen. In general, though, ask yourself...

• What will the island add? Will it add functional counterspace? Or is it just something you "want" b/c you like the look of islands?

Is your kitchen wide/long enough for adequate aisles around the island? If not, it can cause traffic congestion (like Flwrs_n_co discovered). This traffic congestion can be through traffic, traffic in work aisles, or space in the work aisles in general (room to work).
Will the aisles be wide enough to use your appliances (refrigerator door(s), open DW, etc.)?
Will the island be a "barrier island" (b/w the sink & refrigerator, b/w the range & refrigerator, or b/w the sink & range)? If it's a barrier, you will have to run around it to go to/from the zones it's between.
If you want seating, remember that you need room for the 15" overhang + 45" to 48" of aisle behind the island for both seats & traffic.

If there's another workspace or appliance(s) behind the island, you will need 48" to 54" for that aisle.

If it's a "dead end" area with no outlet and no appliances or workspace behind it, then 36" is probably all you need behind the island for people to squeeze past.

I also really wanted an island (w/seating) in my 11' wide kitchen, but I was lucky enough to find this site and have several honest folks here tell and show my how an island just wouldn't work b/c my kitchen was too narrow. I am very grateful to those people and I ended up with a kitchen (sans island) that's wonderful to work in! I never would have had that if I had insisted on an island. My DH & I still occasionally comment on how we're so glad we don't have an island!

I have a 10x16 kitchen. One side, 10x10 or so, will be an L kitchen; the other corner will house a 16" deep pantry and a small "island" that will be more of a space to house 2 stools to sit at and eat at. A better use of space than a table which gives you seating but no storage. Just another idea.

Is there a place where you can fit a peninsula instead of an island? I placed a small 48" peninsula connecting the dining room to the kitchen - enough for two small chairs. Chairs are back to dining room, facing kitchen. This satisfied my "itch" for counter seating within the kitchen - I love sitting there with my lap-top and coffee!!

I get it tho' some island's on this website are soooo gorgeous - I'd have loved one too!!