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can i see your islands w/ baking center?

15 years ago

i'm trying to decide whether or not to put a baking center on the end of my island (i'm 5'2), and would like to see some examples. also i wonder if i should put the prep sink on the lower end or on the counter high side. the island is 4x7, and will be used mostly for work space but you will be able to pull stools up to the counter high side.

thanks for you input!

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Comments (10)

rnest44
15 years ago
Don't have an example b/c we are in the planning stage. Our island is 4x6 with 8" radius on one of the short ends. I'm 5' and we decided against it b/c I didn't want to break up all the lovely prep space into 2 heights.
I/ve seen a beautiful one on here by bluekitobessed just do a search at the bottom of the kitchen forum page 'Singel or Two Level' misspelling and all. Scroll through a bit.
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
I love my baking center! I'm 5'2" and it's a very comfortable place for me to not only bake but also do a lot of other tasks such as veggie chopping. Dimensions are 39" x 60" (smaller than yours) with no prep sink.

And here is a design tip: rather than have an electrical outlet in the countertop, I hid it on the vertical face and had a custom switchplate made. The outlet sits behind the food processors in the pic above. Here's a closeup.
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I sort of have that. To some extent it's about where you have room to store stuff. I have my mixer in the corner of my perimeter, right above the drawers with my staples (in canisters). My spices are on the far side of the baking area. There's an short counter between which is great for pouring a cake into a pan or whatever, on top of the drawers with my baking pans, rolling pin and pastry cloth, scoops, measuring spoons and dippers, scrapers and other utensils, etc. Above the mixer are mixer bowls and attachments, and glass measuring cups. So it's a nice, compact baking center. My island is just behind it, though, so if I'm rolling, shaping bread, or doing some other spread-out-y task, I have plenty of room. There's no reason the rolling pin, cookie cutters, etc., couldn't go in the island if there were room there. I LOVE having the staples right at the mixer, as well as the measurers, scrapers and all. The pastry cutter and mixing bowls are best where you have a lowered counter, if you'll have one. Mine are in the same bank of drawers mentioned above. The perimeter counter is slightly lower than the island too. The rest--pans and all--don't matter as much. My big baking board is around the other side of the island, and the cookie sheets are actually in the butler's pantry with the trays (though I could use the ones that came with my oven and are right by the baking area, over the ovens). It's the things that you're constantly reaching for that are really best right where you'll be using them. Interesting side note: I put my big, old mixing bowls in a baking drawer because I've always used them for that kind of thing, but I find myself recently using the steel bowl for making meatballs, and the Pyrex one for stuffing, and things like that, and I'm thinking of swapping them to the island prep area and moving the melamine bowls I have there to the baking area. Moral: You can only plan so much.
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bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
I think owls was posting at the same time as I was typing...thanks for the compliment! :)
rhome410
15 years ago
Our whole island is at a lower height for baking and prep (33"), including where the prep sink is. It would've been my preference, when planning, to have the sink at standard height if I could have, but I don't have any problem using it at the lower height. If you decide to do the 2 different heights, I'd put it in the higher part for 2 reasons...1)You work down in the sink, so putting it lower risks back discomfort, and 2) I wouldn't want to crowd the rolling/kneading space. If you're doing a small section like Bluekitobsessed, it's limited enough and I wouldn't want a sink to make it smaller. (I rolled out dough for cinnamon rolls this morning that would've taken her whole lowered section...Which means it's about the perfect size, but wouldn't be if there was a sink in it.)
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
Rhome is right (as always!) on the size issues. I don't have experience with prep sinks at all, but having one would seriously crowd a smallish space. When I'm baking (24/7 these days, it seems) I'm using every square inch of space.
gglks
15 years ago
mgkinz,

i don't have a baking center but my island is about the size of yours. i was going to put a prep sink in but decided not to since my main sink is just right behind it. just my opinion, but i'm glad i didn't. my island is really used for serving and hanging out around it with friends and family and i'm glad i have the extra space instead of a sink there.

if your main sink is close by, i would say you don't really need the prep sink. if it is more than a few steps away, that might be a different story....
bkinsey
Original Author
15 years ago
great imput everybody...rhome i never thought about working down in the sink, that would make it tough. that's why this forum is so great...you guys always point out things that i never even thought of.
thanks
rnest44
15 years ago
I found another kichen with a 2 level island. If you picture the eating area in njmomof2's kitchen as your baking area that might give you another idea. Go to the FKB and scroll through the last 25 kitchens section.

Slight hi-jack
rhome: I nixxed the shorter height counters due to cost but I am intrigued and like better the idea of a 34" tall island only. My planned sink is 7.5 deep plus the counter since it will be undermount. I'm 5' so do you think this would be okay? I love the thought of chopping veggies (thanks bluekit) at a lower height. Drawback would be the UC Miele (2nd) oven but it is less tall than most so would still have a drawer under it. That would drop 2" closer to floor.
rhome410
15 years ago
owls4me, That's about the depth of my prep sink, and I'm 5'3"+. I think you'll be fine, because I really am surprised that I don't have any problem with ours feeling too low. I wouldn't want a main and only sink at that height, but the prep sink works great. I love the lowered height for baking and for prep, so not only is my island shorter, but also the run of counters with my rangetop in it, and the counter where I use my mixer.

That is a little lower for your oven, but if you can still fit a drawer under it, it's probably higher than some of the ovens in gas ranges that I looked at.
rnest44
15 years ago
rhome: Thanks, I'll see what the cabinet maker can do for me.

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