Kitchen Layout - Can I have 2 islands?

13 years ago

I have been a longtime lurker and greatly value all the insight everyone's posted. I am working on my kitchen layout and really love the idea of having 2 islands. One island for cook-prep and the other for entertaining or for having the kids do homework while I'm cooking. I also want to have room for a small table and chairs for our everyday dinners/lunches. I don't think we'll want to eat at an island everyday. We are a family of 4.

I'm wondering if my kitchen is big enough to handle two islands + a table and chairs. What should the dimensions of the two islands be and how much space should go between. Will it be too tight a fit or look too strange? Advice? Other options?

I'm also looking for general feedback on the layout of the kitchen itself. In the pictures below the designer has a single island. You'll see that we're playing with its' orientation. Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Layout Pictures and Floorplan

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Comments (4)

User
13 years ago
You have room for 1 island and a small almost bisto sized table and chairs, or 2 small islands. I can't see where a second island or even the breakfast table will go that won't interfere with some traffic pattern through to the sunroom or family room. You don't have enough walls to have a true "nook". Maybe make the openings to the sunroom and family room smaller (but maybe with window passthroughs) so you have some wall space to anchor a table that will keep it out of the traffic flow.

Orienting the island parallel to the refrigerator wall/sink wall doesn't really leave you enough room to open the refrigerator or have passers by behind the seating. The long side should be parallel to the cooktop wall. Plus, your prep sink is in the wrong location/isn't shown on the smaller island. It should be closer to the cooktop where you'll need it most, and also close to the fridge side.

What is the purpose of the butler's pantry? You have a wine cooler in the main kitchen, and you have a huge pantry wall, and the cleanup sink and dish storage is about as far from the dining room as you can get. So, what purpose does having a butler's pantry serve? If it is to be a true butler's pantry, it would be better to have the cleanup sink on the fridge wall with maybe a passthrough to the butler's pantry so that dishes could be stored there, and that's probably the better location for "adult beverage" storage and the glasses associated with it. Or, it could be a true pantry, and you could eliminate much of that very expensive "wall of tall" that you have going on.

You need to define your wants/needs better, and you need to actually "walk the walk" in your mind and think about the paths you'd need to put away groceries, or clean up after a meal. What you have looks pretty, but it doesn't function well.
Buehl
13 years ago
Is this a new build or remodel?
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So you think 5' is too wide between main sink and stove? I don't want a water dispenser in fridge (too messy with kids, and gonna have custom panel cabinetry on fridge) so where they will be getting the water, the reason for 5'. Yes, it's not optimal for the cook, especially if you’re just accommodating those that want a drink. 48" is perfect. If you increase that aisle you'll need to decrease your island width. Two sinks will be useful with a family of six. I was considering getting a drawer microwave but when I went to the appliance store and played around with it I thought it might be too messy for soups and liquids. My sis has one and liquids are no problem. The consensus here is they are quite nice. i don't believe you'll have a problem with a 5' wide island. Mine measures 5' with the stool and I just reached across 3/4 of it. Mock up the width using your dining table to see what you can reach comfortably. If you have overhang on the two sides you can fit 5 allowing 24" each person. I actually have 4 stools on my long side and two backless stools tucked under my short side for flexibility and when we entertain. It works. My dining table is right next to the island. We prefer island seating and only use the table at holidays. We're all different in our lifestyles. I also have all my baking stuff in a long stretch next to my range and across the island. Everything is right there and I clean as I go. The island will be a great baking zone for you. My 3 yr old grandson scoots a stool around the kitchen pulling up to whatever counter I'm at. He's already a great helper and still likes sweeping up his flour mess. I know that won't last long!
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Buehl
13 years ago
BTW...you're probably not receiving emails of follow-up postings, even though you checked the box requesting them. This is b/c you don't have the email option turned on in your profile. See the "Read Me" thread for more information. Scroll down to the post with the subject "Getting Emails Sent To You...3-step Process".

Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!
ViennaHoosie
Original Author
13 years ago
LiveWireOak - I agree with you. The island needs to run parallel with the range wall and the prep sink should be in the corner by the fridge and range. I'll move the beverage center to the butlers pantry per your suggestion. That makes so much more sense for wine glasses too. Regarding the wall-of-tall, do you have recommendations on what I can do to improve how that space looks?

Regarding walking the walk...
If I'm coming in from the garage with groceries, I'd want the fridge/freezer to be close. I'd like the clean-up area to be located in the ideal situation for family meals. We do more casual entertaining and not so much formal entertaining in the dining room. Do you think I should still move the clean-up area?

Buehl - This is a new build, but I won't be able to make many structural changes. I can move cabinets, islands, plumbing lights. Thanks for the tip on email messages! I'll look into it now!

Thanks again for your help! I wish there was a way to make the 2 islands work, but it's not sounding likely. Even if one of my islands were "skinnier" do you still think it's a bad idea?

Kitchen Layout - Can I have 2 islands?

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Kitchen Layout - Can I have 2 islands?

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Buehl

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