Can a kitchen island be TOO big???
ingridatlanta
6 years ago
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can a kitchen be too big?
Comments (17)that doesn't sound too big at all to me. I think it's important to have lots of walk space between the island and the countertops, if you're doing an island. We had 39" in our last home and it felt crowded if 2-3 people were in there at once because you couldn't walk behind someone without brushing against them slightly. so we widened our aisles to 48" in our new house and it's just perfect. I could see where pro chefs would want less room. All they're doing is cooking all day, non-stop, so a couple fewer steps each direction saves them tons of time and energy. But for a home kitchen where you make one or two meals a day, a couple extra steps is no big deal and the payoff from having extra room is well worth it. That way your husband and kids and dogs can run around and you still aren't crowded. I am not sure what the sq. ft. is for exactly our kitchen, because we have a breakfast nook at the end that extends out into a bay-style window. But it's 25' x 15.5' counting the breakfast room. I think it's about 14' x 15.5' for just the kitchen, but don't quote me on that. we also have a 9' long butler's pantry with tons of extra cabinets that are perfect for storing holiday dishes and stuff we don't use as often. our house is 3,600 sq. ft. overall and I feel like the kitchen could have gone a little bigger and still not have seemed oversized. Oh, we also have a 10.5' x 5' walk-in pantry. That is the best part of the entire house!...See MoreIs the kitchen island too big?
Comments (48)Do I think a 10’ by 4.5’ island is too big in general? No; it’s what I actually have in my kitchen. I do, however, think its too big in your kitchen, as evidenced by the small aisles. I also think that 12” isn’t a sufficiently comfortable overhang... you want more like 15”. And I definitely would feel better if there were supports under the overhang. But, that ship has sailed. Your island is in, and unless you have an unlimited budget, it is what it is. Your finishes are pretty, and probably no one (except is TKOs) would ever even notice any of these things. Auntthelma, your countertop looks to be only about 5’ long, and presumably has countertop support on the wall side. It‘a not really the same....See MoreIs my kitchen island too big?
Comments (15)Actually a bit of an update on this. We went to a bunch of showhomes on the weekend. A couple of thoughts. 1. The 48" between the stove counter and island is overkill for us. We could live with 42" but i think we will be at 44". 2. I was so adamant about a 15" overhang as per all the websites but we found 12" is perfectly fine for a counter height island overhang. We may go 13" or 14" tops. 3. I am a little worried about the length of our island. The counter will actually be 86 3/4" with a 1 inch overhang contrary to my plan. The side of the island is 32" from the kitchen table. Not ideal but not terrible either. BUT if we go for a smaller width cabinet next to the sink (say 21" or even 18") then i worry the island won't look symmetrical. ARGH. 4. I feel the depth at 56" is too big. I liked the 48" depth and could live with 50" or 52". 5. The cabinet place suggested back to back cabinets so a depth of 24" cabinet + 12" cabinet + 12" overhang = 49" countertop depth or perhaps 24" + 16" + 12" overhang = 53" countertop depth or 24" + 12" + 14" = 51" countertop depth. 6. On the side of the island, do i go with a 1" overhang or 0.5" overhang? Any additional thoughts would be greatly appreciated....See MoreIs my Kitchen island too big?
Comments (29)I think I'd love having an island that large in a rental with no dining space. You don't show the side of the room on the other side of the island, but I might scootch it away from the stove a bit. I'd rather have the extra few inches between the island and the counter in the work space and have the far walkway be a bit narrower. Is the island square or a rectangle? Before you change the stools, if it's a rectangle, try turning it (if there is enough walking room on the far side) and have the chairs on the long sides (in the same place they are now, but with the island turned). That might reduce the bulky look, because they appear to be hanging out over the end of the counters now. Do you need 4 chairs at the counter every day? If there is only one or two of you, you might just leave 2 at the island and bring out the other two when you have guests. Or leave it as it is and try two stools on the hallway side with just one on each end where they are now. Smaller stools might help, but the ones you have look comfortable and inviting and like the white in your space. Some people don't "know" how to be civil....See Morehoovb zone 9 sunset 23
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