skip to main content

Dilemma: Island Seating on 2 sides or 3?

6 years ago

I'm having difficulty making a decision on island seating and whether to do seating/overhang 3 sides or just 2 sides. The island will measure 4x8... would it be functional to have seating on the sink side? looks like we have enough room, but wondering if it's a good idea...any advice would be appreciated!! facing the kitchen is a family room and left of the kitchen would be a dining room. thanks!!

Featured Answer

Kristin S

6 years ago

I would not put seating on the sink side. You'll inevitable end up tripping on a seat that's been left out, probably pretty regularly.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

blfenton
6 years ago
Unless you have 5' - 6' between the island and the sink you really don't have enough room for someone to sit and get up and down from the island and for you to work at the sink or to walk back and forth behind the chair carrying things and working. I'm assuming that the DW is probably by the sink so you may also be opening the door into the chair as well.

Why crowd that area if you don't have to.
Related Discussions
2 Island configs-seating on 1 or 2 sides..which one do you like?
Q
Comments (21)
Nan-that is what I envision - grabbing a seat and slowing down a bit instead of standing and hurry hurry hurry. Plus I think that someone on that end seat could SIT while helping prep and still be in a good spot. Williamsem-you pretty much summed it up. I just worry that in the end the broken up prep might bug me but you are right - I'd have a nice chunk on either side plus behind me by the stove. Yes I do want 1 4 drawer stack and maybe that will be it! Lyfia-I am not exactly sure. I will measure tomorrow. The walls started going up today. kksmama-thanks for the pics! I like the stools that tuck under nicely. The view is unobstructed that way. On the other hand the stools with backs that you posted look like they would be more comfortable to linger. Thanks everyone for your thoughts, even if it was just repeating my thoughts for me to read in someone else's words. It's very helpful. :)
...See More
Island Dimensions, seating 5 (3+1+1)
Q
Comments (17)
Most recommend minimum of 24" of width per diner. And that really is a minimum. I think it's more important to think about comfort than how many seats you can squeeze into a space. At 24" most adults are super-cramped and don't have much elbow room. And your kids will grow up so you need to plan for that. My DH wears a 46" jacket. When DS was in high school, he wore a 48". Can you imagine them crammed together with 24" each? Not happening. Even when kids are smaller, I think it's nice to give them more space so they can spread out and not be so close that it's fun to start pestering each other, like on purpose/"accidental" elbow jabs and such. And if you want them to do homework there, they will likely need space to spread out books and papers. Personally, for these reasons, we've never been happy without more like 30-32" per person for daily use. Closer is fine for occasional dinners but not for daily use. All imho, of course, and YMMV.
...See More
45x96 Island - 3 (12") or 2 (21") lantern pendants?
Q
Comments (6)
@ Sativa McGee Designs - thank you for your feedback. The 60" walkway indeed feels large, however I neglected to mention that we have 2 young children who share a 2-step railed stair/stool (17Wx21Dx38H) that allows them to "help" in the kitchen, as well as a kid's IKEA 2x3 table, either of which we would locate at the head of the island and which would reduce signifcantly the fridge walkway. Granted, when the kids have outgrown these items, we'll find something else to close the gap - small bookcase with cutting board top, maybe. We also heavily debated installing the ovens in the corner, except that doing so adds another step to the wall ovens from the island since moving the island closer by 1' closes in the french doors leading to our dining room (see photo and tape on floor). We're also giving up a 37x22 double pantry to fit the wall ovens, which is another sore spot, but the 60" walkway gives us an 18" tall pantry that, coupled with some hidden shallow storage in the island, helps to minimize the loss of the double-pantry. The pantry wall is also on a bearing wall, so I cannot rotate the studs to gain depth. The art of balanced compromise. @BeverlyFLADeziner - thank you for the lighting guide. (3) 16" pendants would end up spaced 16" apart, which feels busy. The issue is that my wife likes odd numbers, so I am trying to convince her that two larger pendants over the island, plus one medium pendant over the round table, checks that box. Thoughts on 1 or 2 pendants over the sink?
...See More
double island with one island with seating on both sides
Q
Comments (6)
Needs a table. And a giant pruning. It is disproportionately large for a kitchen, without that space being designed at all well. There are no 13’ long slabs of any counter material, as a start, and that is a bedrock basic limitation that any kitchen designer should know. 42” between the 2 block blobs is way too small. Another complete industry design standards fail. Whomever designed this has zero knowledge of industry dtsndards or kitchen designing. Or cooking. The kitchen is too oversized and badly laid out to work as a kitchen, but not large enough to work as a kitchen plus a breakfast area. It’s just 100K worth of cabinets and 50K worth of appliances arranged into a frustrating and cramped maze.
...See More
mama goose_gw zn6OH
6 years ago
Have you considered moving the sink under the other windows? The island would be more convenient to use for prep, and the DW and dish storage would be closer to the DR. Of course, the dirty dishes will be more visible. :( In your plan, the island seems too far from the prep (water source) and cooking zones to be useful for anything but seating.

I omitted corner cabinets, and included a small cart, which could be used for coffee service, or to hold a stand mixer, and rolled to the prep area when needed. Quick illustration:
cpartist
6 years ago
With the way your kitchen is laid out, what is the purpose of the island?
suzanne_sl
6 years ago
It seems that it is "the thing" to have an island with a bunch of seating, but do you really want/need it? You say there is a dining room right next door. Is there some reason you don't want to use it? Personally, I'd rather have the work/storage space in the kitchen and shuffle the family off to the dining room.

OTOH, if you want the seating, then no, not on the sink side too - it would really mess up the working flow of the kitchen. I like what mama goose proposed. Having a landing space on both sides of the stove will give you so much more elbow room.
Boxerpal
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
2 sides. if you have lots of friends coming over and everyone is sitting around the island you can always temporarily move a seat to sit on that side. But as soon as the party is over chairs go back so clean up can happen and your kitchen goes back to be the functional space you need.

Oh and I love your kitchen design. Keeping the sink on it's own space for clean up. A very smart thing to do keeping dirt away.
homechef59
6 years ago
I have seating on three sides with the range on one of the three sides. We don't use that third side precisely because it is in a working walkway. I don't even put a chair on that side of the island. I'd recommend two sides.

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Before and After: 3 Side Yards Add Outdoor Kitchens and Seating

By Annie Thornton

Designers turn underutilized outdoor spaces into places for cooking, lounging and more

KITCHEN ISLANDS Plan Your Kitchen Island Seating to Suit Your Family’s Needs

By Toronto Interior Design Group

In the debate over how to make this feature more functional, consider more than one side

KITCHEN DESIGN New This Week: 2 Ways to Rethink Kitchen Seating

By Mitchell Parker

Tables on wheels and compact built-ins could be just the solutions for you

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: 2 Wings for 3 Generations on a Vermont Lake

By Nora Burba Trulsson

An extended family enjoys a spacious waterfront home influenced by farmhouses and Japanese architecture

KITCHEN DESIGN Take a Seat at the New Kitchen-Table Island

By KitchenLab Interiors

Hybrid kitchen islands swap storage for a table-like look and more seating

KITCHEN ISLANDS New This Week: 3 Kitchen Island Ideas You Haven’t Thought Of

By Mitchell Parker

See how a custom, personalized feature on an island can change your kitchen’s look, feel and function

KITCHEN DESIGN 10 Kitchen Islands That Feature Banquette Seating

By Bryan Anthony

See how designers transformed these kitchens with built-in seating in a variety of styles and colors

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 3 Enticing Side Yards That Encourage Outdoor Lingering

By Annie Thornton

The often-overlooked space gets the designer treatment in these three projects

KITCHEN MAKEOVERS 2 Kitchen Islands Allow Room for Cooking and Hosting

By Morgan Province

A major remodel gives a California family with 2 toddlers an eat-in kitchen that can grow right along with them

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Cherry Cabinets and 2 Islands Wow in Indiana

By Jeannie Matteucci

Warm wood cabinets, a reconfigured layout and wave-pattern countertops complement the home’s wooded surroundings

Sponsored

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers

49 Reviews

Columbus Area's Luxury Design Build Firm | 17x Best of Houzz Winner!

More Discussions

Nuage Quartzite - any water issues?

18

Recommendations to reduce risk of Dekton / sintered stone chipping

8

contractor chooses kitchen

33

Silestone vs Dekton

2

base cabinet and sink size

4