Will The Island Coffee Table Concept Ever Die Out?
Gizmo
3 years ago
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Jilly
3 years agoRelated Discussions
would you ever purchase a house without an island kitchen?
Comments (39)For those of you who question why I would be so concerned about a lack of an island in a kitchen remodel, what else would YOU think is you read the following in a magazine..." islands are now almost universal in new construction and rennovations of kitchens." ? I agree with the statement, because there is no arguing that islands are the trend and are popular. But if you don't have the room in your space, you don't...And I stick to my opinion that overcrowding the kitchen with an island that doesn't fit and ruins the work flow will work against you rather than for you in resale. I understand your concern, but also, why worry about not having something you can't fit? Make the best of what you have and do what you can. There are enough headaches in selling a house than to worry about things you can't reasonably change. I feel for you, because I hate having a house to sell, but give yourself a break on this one. About some of the other statements...I would die using a table as work space. Too low for my back and I'm under 5'4, so not sure how that would work for everyone...and I don't want chairs in my way either....See MoreIsland, work table or table?
Comments (25)What works best in my space: a regular dining table. I came to planning totally set on having an island, and kept trying to fit one in, but it was getting narrower and shorter due to other room constraints until it became too stumpy with not enough workspace/practicality gains to compensate. The current plan, which just makes the space feel better to me, has kitchen on three sides of the room and dining table in the center. What works best for my personality: probably island, because I wanted that barrier between me and other kitchen occupants (I'm one of those cooks who really, truly, sincerely does not welcome help in the kitchen). Current plan will at least keep non-cooks to one side of the table, near the alcohol/coffee area and furthest from my prepping and cooking zones and me, flashing my chef's knife in what I hope is a menacing way. I'll make the kitchen mine with (1) a great range and (2) some fun use of color. Love this Houzz pic - ignore the layout but look at the great mix of color and sense of fun (*drooling* over long La Cornue wall). We own an old house with very traditional bones that we've.....enlivened with ultra-modern lighting fixtures, weird art and some wacky, way off wall colors. That mix of traditional backbone and more lively, frivolous accessories is what I hope will make the kitchen a happy place for me. Color! [Eclectic Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by Dc Metro General Contractor Georgetown Development...See MoreKD is trying to talk me out of counter-height kitchen table.
Comments (30)Choice made then. It's always nice to see people check their options and then go for what they really want. As someone suggested, you could always detach and/or cut it down if you ever wished to. Probably not, but saving extra tile and trim would make the usual good sense should you ever decide to rearrange, whatever the height. Others, it's been rather eye-opening to see how many people don't find this very comfortable, even tall ones. At 5'2" I didn't weigh in with how much I dislike perching over relaxing into a chair because these days it seems most people top me by at least a head, if not shoulders too, and I thought this might have become mostly a "personal" problem. Like the typical new dining chair AMAF. :)...See MoreShow me open concept with an island between kitchen and living areas
Comments (15)Island Depth When calculating island depths with seats, don't forget the counter overhang in front of the cabinets (non-seat side) - usually 1.5"- and the thickness of an installed decorative door or end panel on the back of the cabinets (the seating side) - usually 1". If you have cabinets on both sides (so doors open into the seats, then that 1" is for the cabinet doors. So: 1.5" counter overhang in front of the island 24" depth for each standard base cabinet -or- whatever depth you're using (some people have 24" for the front cabinets and then only 12" or 15" for the cabinets on the back that open into the seats) 1" for door or decorative door/end panel 15" overhang (counter height) With just one set of cabinets, the minimum depth of the island is 41.5" 1.5" + 24" + 1" + 15" = 41.5" ======================== Island Length For island length - you need at least 24" per seat. Edited to add: As FunkyCamper points out in a later post, this is the minimum width per seat. There have been some rumblings about an update of the recommendation to 30" per seat, but as far as I know, that hasn't happened yet. With 5 growing children, I suspect 30" wouldn't be a bad idea - it will help minimize arguing about "s/he's in my space" or "s/he is touching me". In addition, if your children are taller/bigger than average, the extra space would be nice once they hit the teens. If you have seating on two sides, remember that two seats cannot share the same knee/leg space in the corners! For an island that seats 5 to 7, I strongly recommend seating on at least 2 sides, 3 would be even better! You don't want to have all 7 (or even 5) seats sitting like ducks in a row. Straight-line seating for more than 2 or 3 seats is not very conducive to conversation and bonding - it's more like dining with strangers in a diner. ======================== Aisle Widths On the working side: One-person...You need a 42-inch aisle if only one person will ever be working on the aisle (I assume that will not be the case with such a large family - some children will be helping out/learning to help out) Two or more people working on the aisle (most likely scenario in this case)...You need a 48-inch aisle Aisle behind the seats - depends on what else is behind the seats With a wall or other obstruction behind the seats: If no cabinets, counters, appliances, and no traffic at all (i.e., "dead end"), then 44" is sufficient If no cabinets counters, appliances, and minimal traffic, then 48" is sufficient If no cabinets counters, appliances, and normal to heavy traffic, then 54" is sufficient If cabinets counters, appliances, etc., are behind the seats, then 60" No wall or other obstruction directly behind the seats - the "open" concept your friend is planning: If island backs to a sofa or similar - then no less than 48" if there is minimal traffic (i.e., a "dead end") or 54" if there is normal to heavy traffic. If island backs to a table - then 60" b/w the island and the table ....See More
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Springroz
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3 years agoamykath
3 years agoI just saw this image on FB. I had to do a double take as it looked so similar to the one is this post.
Jilly
3 years ago
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