I need help with the design of kitchen island.
chershouse
2 years ago
I'm finally ready to upgrade my kitchen. My cabinets are only 15 years old and in good shape, so I would like to stain or paint them instead of replacing. My biggest dilemma is what to do with this crescent shaped island that includes my kitchen sink as well as my dishwasher? I want to start by removing the second level and having a flat one level counter top. But, should I change the shape to a rectangle instead of crescent? I'm not sure a rectangle will work with the space that I have. I am redoing the floors next, so I'm not worried about how it will effect my flooring. That will be temporary. Are trends moving away from white cabinets? I was thinking maybe a putty color or white on top and brown for the lower cabinets and island. Or even a very dark bold blue or grey for the island color. Any advice on redoing this entire kitchen would be appreciated. Thanks.
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (19)
Related Discussions
I Need Your Help-I went to a Kitchen Designer Today :o
Comments (42)We are in the final stages of building our home. It has taken me two solid years of searching for the right person to do my cabinets. I've interviewed several, and I even wasted some money by starting to work with a couple who claimed they were on the same page as I was but who weren't......as by their push for what "they" liked and thought I should have. I stuck to my guns and kept searching. I do not like staggered cabinets but they were continually being pushed on me. They didn't know how to deal with a large vintage style sink I am using. They kept wanting to line all of them up like lawyer office cabinets, crowd my window trim, etc. I gave up and figured I would use metal cabinets and a couple of tables until I found the right person. Finally one Saturday my husband was doing a search to find Conestoga cabinets so we could purchase some and put them in ourselves. By then I had sketched out what I wanted, but still needed a skilled person to figure the dimensions, etc. Well, we found someone. A treasure of a husband and wife team who make custom cabinets. She has an art degree and has considerable experience in restoring vintage kitchens. She saw immediately what I wanted and we are like twins in our thinking. She made sure she understood how I cook. We now only have minor tweaking in a few details and we are ready to start work. The reason for my long winded story here is to encourage you to follow your heart no matter how long it takes to find the right person. Do not settle. It can be frustrating, time consuming, and very tiring, but it has been more than worth it. I will get up every day for the rest of my life loving this kitchen. Loving your kitchen will inspire you to cook wonderful things in it. Something you don't love will irritate you the rest of your life. Also, be wary of anyone wanting a chunk of money ahead of even talking to you and starting a design. You have no way of knowing if that person will listen to you and you can work together. It is fair for someone to not release a design you like without compensation, but we have lost several thousand dollars on people who claimed they would design something nice, knew what I wanted, but as soon as the check was cashed they could have cared less. The lady I am working with now never asked for a cent up front. Sandy...See MoreNeed Help with my kitchen design with an island.
Comments (30)Here's an idea to jump-start further discussion. I moved the Foyer entry. This creates a natural barrier that directs traffic from the Foyer to the back side of the island. The aisles are wide enough to allow all three primary work zones to be in the aisle b/w the island and the range wall. It may seem like overkill, but there are two sinks - with a layout like this, a prep sink will help make it more functional. You can prep on either: The perimeter next to the range - dirty dishes won't be an issue nor will there be a conflict if someone is trying to clean up or unload the DW while someone else is trying to prep. -or- On the island next to the cleanup sink - as long as there aren't dirty dishes sitting on the island or in the cleanup sink and no one is trying to clean up or unload the DW Dish storage is in the island in drawers. There is plenty of space for dishes. You said you want the MW to be in a tall cabinet with doors - so I put one in on the side. However, I think it would work better to have the MW closer to a water source - so I show an alternate location for the MW as a MW drawer next to the range. If you don't use the MW much, then the tall cabinet should be fine even though it's a bit far from water and the refrigerator. Above the MW, you could include tray storage (cooling racks, cookie sheets, etc.) as well as larger serving platters and similar. See below for an example. You could create a Snack Center next to the MW cabinet. Again, it's not next to a water source, but that may be OK. Behind the island is the Message/Command Center. It can be either a base cabinet + upper cabinet or it could be in a tall pantry-type cabinet that can be closed (see Sweeby's "Organization Closet" in this thread for an example: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2815096/what-are-command-centers?n=15). Normally, I would suggest putting the Message Center in the Mudroom next to the Garage entrance, but I don't think you have room for it there. Note that all seats have 15" of clear leg/knee space - the minimum recommended for counter-height seating. If you have tall people or people with long legs in the family, consider adding another 3" to the overhang on the short end - that's something I wish we had done. 15" is fine for me at 5'10", but it's too shallow for my DH and DS (6'5" and 6'7", respectively). The 9" deep cabinets under the overhang provide extra storage as well as bigger buffer b/w the cleanup sink and people sitting at the island. I'm not a fan of sitting at a counter with dirty dishes, but the extra 9" helps mitigate the impact. Here's the layout and the accompanying zone map: . Zone map: . . Tray storage example - note the platters are below the trays. You can easily remove the cooling racks, etc., by grasping the bottoms of the items, so you can place them a bit higher. The platters are easily reached as well. This is over my double ovens....See MoreNEED KITCHEN HELP!!! what should I do? Island or no island?
Comments (7)We don't know the dimensions of the space, so it's difficult to give you any really useful advice -- we're guessing! So, please post a sketch with the dimensions, preferably wall-to-wall, not cabinet-to-cabinet. If you cannot do wall-to-wall, then to/from the items that stick out the farthest...things like appliance handles, counter edges, walls, etc. One thing I will note is that a 24" or 27" deep counter is barely usable for prepping b/c you have to worry about things falling off the back. I have that on one of my peninsulas and I don't like prepping there for that reason. Perimeter counters work b/c you have a wall behind them to stop things from falling. In the meantime, the following Kitchens Forum FAQ might help: FAQ: Aisle Widths, Walkways, Seating Overhangs, Work/Landing Space etc https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500771/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc [Taken from the "Read Me" thread]...See MoreI am designing a kitchen I need help with the placement of lighting
Comments (1)Hi Landry, I think you need to get some help here. Hire a designer in your area for a lighting consultation. You need to light your isles, your lighting over your table is odd and you need to look at liner ft not sf. Also, 6" are out and 4" are more widely used now. Are you going to have under cabinet task lighting? PS: your table and chairs are blocking the walkway to the doors. Why not make a larger island and incorporate seating there? I see much opportunity here to make a better and more functional kitchen but you need professional help....See More
C V
2 years agoThis is a rough draft of the kitchen area from a drawing used from countertop installation. Hope this helps.
C V
2 years agoI’m not crazy about the color choices here, but what about the design of the curved islands?
C V
2 years agoThis is the granite that I currently have. Should I replace all of it or can I work with it and just replace the island countertop?
C V
2 years agochershouse
2 years ago
PRORCKsinks Inc.
2 years ago
arcy_gw
2 years agochershouse
2 years ago
PROHALLETT & Co.
2 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Design Fix: How to Fit an Island Into a Small Kitchen
Maximize your cooking prep area and storage even if your kitchen isn't huge with an island sized and styled to fit
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: A Designer’s Dream Kitchen Becomes Reality
See what 10 years of professional design planning creates. Hint: smart storage, lots of light and beautiful materials
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNDesign Dilemma: My Kitchen Needs Help!
See how you can update a kitchen with new countertops, light fixtures, paint and hardware
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNHow to Design a Kitchen Island
Size, seating height, all those appliance and storage options ... here's how to clear up the kitchen island confusion
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNKey Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen
Get the ideal kitchen setup by understanding spatial relationships, building dimensions and work zones
Full Story
MOST POPULAR7 Ways to Design Your Kitchen to Help You Lose Weight
In his new book, Slim by Design, eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink shows us how to get our kitchens working better
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGN12 Designer Details for Your Kitchen Cabinets and Island
Take your kitchen to the next level with these special touches
Full Story
KITCHEN ISLANDSNew This Week: 7 Kitchen Island Designs to Consider
Rethink the shape, function and look of your kitchen island with inspiration from these clever island designs
Full Story
KITCHEN OF THE WEEKKitchen of the Week: A Better Design for Modern Living in Rhode Island
On the bottom level of a 2-story addition, a warm and open kitchen shares space with a breakfast room, family room and home office
Full Story
KITCHEN ISLANDSA Kitchen’s Copper Island Makes a Fabulous Focal Point
Industrial elements bring lived-in character to this new kitchen in a historical English house
Full Story
mama goose_gw zn6OH