Reasons to Install a Kitchen Island During Your Renovation

If you're planning kitchen renovations, you may be debating whether or not to install a kitchen island. Read on to discover the reasons why they provide an excellent addition.

Storage

A kitchen island provides extra storage, allowing you to get organised in your food preparation and clean up. Options include cupboards, drawers, open shelves, and wine racks. Which you choose to house within the island depends partly on its placement within the kitchen. If the island faces a sink, for instance, you could install drawers of various depths where you can place pots and pans and other cooking utensils. In such a layout, this offers handy storage that is close to the cleaning area.

On the island's outer side, which faces other living areas, you could custom design the storage to unify the island with these other spaces. For example, install decorative open shelves or glass-panelled cabinets that echo the living room furniture nearby. Frosted glass will help hide the contents to avoid a cluttered effect while still adding a decorative touch.

Benchtop Material

The kitchen island sits in a central position in the room, the ideal place to form a focal point. You can provide further reason for people to admire the island by covering it with a beautiful counter material. You could choose granite, marble, timber, laminate or other elements.

You'll have extra freedom when picking the island counter as you don't have to repeat the same materials as in the rest of the kitchen. Instead, why not create contrast? For example, if periphery counters use laminate, install a statement granite kitchen-island benchtop while harmonising the colours and patterns. Alternatively, cover the island with a butcher's block to contrast it against natural stone counters in other areas. Being spatially separate and distinct, the kitchen island provides a chance for you to splash out on an ultra-expensive substance that you might not want to spread all around the kitchen due to cost.

Appliances, Plumbing and Electricity

During a renovation, the kitchen island offers the chance for you to install appliances such as a dishwasher. Or else, you could build a sink into the island or a stovetop. Factor in the extra costs of plumbing pipes and electrical wires when planning what features to include.

One practical benefit of installing a kitchen island is that it allows you to create a convenient cooking workflow. The kitchen triangle refers to the relative placement of items such as the sink, fridge and stove. They should be positioned so that you're not endlessly taking unnecessary steps when working in the kitchen. For example, if a fridge is at one extreme end of the room and the workbenches at the other, your daily steps will be much higher than if they were better placed. Because a kitchen island sits centrally, it creates more opportunity to plan a handy work area. Reach out to a professional to start your kitchen renovation.

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