Kitchen Design : Creating a Custom Kitchen Island When Remodeling the Kitchen
 

By John Mbugua
Creating a custom island in your kitchen is a great way to boost the functionality and comfort of your kitchen. When starting your kitchen remodeling project, remember that an elegant, spacy island can serve as a gathering place for your visitors and family, even when there is no food preparation.

Since the kitchen is a high traffic area on a regular basis, creating a functional layout is key when planning your kitchen remodeling ideas. The kitchen island can serve as an additional eating area, an extra counter top, and food preparation is easier. If you already own a large kitchen, the island can shorten the distances between major work areas and appliances, such as the refrigerator, the sink, and the stove.

Here are kitchen island ideas to consider when planning your kitchen:
 

1. Kitchen islands work best in larger L, U or G-shape kitchens. If the kitchen is too small, the kitchen island simply becomes an obstruction and hinders easy movement. The best custom kitchen islands for small to midsize kitchens are a portable butcher block or kitchen cart for food preparation or extra storage.

2. Include a ventilation hood over the island to eliminate smoke, steam and cooking odors if your kitchen island is going to have a cooktop. The range hood should extend beyond the cooking area by a mere 3 inches or more on the sides for proper ventilation. Using the correct fan size will ensure that removal occurs efficiently as intended. Have a fan capacity of about 50 cubic feet per minute (cfm) for each square foot of cooktop area.

3. A kitchen sink can be included on the kitchen island. Use a sink that is deep enough for washing large pots and pans, and consider equipping the kitchen island with a trash compactor, garbage disposal, recycle bin and even a dishwasher. Cleanup is swift and much easier when these appliances are close by the sink.

There are many more options when remodeling your kitchen but you must be creative and plan! Kitchen Islands can create a luxurious environment in your home and welcomes all visitors willingly!