The kitchen island

Kitchen islands are common in modern kitchens. Other than providing workspace, they also allow people to sit and eat in the kitchen. They are often the focal point in the kitchen as they are placed in the centre.

The moment you store your groceries, utensils, dishes and electrical appliances in your kitchen, it is clear that despite the abundant storage space, you have very little workspace. Think of the moments you are many cooks in the kitchen; there is literally not enough space. It is for this reason that designers came up with the kitchen island.

This countertop is used primarily for food preparation. Its location allows for easy movement around the kitchen without pushing over guests or cooks. It is an elegant solution to finding usable workspace in your kitchen while creating a pleasant gathering area. You can also use it to divide the kitchen and living room if you have an open-plan house.

Kitchen islands come in varying designs and sizes. One can easily get a table that suits their need. Simple ones have a smooth countertop made of a standard kitchen material such as tiles, stainless steel, wood or stone. It also, in some instances, has drawers for keeping utensils and food preparation tools.

Complex islands feature a sink and a disposal unit for preparing fruits and vegetables. A chopping board may be pulled out from one end, while another could be on the countertop. The workspace gets its illumination via overhead lights, recessed light or track lighting. Some even have small fridges, microwaves and cookers.

This surface allows you to prepare bulky items like dough, or transfer foods from the oven to cool before serving. Its height is usually at the waist level or higher.

If you intend to install one, consider these:

• Do you have adequate space? This determines its shape and size.

• How do you intend to use it; is it a food preparation space, dining space or storage for spices, bake-ware, cutting boards, sheet-pans, utensils and cookbooks? Its purpose determines where you place it; if you want to use it for cooking, provide easy access to the cooker, fridge and sink.

• Equip it to serve its role. If it is to be used as a breakfast table, stools are essential. If it is for cooking, add a vent hood overhead to draw smoke and heat away from the rest of the kitchen. A sink would also be essential in this case.

• Open shelving will be ideal to keep items like pots and baking ware at hand.