What Features Can a Kitchen Island Include? And Other Kitchen Island FAQs

Kitchen islands can improve both the functionality and the look of your kitchen. Islands are especially popular with homeowners who prefer an open plan kitchen with the island/counter acting as type of wall. If you have a large kitchen, you might save steps by adding an island in the center.

A kitchen island can also create a division between the kitchen and dining space (or sometimes between kitchen and living area), if your open plan home feels a bit too open. Your island’s counter height means it can act as a wall, work space and/or dining area, all in one. Many homeowners also like that fact that an island allows easy interaction between the cook and others in the home.

What features can a kitchen island include?

Since kitchen islands create more cooking and food prep space and can increase cooking convenience, they are a natural place for additional storage shelves. Islands can also contain cabinets and drawers for your cooking implements. The area above the island can come to life with innovative lighting choices and/or a pot rack to show off the implements—while keeping them handy, within reach.

Why have a sink in a kitchen island?

Adding a sink on your kitchen island (or moving your kitchen sink to the new island) can be helpful, depending upon your preferences. If your kitchen sink currently sits in front of a window with a view, you might prefer having/leaving it there. If you kitchen is large, you might opt for a sink on the island and another in a traditional spot facing a wall or window. If you like to use the sink while conversing with family in another area of the house, having your sink in the island could be ideal.

Are outlets required on a kitchen island?

While not required, power outlets on your kitchen island can make the island more versatile. You can make smoothies in your blender while the kids sit at the counter. You may even be able to work more freely on the island, especially on complex recipes with blending or kneading involved. There is more open space around an island to allow free movement and there may not be cabinets above to restrict your cooking space, especially if you are tall. So placing electrically powered mixers or food processors on the island may make sense.

Note: For your island’s sink or electrical outlets, we will need to run additional plumbing pipes and/or electrical wiring.

What is a normal kitchen island height?

A typical height for your kitchen island could range from 36 inches for cooking to 42 inches on the side used for eating. At this height, an island allows you to add stools on the opposite side from your cooking area. This creates a breakfast bar or lunch counter in your kitchen for informal meals, however, some homeowners opt for a single level, cooking-only island with no stools.

Expert Design and Installation for Kitchen Islands throughout Southern CA

An island can modernize the look of your kitchen and give you an additional focal point to showcase a beautiful countertop and/or echo cabinet details and baseboards on the sides of the island. Instead of a free-floating kitchen island, many homeowners opt for a kitchen peninsula. A peninsula is connected to the rest of the kitchen on one side.

If you’d like to add a kitchen island or peninsula to your Southern California home, call your local Mr. Cabinet Care for a free consultation. Let us help you design your ideal kitchen island to add beauty, convenience and value to your home. Call us today!