In many homes today, the kitchen island can take on a life of its own.

 

What once was simply a holding place for dirty breakfast dishes has evolved into a stunning expanse of countertops, appliances, upscale cabinetry, and detailed wood moldings. In many instances, the space serves as an auxiliary kitchen for meal preparation, baking and entertaining.

 

"Islands are really becoming a focal point in the kitchen," said Alan Zielinski, owner of Better Kitchens, Inc. in Niles, IL. "When folks are building new houses the kitchens are so much bigger. The typical 10-foot by 10-foot kitchen of years ago did not (allow room for) having an island."

 

How Will You Use Your Island?

Islands typically are at least 2 feet by 4 feet and can be much larger when placed between the kitchen and family room.

 

When deciding on features, renovators should consider how they will use the space. "You have to start at the core of how the home is used," Zielinski said. "Are you right handed? Are you left handed? Do you entertain?"

 

The answer to these questions will help determine what features to include, where appliances are placed, and in what direction doors should open.

 

Think “Convenience”

When adding features to an island, renovators typically focus on convenience. They like to have functional products and features close by when preparing meals or entertaining. In some cases, a household with two cooks will add a cooking area on the island to create a second work space.

 

"We're finding when we have multiple cooks they each want their own space for their specialty," Zielinski said.

 

Appliance Choices

Among the key features added to islands are the appliances. "People are doing a lot of appliances on islands -- warming drawers, dishwasher drawers," said Jenny Accomando, a kitchen designer with CabinetWerks in Lincolnshire, IL.

 

Prep Sink

Many of the appliances used on islands are made to fit the space. Someone who wants a place for chopping vegetables, for example, could add an 18-inch stainless steel sink with a garbage disposal on the island. The sink is smaller than the traditional 24 to 36-inch sink placed in the main countertop area, but provides plenty of room for preparing vegetables.

 

Refrigerated Drawer

Those who want refrigeration for storing lunch meat, fruit and cheese could add a refrigerated drawer. This adds convenience when storing hors d'oeuvres for a party. It also can be used by children when they want to grab a sandwich or snack.

 

"It's at a good level, so a child might go in and take some juice instead of having to try to open a big refrigerator door," Zielinski said.

 

Freezer Drawers

Freezer drawers often are used by consumers who want additional space for frozen foods, but do not want a larger free-standing freezer. Drawers for refrigeration or freezing are 27-inches wide by 34-inches tall and are priced around $2,500 for the refrigerator drawer and $3,700 for the freezer drawer, Zielinski said.

 

The drawers are designed with wood fronts to blend with the island cabinetry. "It just looks like two drawers," Zielinski said. "You'd think it was a regular base cabinet until you opened it."

 

Warming Drawers

Warming drawers are used on islands, particularly when renovators want a second cooking area without adding a second oven. "It keeps food at whatever temperature it was cooked at," Accomando said. "It keeps the temperature consistent, which is wonderful when you're cooking a large meal."

 

These drawers typically are 24 to 30-inches wide and are priced from $700 to $850.  "Instead of firing up the main stove several times, food can be held for the spouse who's taking a late train or the child who has a baseball game," Zielinski said.

 

Should You Add A Cooktop?

While some renovators add cooktops on their islands, the trend is moving away from it, Zielinski said. Most people prefer to have a commercial-type oven in the kitchen instead. Also, cooktops can be inconvenient or provide safety concerns when people are gathering around an island during a party.

 

"If you're going to do a cooktop on an island, I wouldn't do a 48-inch," Accomando said. "That should be placed along the perimeter (of the kitchen). I would save more of the smaller appliances for the island."

 

Dishwashers

After all the cooking is done, there are dishes to wash. Among the many selections is a dish washing appliance by Fisher & Paykel with one or two drawers that pull outward instead of one door that is pulled downward.

 

"Generally you're preparing food on an island and don't want to traipse across the kitchen to put dishes in the dishwasher," said Toni Ouellette, a spokesperson for the Laguna Hills, Calif. company. "A lot of people use two single drawers and put them on each side of the sink so there's no bending."

 

Removable Top

Another feature that can be added to an island is a butcher block top with a 1-foot by 6-inch section that can be removed. If someone is chopping vegetables, for example, they would remove that section and push any vegetable peelings into the open space. Those pieces then fall into a garbage can underneath that area, Accomando said.

 

Think Ahead!

There also are ways to design an island so that the features can be changed easily as children grow, Zielinski said.

 

Some families add a microwave oven in cabinetry on the end of an island. It is positioned at a height that is comfortable for children to use, but the space can be converted later to storage space. "As the children grow up it becomes harder to use because of the ergonomics of leaning over, so we plan that to be a cookbook storage area," he said.