3 Kitchen Island Features that Will Change Your Daily Life for the Better
If you have the space for it, an island is one of the most functional kitchen features you can add.
Aside from the obvious role of divider between an open-concept kitchen and great room, it can double your counter space - handy when there’s more than one cook!
A kitchen island is a natural for managing a crowd by keeping guests out of harm’s way as the cook works while socializing. It can introduce more space for undercabinet appliances, storage, and another sink. And it can provide a casual and communal surface for eating and/or serving a meal.
Along with its ability to work hard, a kitchen island easily amps up the style wattage! If you are thinking about upgrading your kitchen with an island, here are some wonderful features to consider including.
Feature #1: Substantial Space for Sensible Seating
It is easy to take seating for granted but, the fact is, we often don’t plan for enough. So a bounty of seating around a kitchen island is a welcome benefit. And situated essentially in the heart of the home, it’s a great place for family members to congregate and hang out.
Feature #2: Deep Drawers Instead of Dated Doors
Our kitchen was built in the ’90s. We’ve updated the surfaces and most of the appliances, but our cabinets are hopeless. My husband knows which useless drawer I am in by how long I have to dig to unbury and untangle cooking utensils!
Deep drawers are so much more functional for storage and also more accessible for all members of your household, no matter their age, ability, or agility.
Doors, in lower cabinets especially, hide shelving that is usually too short, too deep, or too awkward. When you have to sit on the floor to dig something out from the back, you figure there’s got to be a better way to do things!
Feature #3: Enough Energy for the Endless Electronics
Got plugs? Don’t forget to include them in your kitchen island. In addition to powering appliances, your family’s hub will need to charge everybody’s cell phones, tablets, and laptops, among other things.
Be sure to include USB plug-ins, as well as GFCI outlets if your island includes a sink and/or dishwasher.
An island can be such a gorgeous addition to a kitchen and an absolute workhorse. Though I don’t advise installing a cooktop on the surface if seating is planned there, there are plenty of other options to include!
I like having at least a prep sink there if the main sink is staying in its original place.
Other great things to stash in a kitchen island are a trash compactor or pull-out trash bins, wine refrigerators, warming or chilling drawers, and maybe even a second dishwasher!
And don’t forget the instant glam you’ll get with some gorgeous pendant lighting hanging above to showcase it all!
