The kitchen is the heartbeat of a home, and one of the most popular features of a kitchen is the island. Kitchen islands however, don’t have to have just one purpose.
We’ve compiled eight creative uses and designs for kitchen islands that you should consider when planning your house.
1. Kitchen Island With a Sink
You can turn your kitchen into a wet bar of sorts by adding a sink to your island. The La Belle Fleur house plan’s kitchen shows you exactly how you can transform your kitchen into a wet bar for food prep and entertaining.
2. With a Dishwasher
Lets not forget that while a kitchen island is a handy tool for prep it can also provide ample space for a cleanup. Check out this Viking® kitchen that features their 24” Professional Dishwasher.
3. As a Prep Area and Buffet
Kitchen islands make great prep areas and buffets for entertaining. Take a look at the design of this beautiful island in the Prairieville house plan. The lower level with a sink makes for a great place to prep dishes and meals while the upper level is great for dining and as a buffet for entertaining and parties.
4. Extra Storage
Kitchen islands can also serve as extra storage. The Pottery Barn® Hamilton Reclaimed Wood Marble-Top Kitchen Island is perfect with a mix of open and closed storage. Use the shelves to hold cookbooks or decorative bowls, and the drawers to hold silverware and kitchen gadgets. Hooks on the end also make for a great place to hang dishtowels you’ve used.
5. Dining Space or Hibachi
Your kitchen island can also be a great dining space. If you have kids it can be a great place to feed them breakfast before school or for grabbing a small snack during the day as opposed to the a formal dining table.
The Overlake Hills house plan shows a kitchen island as a great space to eat and entertain. If you have a chef in the family, the presence of a stove can also turn this island into a great hibachi station.
6. With a Beverage Center
You can also use your kitchen island to supplement your refrigeration. Here, in the Monohan house plan, you can see that the island incorporates a beverage center that can be used to chill wine or bottled drinks and cans for easy access.
7. With a Range
A kitchen island is also a great alternative to having your range against a wall like in this KraftMaid® kitchen with a custom island.
8. With a Microwave
If you want to use your island as more of buffet and don’t want a range placed on it, you can still keep it functional with a microwave. The Greenleaf Retreat house plan has a kitchen island that incorporates a microwave nicely into its design.
Comment below and tell us your favorite kitchen island design.
Or suggest another use for a kitchen island that we may not have thought of.
And don’t forget to check out The House Designers’ collection of Fabulous Kitchen House Plans.
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