Kitchen Islands – A Style and Feature Comparison
Kitchen islands have become increasingly popular in today’s homes. Homeowners have a variety of styles to choose from; the most common options are countertop, cart and permanent fixture. What you ultimately spend will depend on your needs, personal preferences and budget. Country kitchen islands are the choice of many, but you can also select Victorian, contemporary or other designs. If you have been thinking about kitchen remodeling, now is a great time to add a kitchen island.
Kitchen carts are usually the least expensive style. Carts are simple but can be very functional. They consist of a cutting board top made from wood, stainless steel or plastic and may come with two or three shelves. The top surface can be used as an additional work table, or it may be used to hold small appliances such as microwave ovens. This type of island is completely mobile and can be placed anywhere in the room.
Countertop kitchen islands are a more expensive option and can be either mobile or stationary furniture. Countertops may be made of granite, stainless steel, ceramic tile or butcher block. Choose an island with inside storage covered by sliding or swinging doors if you need extra storage space.
Custom kitchen islands offer the most flexibility in terms of design and features but are the most expensive. This type of island can be round, oval, square, rectangular or L-shaped, so you will be able to find a design that will work best in your kitchen. Custom islands can serve as kitchen bars, and you can opt for built-in features such as cabinets, cooking facilities, sinks or wine racks. If you’re a baker, you may be interested in these modular designs featured in this video from Lowe’s Creative Ideas:
You will need to take dimensions into consideration, especially if you want to add a large kitchen island with stools. In order for cabinet doors to open properly, you will need a minimum of 42″ clearance on all sides. If your island will have seating, plan on a width of 24″ for each stool.
You can search online for different kitchen island ideas if you are uncertain about what style you want. Depending on your skill set, you may want to build your own kitchen island as a DIY project. You will find video instruction online at HGTV and the DIY Network. Kitchen carts can be purchased at Lowes, The Home Depot, Overstock, Ikea and other stores. Be sure to do comparison shopping to make sure you get the best price.
