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My sink in the island. Like it. Seats check. Lights checked. No waterfall. Don’t like it.
To piggy-back on this topic, can you do a video discussing the kitchens seen in TV sitcoms? It would be cool to talk about the kitchen set of "The Jeffersons," "Maude," "All In The Family," "The Cosby Show," "Family Ties," "Leave It To Beaver," "Married With Children," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," etc. They had interesting kitchens for the times. And let's not forget The Brady Bunch kitchen which had an angled island.
Wonder of wonders –
A counter you can access from all sides.
Subway tile looks cheap.
Open shelves are dust collectors and limit your storage. Great for a TV diva with staff, not mere humans.
I think the island is a trend that turned into a staple because of the functionality that you mentioned. I, like you, think that a clean work surface is my favorite island which is essentially the age old work table but with closed storage underneath so …..was it ever really a trend or was it just an improvement on an original design? hmmm
The most successful kitchen that I have had was a large galley kitchen without an island.
Waterfall edges are ideal for making a space uncomfortable to stand in. In that sense, they're ideal for gangways with tight clearances and for islands too close to ovens or dishwashers — spaces where you don't want guests hanging out while you're cooking or cleaning up.
I'm not a fan of eating or drinking at an island. There are far more comfortable places to sit and eat/drink than a stool at an island. Even for a quick breakfast we like to sit at the 'kitchen' table (not actually in the kitchen, but the other side of the peninsula). A peninsula with double sided, shallow storage will be fine for me.
I wonder if the cook top creates a "bubble" of non-social space and that is why we do not prefer it in the island. Having something that can be a danger to children so accessible makes it a function over form necessity.
islands with faucet/sink are a bad idea though. These things are normally againt a backsplash for a reason that's right there in the word backsplash.
I think the reason why the stove is not good in the island is for safety. You want to keep the stove away from little hands. I will guess the ones who have a cooktop in the island have only adults around. You don't want someone knocking off a pot from the other side of the island.
About the waterfall edge, I think it is because it is much more expensive than without it. I wanted to go with the trend a few years ago and every kitchen company was quoting way more with it, which means that if you don't have money to burn, you trim the superfluous expense.
About the sink, in 1988 we bought a small house with a small kitchen, all enclosed but it had a window (an opening in the wall) right above the sink which overlooked the dining -living area. It had a small counter on it. Too small to eat on it but at the time I loved the feature, as compared to the fully enclosed kitchens of the neighbors. I positioned the TV in a way that I could be hand washing the dishes (no dishwasher) and watch my kids on the sofa watching the TV and what they were seeing. I could offer them to pick up their food at this pass through and then they would bring the dishes and dump them into the sink without setting foot in the kitchen. I see the island with sink as an evolution and improvement of that idea.
I don't like a stovetop on the island because of the need for a vent hood. And microwaves above the stove have got to GO. They are horrible! Why are we putting the microwave on display? Why is it so high kids can't use it without climbing on the stove? Why does the vent not VENTILATE!? The WORST kitchen trend and they put them in every single builder grade home. Please make microwave drawers a thing. Thanks.
what about the microwave drawer in the island? Do you think it will become a lasting trend? It just look awkward to me, bending over to put a casserole in the micro and then lifting something hot up and out?
LMAO – you called me out on not being a subscriber and thus you got at least one more
I think a trend of the future might be big appliances built into the island as they have enough space for a small fridge/washing machine/dishwasher/etc.
Agree “functionality” is the key. Seems islands were a natural evolution from walls being removed. Needing counter space to work on. Having worked in a restaurant kitchen, I like a big space to work plus a sink to toss waste, rinse tools and keep hands clean. Stove tops are less used overall, so having a cook top in the island vs a sink seems to be less functional.
I don't like islands very much, but I realize I'm in the minority. I think they're here to stay. I find them very uncomfortable to sit at. When I lived in a place with an island, I felt like an employee in my own home: cooking behind the counter and serving my kids–like slinging hash in a diner. They do provide a big expanse of counter space, which is a plus. They go well in an open concept design, which I love for vacation homes but not for every day. I like the coziness and conversation of seats around a table, and am putting a built-in banquette in my new kitchen.
I see an island less of a trend than as a rebirth of an original kitchen of the turn of the 20th century. My grandmother in Brittany 1910 had one. This is old school. A classic – timeless.
I personally do not like islands with a sink in the middle. I feel like I’m on display & my company gathers around me to watch me chop, dice, slice, and hook up meals while they sip & talk! Lol no thank you! However I do love a functional kitchen. 98% of my family meals were prepared at home when my kids were home.
My parents had the 60’s kitchen with the cabinet hiding most of the view but I could sit at the countertop & watch my mom & dad prepare meals. I loved that and that is how I learned to cook.
So I have been hesitate to knock out a wall and put an island in my kitchen area, problem is I do not like open spaces. Kitchen leading to family room.
The other option is to turn my dining table area (in the kitchen into a functional island area!
Love your post & yes I just prescribed 💜💜💜💜
I have enjoyed our galley kitchen since the 90s… it functions well and keeps my guests out of the prep area and creates a quality dining experience …
The design for our builders kitchen, on an 8 x 8 foot print, was a U-shaped work area with peninsula and bar top. An incredible waste of space and crowded an already small kitchen. By designing a 5 x 3 ft island instead of a peninsula we opened up a second access, 12" overhang for counter height stools, pull out storage and a full worktop. We opened up the area and created great function. Try working with your builder, you don't need to have a cookie cutter design.
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I have never sat at an island to eat, work or do anything else. I don't need chairs at kitchen island.
I have seen this – an island gas cooktop with a venting microwave hood hanging over it. Tell me it didn't work!
I may need to go on record as a data scientist/analyst + serious amateur cook and gardener + corner cabinet and OTR hater pining for a major kitchen/dining reno. You are completely on the money on your google searches to spot trends, but you might want to make it kitchen design 1980, 1990, 2000… and so on to report on actual trend. You can get as granular as you’re willing to make it and produce some trend lines to put a little math behind the trends
I have a bar height peninsula on a pony wall that helps block off my kitchen space. I definitely want to lower it to counter height because I could use the extra work space. I'm torn whether to make it more of an island, since I wouldn't have the space to have both seating and cabinetry. So I guess I'm watching your other video!