Kitchens with a cooking island are probably the most functional form of kitchen furnishing and offer numerous design options. No wonder many home cooks dream about it. If the kitchen island is equipped with a counter, cooking becomes a real experience for the whole family. Counters with bar stools prove to be a very practical addition to the kitchen landscape, expanding the seating area. So nothing stands in the way of social evenings with friends. However, to ensure there is sufficient freedom of movement when cooking and eating, a number of things should be taken into account when planning the space. We will explain to you what is important and how you can optimally adapt the dimensions to the room conditions.
Plan a kitchen island with a counter: determine the dimensions
Especially when planning, many hobby chefs ask themselves how big the kitchen island should be. Most manufacturers recommend making a kitchen island with a counter no shorter than 1.5 meters and no longer than 4 meters. The minimum width of the kitchen island should be 80 cm, and the kitchen island without appliances – 60 cm. However, these minimum dimensions can vary because wires and power cables often have to be hidden in the kitchen island. For this purpose, additional storage space must be provided. There are also the spatial conditions: Rectangular or square rooms with at least 15 square meters of space are ideal for a kitchen with a cooking island.This kitchen facilityIt can also be implemented in rooms with sloping ceilings and niches, as long as it is well planned.
A kitchen island that is too small or too large poses a planning challenge. In small kitchens you hardly have any freedom of movement if you choose a large version. Kitchen islands that are too long also mean longer commutes, which will make work processes even more difficult. A kitchen island that is too small, on the other hand, is impracticalhardly any storage spaceand cannot be used meaningfully. We give you useful tips with which you can assess for yourself whether a kitchen island makes sense in your own four walls and what dimensions it should have.
Plan a kitchen island without appliances with a counter
The main determining factor for the width is the purpose that the kitchen island with counter must fulfill. If it's an appliance-free kitchen island that's just designed to maximize counter space and storage space, then you don't need to worry about plumbing. However, you should provide connections for electricity, because the kitchen island is often used for pureeing, making smoothies with a blender or even baking bread in a bread maker. In the best case scenario, you should also install USB ports, which you need for a charging station for your cell phone or laptop, for example.
As a rule of thumb: For a kitchen island without appliances, you should plan at least 80 cm for the work surface and 40 - 50 cm for the counter. Overall, the minimum width should be between 120 – 130 cm. Insmall kitchensYou can save space by choosing a kitchen island with an integrated counter. Another option is the half island that is attached to the kitchen on one side.
The length depends on how many people are in the kitchen at the same time cooking or eating together. Singles who have a separate dining table can opt for a 1.5 meter long kitchen island. It offers enough seating for 4 people and more than enough cooking space. Families with children should also extend the counter by an additional 60 cm for each adult and 30 cm for each child for each family member. For a family of four (2 parents, 2 children), a 2.6 meter long kitchen island proves to be optimal. So nothing stands in the way of cozy cooking evenings.
The distance between the fitted kitchen and the cooking island can vary between 1 meter and 2 meters. If your kitchen island has drawers or base cabinets, the distance should be between 1.4 and 1.8 meters. This gives you freedom of movement, even if all cabinet doors are open at the same time.
Kitchen island with counter, sink and dishwasher
If you would like to equip your kitchen island with a sink and dishwasher, you should allow at least 60 cm for the sink. Additionally, leave a margin of at least 15 cm so that water does not drip onto the floor when washing your hands. A kitchen island that is at least 1 meter wide (excluding the counters) and 1.7 meters long is ideal. Our tip: It's worth looking for a similar kitchen island in a furniture store to test the legroom and seating comfort. To ensure that your family and guests sit comfortably at the kitchen island, the counter should protrude around 60 cm over the edge. If youplan a kitchen-living roomand don't want to set up a separate dining area, then you should make the counter as wide as possible. Conversely, if you have planned a family kitchen where everyone will prepare food together and enjoy being together while cooking, then a 40 cm wide bar counter is sufficient. Although you can't serve food on it, the counter offers enough storage space for drinks.
When planning an island kitchen, you should also make sure that the sink is in close proximity to the refrigerator and stove. This way you can optimize workflows. Position the kitchen island so that it is not directly in front of the oven.
Combine stove and counter
If the stove is positioned in the kitchen island, it should be at least 1.5 meters wide and at least 1.8 meters long. It doesn't matter whether you have chosen gas, ceramic, electric or induction hobs. In an island kitchen with a built-in stove, the sink and refrigerator should be within easy reach. You should plan for additional work space on both sides of the hobs, as well as enoughStorage area for herbs, oil etc. Also, similar to the kitchen island with sink, leave a 15 cm border around the hobs so that food or fat does not splash onto the floor when cooking. While you prepare the meal, the family can make themselves comfortable at the counter right next to it.
Plan a kitchen island with an integrated counter
The kitchen island with integrated counter is ideal for anyone who wants a flexible space solution. It is a very functional option, especially when space is limited, in kitchen-living rooms or for island kitchens. This means you can use the available countertop as a work surface or, if you have friends over, serve appetizers and finger food on it. If you have an island kitchen in the living area, you can also set up a buffet on the kitchen island.
This is how you effectively stage your new island kitchen
Island kitchen in a trendy industrial style
Fronts with a rustic look, simple design language, kitchen handles made of black metal andMarble countertops: The modern industrial kitchen presents an exciting mix of old and new. By the way, eclectic kitchen design has another big advantage: it leaves plenty of scope and you can add additional kitchen elements later if you wish, without them having a negative impact on the overall picture. On the contrary: new wall cabinets, shelves or kitchen accessories can effectively complete the eclectic kitchen landscape.
Design an island kitchen in a country house style
It used to be just an addition to the living concept, but today the kitchen island has become the center of communication in the kitchen landscape. As such, it must be emphasized visually above all. This is why it is usually designed in a contrasting color or made from a different material. PopularMaterial combinations for the country house kitchenare wood for the counter and natural stone such as marble or granite for the worktop. The cassette fronts add additional country house charm. When it comes to colors, popular color combinations are dark gray and white, white and blue, or white and various shades of wood. Basically, white kitchen fronts make the dark gray or dark blue kitchen island stand out better. Variants made from recycled wood also emphasize the rustic look and ensure coziness.
Modern island kitchen
In contrast to the country house kitchen and the industrial-style kitchen, the modern kitchen appears simple and elegant. The cooking island fits harmoniously into the minimalist kitchen landscape; it is made from the same materials and colors as the fitted kitchen. Themodern island kitchenis ideal for large living areas because it looks more like a decorative piece of furniture than a functional element. With its handleless cupboard doors and simple fronts, it makes the living room furnishings stand out better.
Functional family kitchen
If the kitchen is separate from the living area, then the counter can completely replace the dining table. In these cases, the room should be designed so that there are enough passageways and that the chefs have quick access to all equipment. The kitchen island is usually used to prepare breakfast and is therefore only equipped with a sink and possibly also with cupboards and drawers that offer storage space for dishes and cutlery. From a purely visual perspective, the family kitchen is something to look forward to – it is functional, but very stylish at the same time. Most family kitchens present an exciting mix of modern country house style and Scandinavian charm. The color scheme is simple. Materials play the main role in the family kitchen.
Do you really want to have a kitchen island with a counter in your new dream kitchen and are you looking for inspiration? We will be happy to help you and show you more inspiring ideas in the photo gallery below.
Family kitchen in the living area with stainless steel counter
Modern single-family kitchen with white worktop and blue cabinets
Gray kitchen islandwith granite counter
Modern kitchen-living room with bar counter
Family kitchen with cooking island with glossy fronts
Modern island kitchen with wooden counter
White kitchen with matt kitchen cabinets and wooden bar stools
Kitchen in white and gray with adjacent dining area
Modern peninsula kitchen with fireplace
Eat-in kitchen in gray with counter made of recycled wood
Set up a kitchen in French country house style
Country house kitchen with vintage bar chairs
Family kitchen with glass bar counter
Kitchen island with integrated wooden counter
Modern kitchen island with stove, sink and dining area
Puristic kitchen-living room with integrated counter
Kitchen island with wooden counter and natural stone worktop
Modern peninsula kitchen with integrated counter
Light gray peninsula kitchen with oak dining area
White Scandinavian kitchen with kitchen island without appliances
