The kitchen island is the workhorse of the kitchen, but how much space do you need to add one? Kitchen islands are almost indispensable today. But unfortunately, one of the most frequent problem I see when homeowners go it alone is too much island, too little space. Sometimes with heartbreaking results. But don’t worry, with good planning a kitchen island that meets the building codes can be yours. Most homeowners have no idea just how much space a kitchen island takes. It’s not just a matter of the island itself, you need a lot of space all around it, as well, for a nice smooth workflow. Follow these tips to determine if you have enough room for an island in your kitchen. One Size Fits All? No. If your kitchen is small don’t automatically assume that an island isn’t possible. A good kitchen designer has many ways to make one work even where space is at a premium. The designer, first and foremost, will need to know the exact size of the kitchen and what’s already in it. Then he or she will consider how many people will be using it and for what. Will it be used for casual meals? Will it hold any appliances? Will it have a sink? And if it will be used for food prep, how far is the range or cooktop and ovens from the intended island? How to determine clearance Clearance is all-important when it comes to kitchen islands. In a rectangular shaped kitchen that’s 16 ½ feet wide and 19 ¾ feet long, for example, the cabinets would be located against one wall. The depth of the base cabinets would be about 25 inches with the countertop. The clearance zone is from this countertop edge to the island’s countertop edge. The clearance zone goes all around the island. The minimum clearance, not for a work aisle, is 3 feet. The clearance zone is not optional. It must be included for safety reasons and ease of work in the kitchen. Safety first A safe distance must be kept between the island and all of the cabinets and the appliances in the kitchen. All drawers, doors, dishwashers and ovens must open safely and without obstructing passage. The greatest offenders in a small kitchen are the dishwasher door and often the oven doors and cause headaches for both homeowners and designers alike. The dishwasher particularly, opens downward and can be a safety hazard if there isn’t enough passage space past it. So, more space has to be planned for these sides of the island. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends at least 42 inches between the island and appliances in a work aisle for one cook and at least 48 inches for two. Personally, if there are children or elderly family members, I allow 48 inches for safety sake. That, however, is up to the designer. Islands for smaller kitchens
There’s an island for most kitchens and families. But the minimum recommended size of a fixed island is about 4 feet by 2 feet. This is small but still practical enough to serve a purpose, including small integrated appliances. Remember, the size of the island is primarily determined by the amount of space around it. If your space is just too tiny you could open up your layout which may mean taking out a wall or make use of butcher blocks on legs or small movable islands. These small changes can sometimes make a big difference in the efficiency of your kitchen.
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