From our site: Great Ideas for Small Kitchen Islands

Your kitchen island has all sorts of uses, including tying your kitchen together nicely as well. Even if you have a small kitchen area, you can still do some great things with an island. We’ve put together some tips that will help you maximize your space and get the most from your kitchen island.

This slide-under island is ideal for small kitchens that lack prep workspace.

All kitchen islands, no matter how small, should have a few traits in common. Here are a few factors to consider when you are ready to install an island in your kitchen:
Does it give you more counter space?
Can you use it as a kitchen table to eat at?
Does it contain extra storage space- shelves, drawers, hooks, etc.?
Is it the right size for your kitchen where it won’t interrupt the flow of traffic and work?
If your island is going to be a practical area to eat at, then it needs to have open shelves and an overhanging countertop. It’s even better if it has a stool that you can tuck in.
Maybe you found an island you like that doesn’t include an overhang. That’s okay, as you can always replace the countertop with a new one. Just be sure to give yourself about six inches of overhang and ensure the new top is sturdy enough to stand up to regular kitchen work.

Clearance Space

One of the main aspects of your island you have to consider is its size. Think about how large the island is and how much space it will take up in the kitchen. Give yourself about 36 inches for regular aisle space, but increase that to about 42 inches if there is an appliance door facing it.

We recommend 28-36 inches of free walking space between kitchen island and counters.

The best place to put your island is usually in the center of the kitchen. You can also use it to box in a kitchen area that is part of an open floor plan. For open floor plan kitchens, an L-shaped island is often ideal.
If you give yourself about 36 inches of space for every aisle around the island, then you are leaving enough room for two people to comfortably pass. For those spots that aren’t very high traffic, you can probably get away with a few inches less. You should test out your floor plan and measure for the island’s space before you purchase or install any island for your kitchen.
You might discover that your kitchen isn’t big enough for a traditional island. If that’s the case, then you can go with an island that can be folded up or rolled under a countertop.
Your island does not have to be custom made. There are tons of choices out there, and you just need to find the right one from your particular space.

Restaurant-Style Kitchen Island

This small butcher block island is a great way to stow kitchen utensils and have a very attractive workspace.

If you go to a store that sells restaurant supplies, you should be able to pick up an industrial-grade work table. It will be light but strong and usually made of stainless steel. They will also be relatively inexpensive and they come in a range of sizes.
If you want to get the most use out of it, then you should look for one that has open shelving and a towel bar where you can place hooks. You probably want one with locking wheels if you are going to be moving it around regularly, but many of these types of tables are light enough that you can move them easily without the use of wheels.

Butcher’s Block Island

You can also use a butcher block as a kitchen island. The countertop is already made for kitchen use, and it’s no problem to slide a few stools up to it to use it as a kitchen table.

Furniture Island Repurposed

You can take a piece of furniture and repurpose it as an island without much expense to yourself. There are lots of pieces that will work. Here are some of our favorites:
Sofa table – the great thing about repurposing sofa tables is that they are already the right height. You can get them in all sorts of sizes to fit your kitchen perfectly.
Cabinet – You can also use an old cabinet for your island. The best ones are those that have lots of shelves or drawers.
Dining Table – You can take a bar height dining table and make it into an island as well. It already has a counter that is perfect for food preparation, and you can add in hooks on the side of it to increase storage space.

The drop leaf kitchen island is a great way to add seating for casual meals or social mixing.

Drop Leaf Island

A drop leaf gives you extra counter space in your kitchen, and you can prop it up whenever you need the extra space. There may be times where it isn’t possible to install a kitchen island because of a lack of space. A drop leaf can be installed on the end of your cabinets or walls and serve the same function for your kitchen.

Floating Ledge

A butcher block ledge can work as an impromptu island as well. The ledge can be made to fold away when you need that extra kitchen space.

Storable Island

You probably have some spots around your kitchen or in adjoining rooms that can store a small kitchen island. Find that storage space and design or purchase an island to fit the specifications. If you are designing your kitchen from scratch, then you can always install an extra piece on one of the cabinets that rolls out to become an island.

The rolling kitchen island can provide a ton of layout flexibility.

Rolling Island

For a mobile island, you probably want to add on quality wheels. It’s a simple and inexpensive upgrade to make, and you will find that polyurethane wheels work best. You definitely want wheels that can lock so the island won’t move around when you are using it.


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From our site: Creating That Perfect Kitchen Layout

Any great kitchen has to begin with a floor plan that’s effective. The plan needs to allow for easy movement across the kitchen while still being aesthetically pleasing. Here then are some tips for creating the best kitchen layout.

1. Condense the Work Area

You should be able to move freely through your kitchen- from the sink to the stovetop to the refrigerator- without anything hindering you. These three areas of the kitchen make up the work triangle, and it is best to have no less than four feet between each component of that triangle. You don’t want to exceed nine feet between each leg. These space limitations ensure that you aren’t having to take too many steps and that your movement isn’t too restricted.

2. Move Traffic Away from Your Central Location

All aisles and doorways in the kitchen should be positioned in such a way that any traffic through the kitchen can go around the work triangle. This removes hindrances and ensures that people are not always getting underfoot. An island can be a great way to separate the work triangle from the rest of the kitchen, and you can place all doorways on the side of the island away from the triangle. Any supplementary stations that are important to the kitchen, such as message boards or snack stations, should be kept way from the triangle as well.

3. Allow for Plenty of Room

Aisles in the kitchen should be large enough that no one feels the need to travel through the work triangle. In smaller kitchens, three feet of width is about the bare minimum you can get away with for the aisles. Ideally, about 42 inches works for most kitchens, but if you have multiple workstations facing one another, then you may want to allow a little more space.

4. Give Yourself Enough Counter Space

Your counter should have at least 36 inches of clear work space. If you plan to roll out dough on your counter, then 42 inches is a better benchmark to aim for. Island cooktops should have some surrounding space. This gives you room to set pots and pans to the side once they are finished cooking.

5. Determine Storage Space Based on Tasks

If you have a good layout, then everything you have to have will be easily available to you. You won’t have to walk to one end of the kitchen to get something you would use on the other side. You need to have enough storage at each station to be able to store everything you would need for that station right there. The cooktop should have storage space for oils, ladles, hot pads, stirring spoons and spices. Your counter space or prep station should have all mixing utensils, bowls, measuring instruments and other food prep tools.

6. Put Ingredients Where They Need to Be

Think about what ingredients you will need each day as you make meals. Your fridge should be close to where you store the cereal, so you don’t waste a lot of time walking about the kitchen every day to get what you need. Items that need to be boiled before use, such as rice and pasta, should be kept near the stove.

7. Plan for Where Every Door Will Swing

As you plan your kitchen, be sure to look out for doors that will invade your work space. Give yourself plenty of space to open all doors, including those on appliances. Look for instances where doors would collide if they were to open at the same time and try to resolve those.

8. Look at Installation Guidelines for Each Appliance

Before you purchase any appliance, look at what the instructions say about installing them. Some need extra space in the back to allow for airflow, while others have doors that may swing open very far.

9. Consider Your Electrical Plan

You also want to make sure that you have enough outlets across the kitchen for everything that will need to be plugged in there. Don’t just think about the smaller appliances like blenders, mixers and toasters, but consider ample outlet space for your items that will need to stay plugged in, like the microwave and fridge.

10. Think about Trash Can Usage

A lot of people like to put their trash can out of sight, usually under the sink. But if you store it there, then you cannot use it while the sink is in use. Instead, plan to put the trash can just to the side of the sink. It can still be concealed and not be hard to access at times.

11. Put Oft-Used Dishes Close to the Dishwasher

If you plan for your dishes to be next to the dishwasher, you won’t have to spend so much time and energy unloading them.

12. The Fridge Probably Should Not Be Next to the Oven

In most cases, it’s not a good idea to have the fridge and oven next to one another. The heat from the oven is going to force the fridge to work overtime, causing it to burn out sooner.

13. Your Island Should Work for You

Islands should have plenty of space on all sides; otherwise, they will be a nightmare to work around. If you have a large kitchen, it may be a god idea to implement two small islands instead of a single large one. That will make it easier to reach everything you need. You can even install a peninsula, which works well for smaller kitchens.

14. Make Your Kitchen Appealing

Your kitchen should have a definite focal point. This can be any station in the kitchen, and you can make it the focus by surrounding it with elegant cabinetry or a stunning backdrop.

15. Work with Someone Who Is Experienced

If you consult with a professional, they can use their expertise to point out the best way to layout your kitchen and make the most of your space. They can also help you determine a budget and set priorities to make sure you get your dream kitchen. We would love to be considered for that honor.  Our company has deep experience and serves not just Charlotte and {city} but dozens of other towns in the Metro Charlotte area.  Give us a call at 980-201-2500 and let us do a free design consultation for you.

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Implementing Track Lighting in Your Kitchen

Track lighting is not only easy to install, but it can also make your work in the kitchen much easier and add some atmosphere to its appearance.

Your kitchen will benefit from a central light source, but you shouldn’t forget task lights that are aimed right where you want to work. Track lighting manages to accomplish both of those goals, and it lets you place light where you need it most. Any kitchen with just a single ceiling light fixture can benefit from track lighting. You can purchase track lighting in flexible or rigid tracks. You can also wire it through the junction box in the ceiling and aim each light right where it needs to be pointed to give you the best illumination.

Track lighting gives you plenty of freedom. Even the best kitchen designers recommend it, as it comes in a variety of styles and it can be made to blend in or stand out. If you want to make your lighting practically disappear into the kitchen, you can go for a white track that disappears on a white ceiling. For more of a standout approach to your lighting, you can always buy track lighting with a metal finish. You can choose spotlight features for your lighting, making it simple to pinpoint it right where you need it. That’s perfect for illuminating art or making it easier to see what you are doing at specific workstations in the kitchen. Lights that are designed like pendants can give you a soft light that can be filtered and shaded with a variety of colorful glass coverings.

Choice in Installation

Your kitchen’s ceiling junction box is usually the best place to install the track lighting. The most basic track lighting systems are between 4 and 8 feet, and they include spotlight features. You do need to watch out for track lighting that doesn’t come with these kinds of options. If your track light doesn’t let you adjust it like a spotlight, then it will likely only provide ample lighting in the center of the kitchen, leaving important task areas around the periphery poorly lit.

You are better off with flexible track lighting systems, which are called monorail systems. These tracks actually curve so that they accommodate the design of your particular kitchen. You can optimize your lighting to illuminate several workstations at once.

Track lights are typically compatible with many different ceiling heights. They are not recessed, which makes them ideal for ceilings that deviate from the norm. The track lighting is supported and suspended using standoffs. These come in two varieties- rigid and flexible. The rigid standoffs are best for flat ceilings, while the adjustable standoffs work well on irregular ceilings. If you are installing one of these systems in a vaulted ceiling kitchen, you can use a track suspension kit to make the job easier.

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