The Kitchen Island

When homeowners bring us images of kitchens that capture their imagination, most feature an island with seating on one side. Many islands only feature one-sided seating because it creates a beautiful visual. However, homeowners are unaware of the many options an island can present. They fall short of realizing there are many ways to achieve an aesthetically pleasing and functional kitchen. Our K&B designers are skilled in designing solutions that inspire homeowners to build upon their dreams with new and exciting ways to love their kitchens.

For instance, homeowners who want to use their island as a dining area should consider seating arrangements for meals. When all of the seats face one direction, it is not easy to make eye contact or create an ideal environment to talk with one another. If you need to move seating to another side of the island, you risk not having sufficient leg room and constantly bumping legs against cabinets and pulls. One-sided seated may work comfortably for two to three people but is not ideal.

The island's space and design determine the amount of island seating. For example, if there is insufficient space in the kitchen for multi-sided island seating, we often recommend an island with legs that can fit seating between them. Another option is to design islands without sides, providing more legroom underneath.

Homeowners with the space for more comfortable and inviting island dining options can create islands with two-sided seating by extending an overhand on two sides, allowing family members and friends to face one another at mealtime. In addition, this design option will enable homeowners to visualize all seating in a line during most of the day and then move seating when meals are served. It is the best of two worlds.

Larger kitchens may be able to accommodate three-sided seating without sacrificing storage space underneath. Square-shaped islands can often accommodate seating on multiple sides.

The functionality of the island as a dining table will also be influenced by the seats' number, size, and shape. If space is at a premium, we often recommend that homeowners consider backless stools or armless seats that can easily tuck under the island.

Browsing for inspiration on Instagram or other sites, you will often find glamour shots with plush seating almost always on one side of the island. However, only some of those arrangements create a pleasant dining or family experience. So, to achieve the best combination of form and function and to learn how your island can be best used for your and your needs, give us a call at 440-543-8050, drop by, or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 8454 Washington Street in Chagrin Falls.