How to Design "Your" Own Kitchen
The dictionary defines an "island" as a freestanding unit with a counter or work surface on top, situated in the middle of an area of a room so as to permit access from all sides.
Today, kitchens with islands are designed more often at the request of the client. Islands vary in size and shape according to available space, with worktops of granite, solid surface materials, hard rock maple butcher block, or laminate. If an eating area is designed in the island, glass is gaining popularity in combination with another counter top material.
In thinking about islands in the kitchen, I am reminded of when I was a young girl visiting my great aunt in Atlanta, Ga. There were seven children in my aunt and uncle’s family. No sooner were the breakfast dishes cleared than it was time to begin preparing for lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner meals were always large, consisting of homemade biscuits; cornbread; vegetables; salad; meat, chicken and gravy; and always some type of dessert.
If I close my eyes, I can still see the warm and wonderful kitchen where these meals were prepared. In the middle of the room was a very large worktable, our island of today. On one wall was a white double-door refrigerator with coils on the top. Today we have a sleek side-by-side version available in various colors including stainless steel. Positioned on another wall was an enormous gas range, our professional ranges of today that have become so popular. And on the wall across from the refrigerators was the deep, double bowl sink.
If I designed this kitchen today, I would label it unfitted, various units standing alone, not connected. Today, my aunt’s worktable would be a fantastic island, large and rectangular, the shape many designers prefer. Today’s islands serve many purposes—preparation, serving, cooking, cleanup, a place for the children to do homework, crafts, or just visiting over a cup of coffee. TPW
Today, kitchens with islands are designed more often at the request of the client. Islands vary in size and shape according to available space, with worktops of granite, solid surface materials, hard rock maple butcher block, or laminate. If an eating area is designed in the island, glass is gaining popularity in combination with another counter top material.
In thinking about islands in the kitchen, I am reminded of when I was a young girl visiting my great aunt in Atlanta, Ga. There were seven children in my aunt and uncle’s family. No sooner were the breakfast dishes cleared than it was time to begin preparing for lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner meals were always large, consisting of homemade biscuits; cornbread; vegetables; salad; meat, chicken and gravy; and always some type of dessert.
If I close my eyes, I can still see the warm and wonderful kitchen where these meals were prepared. In the middle of the room was a very large worktable, our island of today. On one wall was a white double-door refrigerator with coils on the top. Today we have a sleek side-by-side version available in various colors including stainless steel. Positioned on another wall was an enormous gas range, our professional ranges of today that have become so popular. And on the wall across from the refrigerators was the deep, double bowl sink.
If I designed this kitchen today, I would label it unfitted, various units standing alone, not connected. Today, my aunt’s worktable would be a fantastic island, large and rectangular, the shape many designers prefer. Today’s islands serve many purposes—preparation, serving, cooking, cleanup, a place for the children to do homework, crafts, or just visiting over a cup of coffee. TPW