Kitchen Island Installation

Anybody who’s keeping tabs on the housing market is familiar with the following mantra: the kitchen is the one room that can make or break the home in question. In today’s market, buyers are seeking out homes with kitchens that are modern, spacious, and chock full of storage capacity. When it comes to kitchens, one of the biggest selling points is ample countertop space, and a good way to maximize this aspect is to install a kitchen island for added storage and prep space. Kitchen islands come in a variety of styles and sizes, and are rapidly becoming the latest trend in kitchen space optimization.

What is a kitchen island?

A kitchen island is a stand-alone, unattached counter that is accessible from all sides. Kitchen islands today are available in many different shapes, sizes, and styles. Some kitchen islands come with built-in cabinets for added storage space. Other kitchen islands include a sink, thereby making them extremely useful for food preparation. A more elaborate kitchen island might even come equipped with a built-in cook top, refrigerator, or microwave. While there are plenty of mobile islands available, most contractors will recommend that any kitchen island – especially the lighter, smaller kinds - be properly secured to the kitchen floor so that they do not move or tilt when pressed upon.

Who needs a kitchen island?

Anyone with a large enough kitchen should consider having an island installed to maximize work space within the kitchen and add overall value to the home. As a general rule, it only makes sense to install a kitchen island if after doing so, you’re left with a minimum of three feet between the edge of any side of the island and the nearest kitchen wall or row of cabinets.

If you’re an avid cook with a limited area for food preparation and storage, then a kitchen island might be the answer to all of your space-related problems. Even if your idea of a home-cooked meal involves nothing more than the microwave, a kitchen island is still a valuable investment in the most important room in your home.

Benefits of installing a kitchen island

The great thing about kitchen islands is that they instantly add extra countertop and storage space to a kitchen. Many kitchen islands can double as an eating area, thereby opening up the surrounding space by eliminating the need for an additional table within the kitchen.

Another benefit of kitchen islands is that they allow multiple people to work in the kitchen at the same time. Without an island, some couples might find themselves fighting over countertop space or arguing over who’s been hogging the sink. Since many kitchen islands come equipped with built-in sinks, they offer the option of separate but adjacent workspaces so that multiple people can prepare food at the same time without stepping on each other’s toes.

From a financial standpoint, kitchen islands are an affordable way to add value to any home. A standard kitchen island will cost less than a new set of cabinets but might offer the same amount of additional storage space. Sleek-looking, higher-end islands can also serve as an appealing focal point within the kitchen, thereby increasing its worth in the eyes of potential buyers.