An island is the most requested feature in a kitchen remodel and the most common regret when it is the wrong size. Here is how we get it right.
Start with the work triangle
Sink, hob and fridge should form a triangle with sides between four and nine feet. If an island breaks that triangle, it is working against you.
Clearances you cannot skip
Leave at least 42 inches between an island and the cabinets behind it — 48 inches if two people cook at once or appliances open into the walkway.
When a peninsula wins
In a narrow or galley kitchen, a peninsula gives you the work surface and seating of an island without closing the room in. It also hides the working side from the living space.
Watch the sightlines
An island should not block the view from the door to the garden, or the cook from the family. Sketch the plan from the doorway before you commit.
Storage in the island
If you add an island, use the base for drawers, a wine fridge or a microwave — not for a second sink you will never use.
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