Features > Features > Focus of attention

Focus of attention

An island unit will add a practical and attractive focal point to your new kitchen.

Article by: Elizabeth Bailey
Publish date: 2nd April 2009

One of the biggest kitchen design trends over the last few years has been the inclusion of an island unit. Its usurped the position of the kitchen table and although it certainly does exactly the same job, todays island units are far more sophisticated in looks, design and function.

Undoubtedly, one of the main advantages of an island is that it creates a sociable focal point in the kitchen not just for the chief cook and bottle-washer, but for the rest of the family and guests too. The days of banks of kitchen cabinets based only around the perimeter of the room are gone, as designers focus their attention on bringing workspace and storage facilities into the centre of the room. Adding a practical island generally has the advantage of using floor space that would otherwise be left open, or filled with a table. An island also adds multi-use surfaces to the room it can incorporate a preparation area (including a prep sink), a cooking space or additional hob (even the main hob), a breakfast bar, and, of course, as much storage as required. Tom Flood, MD of Bespoke Kitchens & Interiors, says: There are no hard and fast rules for islands shape and style forms the basis, mixed with the designers creativity for a suitable solution.

Practical points
Its important to discuss the whole concept of the island thoroughly with your kitchen designer. The complexity and usefulness of it can be dictated by how much of the budget can be allocated to get the best island one. At its simplest, an island can be a set of two or four standard base cabinets put together with a worksurface end and side panels can be added or your kitchen designer can specify plain MDF or timber panels, or perhaps tongue-and-groove panelling. At the other end of the scale, the island could be the operational hub of the whole kitchen and include an array of high-tech appliances and features. Remember that services will need to be moved to the centre of the room (ie. electrics, plumbing, waste pipes), which will add to installation costs.

Appliance advantages
If your island will include a prep sink, choose a practical tap too perhaps with a spray-rinse pull-out head or one with a filter facility then it can also be used for drinking and cooking water. Adding a hob makes sense if you have the space especially if your main cooking appliance is a heat-storage range cooker, and a built-in combi-microwave and a sleek induction hob will give you alternative summer cooking facilities. Choose a streamlined induction or ceramic hob, which can be used as an extra surface when not being used for cooking. Efficient extraction is vitally important look at ceiling-hung extractors that can extend over the whole island area.

Mixing materials
An island unit becomes even more of a focal point if a combination of different surface materials is used. Current favourites include granite or solid-surface composites in dark shades with contrasting chopping boards in natural timber. Glass is particularly successful when used as a raised breakfast bar the transparency of the material means it blends into its surroundings a little more than a solid colour and, with good lighting, the whole look of the kitchen is lifted.