Custom kitchen islands can be an upscale compliment to the overall design of your kitchen. Besides being attractive, they are also functional by providing much needed storage for kitchen tools as well as an extra prep space. Islands sometimes even include a sink or stove. Whatever you want from a kitchen island, there is a design to meet your specific needs and preferences.
A basic kitchen island model closely resembles a table as it has a flat surface and four legs. This type of island is practical for not only preparing a meal, but also serving food. And of course, it gives your kitchen a slight decorator's touch. However, these islands have no storage space.
Another basic kitchen island also has a flat countertop, but instead of four table-like legs, it has a cabinet and drawers underneath for storage, which allows the cook not to wast valuable counter space.
But custom kitchen islands have a far more extensive design and may include a dishwasher, refrigerator, sink space, cook top stove, and even a warming oven. You can also order custom kitchen islands with a granite countertop that will replace the need for a cutting board. However, you may have a built-in butchers block installed as well. With custom kitchen islands, the choice is completely up to you.
There are also custom kitchen islands that have several levels. Although these have a smaller workspace than a custom island, they are overall larger than their custom counterpart and come with a place to eat and food prep area on one level as well as a separate level for a sink or cook top stove. This kind of island gives the at home chef many options.
Since custom kitchen islands widely vary in size, you must measure your island space in order to figure out how much room you have to work with. If you find it difficult to picture the space allotment, you can always line up cardboard boxes in the spot you wish to place your island to form. Give it several days and you will know for sure where and how large you want your custom island to be.
While you are measuring for any of these custom kitchen islands, make sure that there is at least three feet of space free around the island location to allow for enough foot traffic and appliance room. You want to be able to have space to open your refrigerator or dishwasher door and still be able to maneuver around the kitchen. You do not want to be unable to move around or your open your appliance doors completely.
One last style of kitchen islands are portable islands, which are perfect for those kitchens with a limited amount of space. These islands can be wheeled anywhere you wish while not in use, but still provide you with more workspace. Even though a portable island will give you the workspace you want, you cannot customize it with a kitchen sink, cook top stove, or dishwasher.