The kitchen is no doubt the hub of any household. But, what’s the hub of the kitchen itself? Where do people tend to gather the most? Where does the majority of socialization take place? If you said kitchen island, ding ding ding, you would be correct. A kitchen island is not only a great functional asset to the room’s design, but also the center piece of your kitchen. A kitchen island is where you and your loved ones tend to stand around, waiting for dinner, talking, munching on some appetizers. It’s where dinner is prepared, served, and enjoyed. And the kitchen island, is the place where your kids work on their homework and tackle those challenging art projects.  

A kitchen island has no shortage of uses and functions. The beautiful thing about kitchen islands is that they can be molded to fit your unique home design and purpose. If you’re looking for some home inspiration, here are a few of our favorite uses for a kitchen island.

A Place for Extra Storage 

One of the main reasons why kitchen islands are so popular is the surplus of storage space they offer. Regardless of what size kitchen you have, implementing a kitchen island can be extremely beneficial.  

Kitchen islands are tailored to best suit your room’s desired purpose, leaving plenty of room to cook, socialize, and eat. All of those bulky appliances, pots and pans and other dishware that were crammed into your previous spaces can fit snuggly under your kitchen island. Many opt to incorporate cabinets in their kitchen islands to keep appliances out of sight. But if you’re looking to show off your favorite dishes and sleek appliances, introducing shelves to your kitchen island is a sure way to add some character and uniqueness. 

A Place for Amenities 

If you’re looking to add a preparation sink, a dishwasher, or refrigerator drawers, kitchen islands are THE place for your amenities. Your kitchen island can be built to be a haven for functionality. You can add a stovetop and range hood to go over the kitchen island, making it the ideal centerpiece for entertaining and cooking. 

A Place for Cooking 

By introducing amenities to your kitchen design, the space is transformed into a center for culinary creativity. Choosing the right materials and countertop surfaces is a sure way to make your kitchen island the best place for food prep. Adding butcher block to a section of your kitchen is a great option for food prep, chopping with ease and efficiency, and making clean up a breeze. Besides butcher block, a recurring theme amongst homeowners is mixing and matching countertop materials. You can prioritize your space and needs by only using certain materials on a small section of your island’s surface. Not only is this functional, but it’s financially savvy while also looking amazing. 

A Place for Kids 

If you have kids or are planning to in the future, kitchen islands are a necessity for your home. Kitchen islands are a great place for kids to do their homework or hang out while you’re prepping food. They can be close by, so you can be hard at work while also keeping an eye on them. Kitchen islands also present the perfect opportunity for kids to join in on cooking and feel like they are part of the action! During the design and building stages, you can create drawers and shelves that are within their reach so they can feel independent and help you out all at once. 

Kitchen Solvers 

Kitchen islands offer endless opportunities for function and design. Create storage solutions that fit your specific needs while adding colors and materials that fit your personal style. At Kitchen Solvers, you can work with a team of experts to transform your kitchen into the kitchen of your dream, regardless of your price range. We are here to ease your kitchen remodeling decisions and give you the most pleasant remodeling experience. Deciphering which route to take on your remodeling journey doesn’t have to be confusing. Call today for your kitchen consultation. 

And while you’re here, feel free to explore some of our other blog articles such as Cabinetry Door Styles and Kitchen Layouts that Cater to a Social Lifestyle. 

The post Favorite Uses for a Kitchen Island  appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Paul Gardner

www.denniskitchens.net

• Project Location: Clearwater, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Mission
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: Koala
• Countertop: Cambria
• Countertop color: Ironsbridge
• Backsplash: Tile backsplash in Literati Irving

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Seminole, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Shaker
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: White
• Countertop: Silestone
• Countertop color: Eternal Calacatta Gold
• Backsplash: Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: La Crosse, WI
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Mission
• Remodel style: Contemporary
• Color: Ebony
• Door Material: Cherry
• Countertop: Hanstone Quartz
• Countertop color: Montauk
• Backsplash: Hanstone Quartz full-height

 For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of La Crosse’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Belleair, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Maui
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: Polar White
• Countertop: Silestone
• Countertop color: Pearl Jasmine

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast’s Gallery page.

The post Spotlight Kitchens of July – New Cabinetry appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Paul Gardner

www.denniskitchens.net

Rowayton, CT ­— Karen Berkemeyer and Leslie Dunn often work together to create their clients’ dream kitchens and baths, with the former focusing on kitchen/bath design skills and the latter incorporating interior design touches for their respective companies of Karen Berkemeyer Home in Westport, CT, and Dunn Designs in Norwalk, CT. This kitchen, along with the master bath and a guest bath, was no exception…however, this time the resultant collaboration was showcased in Dunn’s personal residence.

“We work really well together,” says Berkemeyer, noting a mutual respect for each other’s talents, which makes for great collaborations. “As a kitchen and bath designer, I focus on making sure these spaces technically and functionally work correctly. Partnering with another professional, such as an interior designer, gives clients the best of two worlds since multiple people are working on the same project. I love working with Leslie because she is so creative and has great taste. She is especially talented and creative with paint.”

Contrasting color

Paint, at opposite ends of the color spectrum, is a focus of Dunn’s kitchen, where the bright white island is contrasted with dark black perimeter cabinets.

“The use of color – combined with very simple cabinet door styles, which are a great choice for today’s kitchens – makes this design stand out,” says Berkemeyer.

Black perimeter cabinets served as the starting point for color. “She really wanted to do black cabinets,” Berkemeyer indicates.

As a contrast, the island was designed to look like a table that Dunn found, notes the designer. “Island and perimeter cabinets don’t necessarily have to match in cabinet style or color,” she says. “In fact, when done well, like in this kitchen, having them not match shows a lot of creativity and makes for an interesting design.”

Keeping cabinet styles simple is the key to making a ‘mismatch’ work, says the designer in reference to the flat-panel, flush-inset Wood-Mode perimeter cabinets and full-overlay, shallow-cut, Shaker-style Signature Custom Cabinetry cabinets on the island. Both are sheathed with custom colors selected by Dunn.

“You would never do this perimeter with oak raised-panel doors on the island,” she says. “This perimeter features a very simple door style, as does the island. They play off of each other well. This entire kitchen has created so much interest from people. They see things they would have never thought of doing…and they like the result.”

The designers also kept the cabinet hardware unpretentious. Pulls on the perimeter cabinets bring to mind cleats used to anchor boats to a dock, giving the space a bit of a nautical vibe that pays homage to the water just beyond the kitchen windows. For the island, they incorporated drawer pulls that resemble those found on a filing cabinet. Berkemeyer also designed the island with seating for four, positioning stools at a right angle to facilitate conversation between guests. The designer also added custom brushed steel accents at each leg base.

“They add another texture to the space and make the island more interesting,” she says.

To continue the contrast between light and dark, Berkemeyer topped the island with white marble, which she built up with a 2″ mitered edge. The perimeter features median-black, charcoal-colored quartz with a leathered finish for added texture.

White 3″x6″ subway tile covers the walls, extending from the countertop to the windows and beyond. Its undulated surface offers a rippled appearance while its stark light color juxtaposes against the blackness of the shallow-depth soffit on the ceiling.

“I thought the kitchen stopped too abruptly in the corner,” notes Berkemeyer in reference to the soffit. “I suggested that we add the soffit, extending it to the refrigerator on one wall and across the length of the windows on the other. It really helps pull the whole kitchen together.”

Additional dark-hued accents include the deep blue paint that adorns the window trim. “She really likes to include the unexpected!” she says.

Overcoming storage challenges

To make better use of the kitchen’s footprint and gain a few extra feet of space, the designers removed walls between the living room and kitchen, eliminating a hallway in the process. To provide visual differentiation between the two spaces without adding a physical barrier, they added reclaimed antique beams in the ceiling, extending them into the living room.

“Previously, her home had an enclosed little kitchen with separate living room,” says Berkemeyer. “Now, the kitchen is more open and looks so much larger. Taking down the wall also made it possible to include the island.”

Even with the additional space gained by removing the hall, storage was a challenge for the relatively petite kitchen. “When spaces are smaller, like in this kitchen, the biggest design challenge is usually storage,” she says. “It’s important to make the most of whatever space you have, and to make everything accessible, especially focusing on corners. Taking cabinets up to the ceiling maximizes the space. It’s important, too, to pay attention to clearances, ensuring that walkways are technically correct and easy to maneuver.”

To overcome storage concerns in Dunn’s kitchen, Berkemeyer included specialized corner organization accessories, recycling bins, pull-out drawers and several large drawers to make contents easy to access.

Glass panels in the wall cabinets provide a brief glimpse of their contents and keep the space visually ‘light.’ “Like the rest of the kitchen, the glass is kept clean, without any mullions, to maintain the desired look for the space,” she concludes.

The post Collaboration Transforms Kitchen appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

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https://www.denniskitchens.net/?p=931

Paul Gardner

www.denniskitchens.net