How to Choose a Kitchen Island with Seating

Design a kitchen island with seating that invites family members and guest to pull out up a chairperson or faeces and portion out conversation while you ’re cooking .

It ’s well-off to see why a kitchen island with seating room is a must - have feature in novel and remodeled kitchen . By separate the kitchen floor plan , the island delineate cooking and support country and direct dealings out of the employment core . Depending on the island ’s blueprint , it can oblige intellectual nourishment cookery , surplus kitchen reposition , dishwashing , everyday meal service , and extra occasion entertaining . Stools deplume up to an island provide quad for casual dining and invite conversation with the cook .

Tips for Designing a Kitchen Island with Seating

Akitchen islandwith seats may have cantilevered countertops supported by board legs , 12- to 19 - in - inscrutable breakfast bar overhangs , or table - style extensions . Whether the island is bar- or tabular array - height , seating room should be situated on the island ’s outer perimeters so those seated can enjoy the cooking natural process without being in the chef ’s fashion .

An island ’s seats capacity depend on the size of the island , the other functions it serves , and its location within the study trilateral . No matter the layout , however , there are a few introductory measurements to consider when designing a kitchen island with seating . Use these guidelines to check that your kitchen island and the type of seating you take for it mould together for a comfortable and navigable space .

Island Specifications

Aisles on each side of the island should be at least 42 inches wide to assure that dealings move easily around the island . When two Cook will work at the same time in the blank , 48 - inch widths are opt .

When designing a kitchen island with seating , consider whether you desire an uninterrupted span of countertop or an island with multiple stage to manage dissimilar tasks . For example , see placing a tall breakfast bar countertop to jam sentiment of cooking jumble spread across bead - down countertop . You could also place a down in the mouth or higher add - on table at the island ’s out end . Amplify interest by usingvarying finishes or countertop surfacesto speciate one level from another visually .

Interior Impressions

modern white open kitchen mint green stools accents

Credit: Greg Scheidemann

Seating Requirements

opt seat that suit the island ’s altitude and appropriate at least 12 inches of clear knee blank . Barstools fit underneath 42- to 46 - inch - gamey breakfast bars , and sideboard stools exercise with standard 36 - inch - high-pitched island tops . modest faecal matter anddining chairstuck beneath tabletop - tiptop counters ( 30 column inch ) .

The National Kitchen and Bath Association commend give island sitters mickle of elbow room . For example , each seat dining car at a 30 - inch - gamey table or return will call for a 30 - inch - blanket by 19 - column inch - inscrutable space . Seats at 36 - in - high countertop require a 24 - inch - panoptic by 15 - column inch - deep blank space ; sitters at 42 - inch - high counter require spaces measuring 24 inches wide-eyed by 12 inch abstruse .

Kitchen Island With Seating Ideas

As long as there ’s an overhang or a kneehole of sort , almost any size of moveable or build - in island can deal at least a crapper or two . Think beyond rectangular grade whenplanning a kitchen island : orotund , L - shaped , and satisfying interlingual rendition provide high - stake silhouette that furnish plenty of utility .

Worktable Island

Worktable islands often feature room for seating at the end , leaving the longer sides approachable to James Cook and the centersection for storageorcountertop appliances . If the arena around the island is sloshed , choose depressed - visibility stools that can be tucked under the tabletop and out of the traffic flow rate when needed . Backless metal crapper in a showy color , such as turquoiseor bright yellow , provide a stylish accent that does n’t take up too much space .

Curved Breakfast Bar

Breakfast stripe that curl outwards render more way than their directly - lined opposite number . This kitchen island with seating has a unequalled shape that allows barstools on two sides while the area near the range is left open for food prep . The other end feature twocabinet doorsthat opened to storeseasonal serveware , entertaining essentials , and other less - oftentimes used items .

Double-Sided Seating

Some larger kitchen islands with seating boast overhang or breakfast parallel bars on two out incline , allowing many guest to pull seats up to the workstation . Other island designs disjoined cooking and conversation : The master island address kitchen tasks , while a rotund , solid , or rectangular extension bring home the bacon tablelike seats , with stools and chairs placed on three sides .

Keep Kitchen Islands With Seating Traffic-Friendly

Whateverconfiguration you prefer , make indisputable it ’s a kitchen island with seats for every household member and that the seating is easy get at by those entering the kitchen through various threshold . For kitchens that connect to another room , it typically makes sense to set the island seating area along the open side . That way , stools or chairs are easily accessible when you walk into the room and face right away into the kitchen .

Frequently Asked Questions

Typically , it ’s meretricious to buy a kitchen island that is already built than to build a custom one from scratch . This will also save on labor costs and materials since creating your own requires specialized skills .

A kitchen island should n’t take up more than 10 percent of your kitchen ’s square footage . The bigger your kitchen , the large the island you could instal , but you do n’t desire a small space to feel cramped by add together this feature article .

Graeco-Roman kitchen island are orthogonal because this is the most functional choice . However , you may purchase an L - shaped island to produce a special zona , like a bar or cooking orbit , in your kitchen . You could also choose a curved shape or a atomic number 92 - shape to make it easier for everyone to see each other and socialize at gatherings .

farmhouse style kitchen island