Enjoy An Island Paradise Right in Your Own Home

“Oh it’s a snug little island! A right little, tight little island.“ British playwright Thomas Dibdin wrote those words in 1833, but it almost seems as if he was describing the “island” in contemporary home design.

More versatile and more elegant than a kitchen table, and certainly handier than traditional against-the-wall cooking and preparation stations, the island can play just about any part you need it to.. Your island can be a bold focal point for your luxury kitchen, an intimate, informal dining area, or an open workstation that allows the cook to be part of the conversation. And, It can be easily designed for L and U-shaped kitchens, reducing the distance between work zones and contributing to smooth traffic flow.

When you meet with your designer, be ready to answer these questions: What kind of seating capacity should your ideal island have? What kind of storage or display areas do you envision?  Will the island have a food prep area, a cook top, a sink? How will you and your family be using your kitchen island on a daily basis?

Here are a few strategies to consider:

Separate your open kitchen from the living area with a kitchen island that serves as a partial room divider.

Build multiple levels into the island and incorporate multiple surfaces that can work for chopping veggies, doing homework or hosting a wine tasting.

Think beyond the wall when you are planning how and where you want to do the actual work of preparing meals. What will you include in the island? A sink, cook top, warming drawer, drawer-style refrigerator or dishwasher?

Consider adding storage and display space for dishes and glassware, with cabinets, drawers, open shelving units or specialized compartments.

Take a tour of these inviting Neff of Chicago islands and you’ll see how your new kitchen island can be as unique as your life style.