Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 2 February 2015 | Page 45

45

DESIGN
& DECOR

The Kitchen Island
an Iconic Addition to Your Kitchen

and practical areas of your
kitchen, but also the focal
aesthetic feature. If you are
planning a kitchen remodel,
give serious consideration to
the inclusion of an island unit.
As well as making a dynamic
improvement to the use of
space and flow in your kitchen,
it will also add additional and
ever useful storage and work
top space. When planning the
addition of an island, consider
the following tips to ensure
you get an island that will
meet all your requirements
while remaining ergonomically
Today, the most modern friendly and functional:
islands incorporate all that
has been learnt from the past, •First and most importantly,
resulting in a contemporary ensure that there is sufficient
and versatile island integrating space between the island and
elements of the butcher’s other work surfaces to allow
block, storage area, breakfast for cabinet and appliance
bar and dining table all in one. doors to open freely and for
The great thing about an island two people to pass by easily.
is that it can accommodate Remember, the addition of a
any design, contemporary or kitchen island should never
traditional, and, if designed deter the flow and sense of
well, the island will not only space in your kitchen, but
be one of the most well-used should rather enhance it.
esearch shows that over
50 percent of kitchens now
include an island. This iconic
addition to the kitchen
has been around in various
formats for decades, adding
extra storage and work space,
essential design elements and
creating the perfect place for
family and friends to gather.
Initially a fusion between the
traditional kitchen table and
the old-fashioned country
style butcher’s block, the
kitchen island has evolved
over the years.

R

•Adding an island permits a
reconfiguration of the classic
work triangle of refrigerator,
hob and sink. It is an ideal
place to relocate either the
hob or the sink and can also
be used to add an extra sink or
prep bowl. A pop-up plug can
be built into your cupboard unit
and literally pops up out of your
work surface when needed,
increasing the functionality of
your island even further. As
most pop-up plugs are plug
towers, they offer two or more
plug points, meaning you can
easily use small appliances
from the island without cords
getting in the way. The island
can also convert to a work
area if needed, allowing for a
lapt