Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 2 February 2015 | Page 46

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in the cupboard under, but
adjacent to, the hob as long
as there is a cut-off valve so
that you can stop the gas flow
when it is not in use. If you want
to connect to a larger bottle
stored outside, the pipework
must be done in copper and
be set into the slab. If the hob is
located in the island, consider
drawers below the hob to
store pots and pans and, if
the island is a second work
station with a prep bowl, then
consider including a recycling
bin for vegetable waste in the
cabinet below.
•If installing a sink or hob in
your island, be sure to plan
for the plumbing and electrics
necessary, way before the
kitchen company comes
onsite, as the pipe work and
electrical conduit will need to
be chased into the flooring. If
you forget this, it becomes very
pricey to add the pipework at
a later stage. Ensure all work
is done by a professional,
registered
plumber
and
electrician and that you get a
certificate of installation from
the gas plumber as proof for
your insurance that the work
was done by a professional.
Should something go wrong
and you are not able to
produce this certificate, your
insurance may refuse to pay
out.
•If you are locating your
hob on the island, give good
thought to installing an island
extractor, particularly if your
home is open plan. Not only a
lovely feature, this will also stop
the cooking smells permeating
the rest of the house. Installing

an island extractor can be quite
tricky and it is advised to get it
installed by an expert. There
are many types of extractors
on the market and, generally
speaking, you get what you pay
for. In order for an extractor to
be effective, it needs a motor
capacity large enough to cope
with the volume of your room.
If possible, it should be ducted
to the outside as you lose
about 20 to 30 percent of the
effectiveness if you recirculate
the air.
•An island provides generous
amounts
of
additional
countertop space that is
perfect for entertaining and
is the ideal way for your
guests to be with you in the
kitchen without intruding on
your work space. Give some
thought to how you entertain
and conduct your family life
to ensure that the island will
enhance your lifestyle. The
more multifunctional the better
– one minute, a food prep area,
the next, a family dining room
table, for example.
•Adequate lighting is essential
– without it, the island will lose
much of its functionality and
aesthetic appeal. Pendant
lighting makes a striking
feature above an island whilst
down-lighters can be used
for more subtle lighting and
are particularly effective when
installed into a bulkhead that
lowers the ceiling height above
the island.
•Finally, it is important that your
island unit is stable, so ensure
your kitchen manufacturer has

used adequate support by
using strong weight-bearing
legs under the carcasses. As
a general rule, the number of
legs used for an island carcass
should be double what is used
for a normal cupboard.
The kitchen island remains
an essential part of a welldesigned kitchen and will
continue to evolve and adapt
to our ever changing needs
and lifestyle in years to come.
As no two islands need ever
be the same, this is the perfect
vehicle to express your
unique tastes, tailored to your
individual lifestyle. If you follow
these useful hint and tips, you
too could make this amazing
and highly practical kitchen
icon part of your new kitchen
space.
For more information, visit
www.ksa.co.za or contact
your regional KSA offices:
Johannesburg:
011 781 5340
[e-mail]
Kwa-Zulu Natal:
082 801 8878
[e-mail]
Cape Town:
082 787 8806
[e-mail]