Wondering what can amp up your Queenslander kitchen? If you don’t have a kitchen island, or if you are on the fence of getting one or keeping the one you already have — you’ve come to the right place! We will tell you all about kitchen island ideas and what it means and takes to have and maintain one. Kitchen islands are great whether it’s a spacious kitchen, small kitchen, and everything in between.
What is a kitchen island?
A kitchen island is an integral part of the overall kitchen design. It typically involves a large, rectangular piece of furniture typically situated in the centre of the kitchen that provides an extra work surface, extra storage and a place to sit or eat.
Kitchen islands can be made from a variety of materials such as timber, stone, metal or even glass. The dimensions and shape of a kitchen island can vary significantly depending on the size and layout of the room.
Many Australian kitchen islands feature lighting fixtures such as pendant lights above the benchtop to provide extra task lighting whilst working in the area. Kitchen islands can also be used to divide up larger spaces or create more privacy within shared areas – this could include separating living rooms from cooking areas or creating private study nooks within open plan homes.
What is an island in a kitchen’s most definitive purpose? It can free up lots of wall space. Some homeowners like to locate their sink or cooktop on the island while others prefer a flat open space. Putting a sink and cooktop on your island can free up wall space for tall pantries and oven towers. From cooking prep to casual dining to storage space — a big, medium, or small kitchen island can do it all for you. It can also create a gorgeous focal point.
Benefits of Having a Kitchen Island
Extra counter and storage space
Create an attractive focal point
Provide extra seating for casual dining or entertaining guests
Make food preparation easier
Increased mobility
Added functionality and versatility
How to Decorate a Kitchen Island
When it comes to customising your kitchen island it’s important to take into consideration how you plan on using it most often – cooking prep, entertaining guests or storage purposes – in order to determine the best countertop height and surface material for your needs.
Below are some basic steps to ensuring your kitchen island bench has everything you need:
- Select the right benchtop material based on its durability and your style preferences
- Take into account any needed electrical outlets
- Ensure adequate ventilation
- Plan out adequate lighting fixtures (e.g., pendant lights) over workstations throughout the entire design for your kitchen island lighting
- Include ample storage choices such as pullout drawers, adjustable shelving systems, deeper cabinets underneath counters, etc.
- Ensure that all necessary appliances fit comfortably within its confines (including wine coolers, microwaves, etc.)
- Consider adding extra touches like bookshelves along one side for decorative display
Tips for designing your kitchen island bench Brisbane
- Keep it simple. What’s the point of an island if it’s just going to be cluttered with junk?
- More counter space isn’t always better. You need to make sure you have enough room to move around the kitchen easily.
- Don’t forget about storage. An island is the perfect opportunity to add extra storage to your kitchen.
- Consider your needs. Do you entertain often? Do you need extra prep space? Do you need a place to eat?
- Don’t overcrowd the kitchen. An island should complement your kitchen, not dominate it.
What if my kitchen is small;
can I still fit a kitchen island in it?
Even small kitchens can have the possibility of having their own island. There are many possibilities for making a kitchen island work, even where space is limited.
Our Craftbuilt Kitchens designers have been catering to clients with small kitchens using a specific design, personalised to their needs. There are unlimited possibilities to limited spaces.
Small Kitchen Ideas
Among the many kitchen showrooms Brisbane’s top one is right here in Stones Corner. Craftbuilt Kitchens Design Studio is open from Tuesdays to Fridays (10AM-4PM) and Saturdays (10AM-2PM).
We are located at 76 Old Cleveland Road, Stones Corner with ample parking off Laura St. Ph (07) 3847 4962
FAQs on Kitchen Islands Brisbane
Can I have seating around my kitchen island?
Yes! A kitchen island with seating is very common. Depending on the size of your space and the configuration of your kitchen furniture layout, adding island bench kitchen chairs or stools around your island provides additional dining options for guests as well as extra seating when entertaining friends and family members. It’s also perfect for those times when you need help with food preparation tasks like chopping vegetables or slicing meats!
Can I make my dining table as kitchen island?
Yes, you can make your dining table into a kitchen island. This is a great idea if you are looking to save space in your kitchen and have your dining area and kitchen seamlessly flow together. Kitchen islands made out of a dining table can offer extra counter space for meal prep, storage below or on the side with shelves or drawers, and even seating around the island. This allows for easy entertaining and gathering around the island during meal times.
Is it possible to install electrical outlets on my kitchen island?
Yes! Electrical outlets for any modern kitchen with island bench is essential. Installing electrical outlets into your existing countertop is a great way to add convenient access points for small appliances like blenders or hand mixers that would otherwise take up valuable wall space in your busy kitchen environment. Most home improvement stores sell kits that make installing electrical outlets easy even for novice DIYers – just remember to check with local building codes before attempting any major home renovation projects related to electricity. Better yet, have a professional handle your kitchen island lighting for you. Call us on (07) 3847 4962 or visit our kitchen showroom Brisbane at Unit 15, 76 Old Cleveland Road, STONES CORNER QLD 4120 (Parking off Laura St.).
Can I move my kitchen island if I want to?
Yes! You can have a portable kitchen island when you have it made based on the type of material used for construction and base support underneath them during installation process. Islands made from lightweight material such as laminate countertops with wheels installed underneath them can be easily moved from one area of the room to another without much effort at all whilst heavier islands with thicker countertops may need several individuals involved in order to safely relocate them without causing any damage along the way during transit periods between new locations within your home environment overall.
How do I determine what types of features to include on my kitchen island?
The type of features included on a kitchen island typically depend on a variety of factors such as the amount of space available, the overall look and feel you are trying to achieve in your kitchen design, as well as its intended purpose. Some popular options include sinks or cooktops, extra storage cabinets or drawers, built-in wine racks or beverage chillers, butcher block tops for added prep area when cooking, shelves for displaying cookbooks or decorative items such as flower vases or baskets.
How much does a kitchen island cost?
The cost of customising an existing pre-made kitchen Island depends heavily upon what type of customisation options you select (benchtops, cabinetry styles/materials, etc.). Generally speaking however most homeowners can expect to shell out anywhere between $1000-$5000 depending upon individual requirements.
What is the minimum size for a kitchen island?
When considering the kitchen island bench dimensions, you’ll want to measure the space where it will be placed and consider how many people will be using it at once. The standard island bench size is 900mm for height, 600-900mm depth, 20mm-50mm thickness, and 20mm overhang.
If your space allows, opting for a bigger island may provide more countertop space, storage, kitchen island stools or seating options, and work surfaces.
For your safety and ours, we request everyone to maintain social distancing measures. Visit our design studio, or you can also call or email to discuss how we can assist with your renovations during these times.
QBCC Licence No: 61004