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I too wanted an island, but alas either the kitchen was too narrow or husband and I too fat, designer said we couldn't have one ;-)

Posted by Joyce lund – November 30, 2006 4:22 PM

yes me too, i would love an island in my kitchen. problem is i need to buy the house 1st.

Posted by nina – December 12, 2006 7:49 PM

I also have an island that has 4 large doors, do you think that I can put the microwave in it?
I dont like it on top of the stove I am short and can't reach it.

Posted by Marcia – December 12, 2006 8:25 PM

Looks great - As for Countertop - Is the pricing of Stainless steel comparable, more or less than Granite?

Posted by G.L – December 13, 2006 9:33 AM

I have dreamed of an island also. I want to knock out the wall between living area and kitchen and have open country area appeal. The island would have storage on kitchen side with a place on living space side for a plasma TV, corner curio, then drop down to eating area (table heighth) for seating for 4. Wouldn't that be cool

Posted by Julie Simmons – December 13, 2006 10:32 AM

I've dreamed of taking down the wall between kitchen and DR, putting in an island, which would open up the whole vaulted ceiling great room to the Living room. I believed this remodel would bring us into current design. But a couple hammers into the sheetrock found plumbing and electrical wiring that can't be rerouted without huge expense and tons more work. I'm so disappointed. Lesson learned - not all walls can come down, unless you are willing to pay the price.

Posted by Lori – December 14, 2006 6:09 PM

I would like to add an island. What is the minimum of clearance around one? My kitchen is small. I want to include a small sink in the island.

Posted by Anita – January 3, 2007 5:22 PM

I'm just starting to get ideas for our kitchen remodel and your island idea was one of my first wants and needs. If your remodel is completed please post it. I'd love to see the finished project.

Posted by Patti – January 8, 2007 12:47 PM

i have L shaped kitchen and stove and fridge right next to each other. When open fridge it will not open way over, because divider wall there with spindle poles. I would like to take that divider wall totally out, but electrical outlets within this wall on both sides. I would keep a partial wall and hook on island. I am just wondering what ideas for islands could be used in this situation....and what is going to be involved with these outlets in this wall. How do you know if removal of a whole wall or partially going to be a problem. I don't want to end up in big mess.

Posted by Bonnie – January 13, 2007 6:08 AM

We're just planning our renovation, and I REALLY wanted an island instead of the bar set-up we currently have. We also have cabinets that overhang the bar area and cut the room in half. Currently, we've decided to remove the overhang cabinets, leave the molding and put in a panel with recessed lights that will shine onto the bar, which will hopefully be updated in granite. Is this still going to be a dated look? Are bars really dated-looking? The island would require much more work, and we'd end up with less room for the three kids to do homework. We've been advised not to lose the cabinet space, so we're repositioning the old cabinets on an empty wall and building a cabinet underneath for a buffet area. Sears will then resurface all the cabinetry. Has anybody had experience with Sears' resurfacing?

Posted by Beth – January 13, 2007 9:01 AM

I want an island and knock down walls too. I live on a slab of concrete so it's not just the cost of cabinets or space. and the wall is load bearing. we need architects and engineers.... I am just planning this and to tell you the truth I am so overwhelmed that I am rethinking doing anything at all. every decision comes with more than I can handle of $$. my simple 10X9 kitchen is becoming a 60K project. this is nuts.

Posted by celesta – January 24, 2007 3:38 PM

I am one of the homeowners (the wife) and would like to address a couple of the questions:
First, Beth, our designer assured us that she was working toward a timeless design that would last over many years. I think that using quality materials will help a long way to making that possible. Granite and good lighting being just a couple of the elements of good design.

Next, Anita, clearance around an island can vary, there are actually websites where min/max are listed. I beleive they are in the neighborhood of 3'-4'. Ours is 38" for the long span which works pretty well most of the time, and 30" on the one end with the refridgerator. That is a high-traffic place and very tight--it would have been nice to get a bit more space. We would have had to shrink or move our island to do that. Hindsight is 20-20.

To G.L.--I can't compare apples to apples for granite vs. stainless steel. Granite comes at a price per linear foot. Stainless depends on what kind of pattern (if any) you will put on the top. I think the granite cost us more in this case. The nice part about the stainless steel is that there is no space or crack between the surface and the backsplash.

Finally--to Marcia--according to our designer and contractor, "you can do anything." The only parameter being cost. But we've got our oven in the island and it works out great. As long as you can wire it for the microwave and you have space it sounds like it's doable.

Posted by Gretchen – February 1, 2007 5:30 PM

I've seen several articles on kitchen islands at www.choppingblocks.com.

Posted by Tim Dugan – March 13, 2007 8:54 PM

I can't wait to build my own.

Posted by Kitchen Islands – March 15, 2007 7:45 PM