Storage
“Insufficient and impractical storage is a problem that plagues kitchens across the UK, and with a lack of suitable storage comes increased clutter and disorder. A kitchen island not only provides additional worktop space, but also offers the perfect opportunity to factor storage solutions into your design.
“Incorporate cupboards into your island to store pots and pans and, if you enjoy hosting, consider a wine fridge. End-of-island features, such as shallow shelving, provide the opportunity to integrate practical elements such as a spice rack. Alternatively, opt for a deeper recess to store your favourite recipe books, or display aesthetically pleasing pots and pans. An open shelf at the bottom of your island creates the perfect alcove for a pet bed for your furry friend."
Integrated planter
“Whether you have a growing desire to eat fresh produce, you’re a budding chef in need of easy-to-reach fresh herbs, or you simply want to bring more greenery into your home, an integrated planter adds both style and substance.
“To create a consistent look, carry through the same cabinet doors as your wider kitchen and use the same worktop to frame the unit. Alternatively, for added interest, opt for the same kitchen range in a complementary colour – for example, pairing neutral Stone Grey with a pop of Denim Blue or Sage Green.
“The joy of an island planter is that it doesn’t take up a huge amount of space alongside an island or peninsula and it is totally customisable. If you find yourself tiring of the greenery when seasons change, the herbs can be replaced with a showcase of your favourite wine bottles, cooking oils or jars. When entertaining or enjoying family time in the garden during warmer months, ice can be added to the space, providing the perfect base to chill drinks."
Essential appliances
“Introducing one of your essential kitchen appliances to your island is the perfect way to achieve the ‘golden triangle’ – this focuses on the placement of the fridge, hob and sink to create ease when cooking.
“To create a social space, position your hob on your island. This will allow you to host with ease, facing your guests while you’re cooking, rather than towards a wall. However, if you have young children and plan to use your island as an additional seating area, I’d suggest keeping the hob by a wall to avoid accidents.
“Where a hob is located on an island, ventilation will be a key consideration. There are lots of options available, but I’d always advise speaking to a kitchen designer to help you decide the best choice for you and your budget. Innovations such as the NEFF downdraft hood disappear seamlessly into the worktop when not in use, so the clean lines of your kitchen remain uninterrupted.
“An integrated sink is another handy option for an island, making handwashing before meal prep convenient. Do keep in mind that introducing a hob or sink into your island will require space underneath the worksurface, so consider this when planning your cupboard space."
Split-level
“In a typical design, the height of a kitchen island will be the same as the rest of your worktops, but you can also create a multi-level feature that serves a variety of purposes.
“If you frequently work from home, opting for a split-level island enables you to create a dedicated area on your kitchen island to complete work. Allowing the worksurface to overhang provides space beneath for your legs to hang while seated. I’d also recommend fitting plug sockets around the area to provide laptop charging – a pop up power powerdock can be stowed away when not in use so there is no clutter on your worktop.
Banquette seating
“Integrating banquette seating on one side of your kitchen island creates a comfortable and practical dining area. This seating set up is particularly useful in kitchens where there isn’t space for a separate dining table.
“Many banquette seating options incorporate storage space beneath the seats, which is ideal for storing miscellaneous kitchen items and less-frequently used appliances to declutter worktops.”
To order a brochure, book a free design consultation, or use Benchmarx’s handy kitchen visualiser tool, visit www.benchmarxkitchens.co.uk.
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