Carrie Lucke I am in the process of remodeling my kitchen right now. My house is a 1920's center entrance colonial. We opted to go without the island. Too much expense to stuff it in there. It would have been small. It would have looked like a remodel. It would have been in my way. I agree with you. Do we all really need an island?? It's been sort of a nightmare remodel. I have been cabinet ready for 6 weeks and my cabinet maker won't tell me when he will deliver. any how- I will post pictures when we are done. We focused our budget on custom top of the line materials that were in keeping with the house, and improving flow by opening up arches to adjacent rooms, adding storage and efficiency- not a huge island open to a TV room. It just was not in the budget or the floor plan.

Marlene Wangenheim AKBD, CAPS, Allied Member ASID Carrie, who says that a kitchen has to have an island? If a kitchen is designed correctly and safely, aisles should be at least 36" wide and 39' is more desirable. That aisle number increases when two cooks are working in the same this. Having wide aisles makes for a much safer kitchen, especially when little children are present. Opting out of an island is choosing function and safety over the current fad. Good choice.

roveda If I could, I would never have an island. A "U" shaped kitchen, with a big kitchen table in the middle fits my soul. Just like in the show, "The Waltons". The table is the heart of a kitchen in my mind.

Marlene Wangenheim AKBD, CAPS, Allied Member ASID Its not just about the "look" of an island that makes them wonderful. It is about the extra usable counterspace, however, in a narrow kitchen you can design so much more counter space using the "U" shape. The most important thing is the passage ways around the island. It can become hazardous in a kitchen if the aisles are not wide enough for someone to pass by. An example of this would be a child or someone in a wheel chair trying to get between an island and the open door of an oven. Be careful with islands. Make sure there is a comfortable 36" or more (39" even better, 42" best) In a two cook kitchen the aisles should be as wide as 48". Check NKBA.org for some great ideas on how to layout a kitchen. good luck, mw