Could you post a floor plan, even if it is a sketch with dimensions? It sounds enormous for a kitchen that size but it depends on how it relates to a space. 11x17 isn't a really small kitchen, though.

Do you have a plan that you can post? Will your perimeter cabinets be in an L shape or U shape with the island in the center?

First of all, a sink and dishwasher will take up about 5 ft of the island, plus the 18" to 24" recommended to leave clear on the other side of the sink doesn't leave much clear, non-splash room for seated people. 3 people would need, according to standard guidelines, 6 ft of counter.

Will the seated people be backed up to other cabinets or working space, or just open space or an empty wall?

Having no idea, really, of the layout of your kitchen, here is an island measuring 2 1/2' by 8' in an 11 x 14' space, with cabinets on two sides...Oops, sorry, the space should be 3 ft longer! Anyway, this is how I imagine an island the size you're talking about with sink and dishwasher, plus some half-depth cabinets. I don't know how you have those and seating for 3.

If nothing else, this proves we need a layout to help you much. :-)

Not sure if this will be of much help as your layout may be totally different, but here is an overhead (approx.) of our 10' x 17' kitchen.

We have a family room that opens out on the long side, but we will be using the island for seating. I wanted as much space around the island as I could get, but with a 48" x 24" cabinet base underneath the island w/drawers and open shelves all the way thru. The granite on top will be 42" x 68" long.

(We always want it all, don't we? ;-).)

Hi

Sorry, I don't know how to post photos or a layout of the kitchen.

The kitchen is a rectangle, original layout was galley with french doors at one end and entrance to the dining room at the other.

We are still trying to come up with a design, we are thinking of having the long wall house all the appliances and cabinets with an island in front of with with seating and a sink. Behind the island is a an entrance to the hall and the rest will be wall. I'm worried the seats will be too close to that wall and feel crowded.

I hope this makes sense.

It sounds like a very good, atractive and workable layout to me. The 3-3.5 feet behind the island should be just fine as long as it's not THE major trafficway through your home with doors and chairs competing for its space. (But you've already established that there won't be those).

Don't be buffaloed by what people with a lot more space to use decide is necessary. To help in maintaining perspective: 18" is all almost everyone feels is needed in a living room to pass around a coffee table, or other furniture, to seating. You have more even with stools pushed out.

To avoid feeling crowded, if it becomes an issue, how about light-scale backless stools? Maybe consider keeping upper cabinets to the minimum necessary for a lovely open feel to the whole space?

Walking into a seating area is a bit different, and if a coffee table were further than 18" away from the sofa you couldn't reach it from the sitting position.

From a standing position, the "bulk" of furniture is experienced at the knee to hip level. Try walking through a tall narrow opening that is 18" wide where the space is experienced at shoulder and eye level--very uncomfortable feeling, while still physically possible for most people.

Furniture is also movable and an island is a fixed element. True, though, we would need to see the actual floorplan to know how it would work for you.

you know, i kind of agree with rosie here. this was such a huge issue for me in my 12' wide kitchen. i almost did not get an island, and more importantly, the island that i really wanted.

i can tell you that it worked out perfectly and i got exactly what i wanted. mine is a little bit wider and a bit shorter than what you are considering. i gave up two inches and got a 34" wide island. that was enough to make it fit in my kitchen and give me the 41" ailses to walk on both sides. really, i don't know why i couldn't think beyond a 36" wide island at first, after all i was getting custom cabinets. it did end up being 36" with the 1" granite overhang on each side.

my island is just a little over 6' long. i can imagine my island being 8', but the extra 4" width on mine might make a difference. i think that you should get some cardboard boxes and build one to see how it might look in your space. i did that and lived with it for a day walking around doing my normal stuff carrying laundry etc.. to see how it felt.

as far as the seating, that is working out great for me too. i, we, our family, would be lost without the seating. its just something that we use everyday. its a good spot to do whatever during the day or whenever. i did find some stools with very low backs. you don't even know they are there or that there is seating on the other side of the island when they are tucked under.

if your cabinets on one wall are 24" deep + 1" countertop overhang, a 32" island, this includes a 1" overhang each side, that will leave 75" for ailsles. that will give you two 37.5" aisles. see if you can live with that using you cardboard model.

i hope my math is correct. someone else jump in here please. if anything, i might consider making it not so long. like rhome said, a dishwasher and sink is going to take up alot of space. if you could do like you said in your later post and only put a sink in it, that might be better.

My kitchen is 13ft wide, there is a major pathway from the mudroom/laundry/garage (no one uses the front door) behind the stools, plus basement and pantry doors. The distance from the Wall of Doors to the countertop is 54" and I would not want it any narrower. I need backless stools! The distance from the corner (angled end cabinets) to the range (not handle on the range) is 35" - that's the tightest point on the other side. At the widest, the island countertop is 42" and it is 9ft 3" long. The angled cabinets at the end are 24" deep at the deepest point. Breaksfast bar is 18" deep in the middle (overhanging pony wall) with 13" of kneeroom.

People are going to get tired of seeing this pic!

{{!gwi}}

Look at Blakey's new kitchen. The island is 27'' wide with 42'' aisles on both sides. I don't know the length of the island. It is pretty long and is beautiful! If you are planning no cabinets on the other side of the island, 30'' should be just fine in an 11'' wide space.

Here is a link that might be useful: Beautiful kitchen island

Thank you for all the replies and photos. I think I will go with the island, it's the only design which gives me the most seating in my kitchen and lots of counter space.

I think the fact that there is no cabinets behind the island should be enough room without being too crowded. I also like the idea of the backless stools, it will take up less room.

So many decisions, it can be overwhelming.

Thanks!

None of these islands shown, unless I missed it, have a sink and dishwasher. That's what concerns me about this whole idea.

I agree with you, Rhome. Reread the OP question. 68'' long island is snug for a sink. Wonder why, with a 17' kitchen, the island is so short?

Cohetele, the OP's island is planned at 8 ft x 30 inches...A sink, dishwasher, and seating for 3 with half-depth cabinets in front of the seating, if I'm understanding the description correctly. It's better than 68", but I still don't know how that will work.

I didn't scroll up far enough!
It would help to see the plan.

This link doesn't have any wonderfully inspiring photos, FirstYear, but it does show a similarly narrow space laid out, in this case, with an island and L counter. BTW, you should be, what, at least Third Year by now? :) Happy Spring!

Here is a link that might be useful: Similar kitchen