Please help with Island decision...

18 years ago

Here is my floorplan (18 1/2' X 10 1/2') with a few modifications: We flipped the layout so double ovens & frig wall have changed places. The most significant change is that island has gone from 93 X 39" to 82" X 42" AND aisles between island and frig/oven wall has been reduced to 40 1/2" rather than 42".

Here are my questions:

1) Should I reduce island from 82" to 79" so my aisle is at 42" instead of 40 1/2"? I have a French Door frig.

2) Currently, cabinet maker has planned 28" base cabinets for island with a 12 1/2" overhang for seating. Plan to use 3 stools that will slide underneath.

Would you stay with that plan or reduce base cabinets to 26" so I'd have a 14 1/2" overhang for seating. I know the NBKA guidelines recommend a 15" overhang for counter height islands.

It's hard to mentally "give up" more island/cabinet space on paper as it has already decreased significantly from my initial plan after I opted for the corner cooktop, etc. Yet, if it will make the kitchen more comfy to increase the aisle width on both ends of the U as well as the island seating, now is the time to do it since I have to sign off on cabinets ASAP.

Please share any insights that will help me decide. We are a small family of three. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

laxsupermom
18 years ago
You only need 24" of space per bar stool, so nobody should feel squished if the island is reduced to 79". As to the overhang, recommended standard is 15". I'm only doing 14", but I think 12 1/2" might feel uncomfortable. One might have to push their stools way back to have enough knee space. If I remember right their is a walkway from the garage behind the island. I would reduce the base cabinets the 2". What have you planned to store in the island? Can you maybe tape off space and see if your dishes or whatever will sit comfortably in slightly less space?
Buehl
18 years ago
I agree w/LaxSuperMom...I think you should increase the overhang by 2". 12-1/2", IMHO, is not enough to comfortably sit at w/o sitting sideways or pushing your chair out from the surface. I think you'll be surprised how much of a difference 2" makes!

I would also make the aisles 42" since you have appliances opening into them (refrigerator, double ovens).

A 79" long island has plenty of space for 3 seats...72" is all that's really needed. A 6+-foot island is still quite large.

HTH!
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mrs-mjt
Original Author
18 years ago
laxsupermom, Wow! You were close on the garage entry. It is near the frig. Beyond the island is the great room (dining and living room). I plan to primarily store dishes in the island along with containers and supplies to clean up leftovers so I'll make do with storage if I decrease base cabinet.

Well, it sounds like the majority vote of two says to make the needed changes to the island to increase the walkway and to give more knee space at island. Any other opinions as I'm finalizing with cabinet guy this evening?

I was at someone's house last night and they have a 37" high counter with only 11" of knee space and my knees did bump the base cabinets so I know I'd like to go deeper.
mlessirard
18 years ago
Last Kitchen I designed for our family we sat three comfortably in 72" length island, my cabinets were 24" deep. 10"-11" does work for an overhang...if brackets supports are needed then you may need to increase the depth.

With 10" overhang our Silestone counter was supported by a plywood sub-base (no brackets or supports). Increasing depth means more counter top material to support... to buy as well. I highly recommend you increase the aisle space at frig. (44-45"). That's where you'll have the most activity.

I am an interior designer who loves kitchen design
nicole__
18 years ago
Well....I have an 11" overhang. It has worked great! So whatever you choose will be fine. Our 15' breakfast bar opens into the great room. The only complaint I've had was from a rather large guest.....her thighs didn't fit under the counter overhang. She suggested we buy shorter bar stools....:0)