Pole in kitchen island. Best option for the worktop?

8 years ago

So our kitchen island happens to have a 19x24cm pole in it. Not what I wanted, but not in the budget to move it; the whole house is supported by it and the otherwise open plan room is so wide that the cost for steel beams and work to get rid of it would be extortionate. It’s muh closer to one end of the island than the other, though, so hopefully will be unobtrusive.

The main problem we’re facing with it is whether to widen it a few inches so that it comes all the way out to the end of the worktop (which would mean we don’t need to have any seams in our worktop as they could just cut a u-shaped hole for it) or have a seam in the worktop so that we can keep the pole as small as possible.

What would you do?

have a seam and keep it as small as possible. With the latter option have two options with it. We can either avoid the awkwardness

Featured Answer

Rawketgrl

8 years ago

I think it matters what style your home is. Sleek modern lines or industrial styles look great with posts/pipe columns.

While traditional/transitional styles tend to look better with built up column.

A rustic style looks great with a beam incorporated

I think this is my favorite column on counter look

If you are going for a style that works with a pole/post then let the counter surround it. If you are going for a style that works better with a built up column then wrap the counter around the column in a U.

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Comments (11)

PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
8 years ago
It's not a big deal just adds detail. I have one in my kitchen the island is about 2' away from the column and the counter from the island narrows and runs into the column, it was never an issue the column is matching kitchen cabinets. So I wouldn't worry too much not to mention the pole being a structural component and in most cases to move them is not that simple.

Good luck
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Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
i'd do the option which avoids a seam.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
8 years ago
Without knowing the detailed layout of the kitchen, it may work to change the level of the countertop at the column to provide a higher or lower work surface or eating surface.
mark_rachel
8 years ago
We have a support pole in our kitchen & it looks like the last picture that Rawket posted. We just had it drywalled as small as possible & painted it the same color as our walls.
cocoyates
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes, the style of the house is quite modern, so I'm hoping a pole will just add a bit of character instead of looking odd. Thanks for the opinions, I think I'll incorporate it and just make sure that there's enough worktop on the back end to be able to actually put something down so that there isn't just like a 4 cm bit of worktop between the post and the edge.
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
25 ft of glue lams or steel is NOT cost that prohibitive as a percent of a whole remodel. Much less a new build. Perhaps you need a different contractor.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
Get a solid surface top and you'll have no conspicuous seams, pole or not.
tdesanti
5 years ago
Could you share a pic of what you decided. I’m debating seam or no seam now too.
res2architect
5 years ago
Bite the bullet and pay for a beam.
Gabrielle Quinn
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I think that you will need a more extensive worktop with time. I also made this mistake that initially installed in the kitchen a smaller one. I thought it will be better because I will have more free space in the kitchen. But with time, I saw that I needed more work surface in the kitchen. So I've decided to order a new one. I choose a big granite one from Quartz Worktops Hull. The guys from there delivered it in around 48 hours, and also they installed it for free. I remained impressed with the quality of the worktop, and it's looking very sick.