Kitchen island sizes vary considerably from moveable cutting and serving tables to installed free-standing cabinets with a full complement of storage and workspace options. Nearly 80% of all home buyers consider a kitchen island essential, according to one survey, but knowing which kitchen islands sizes are best is another matter. Interior designers point to the gravitational pull of a kitchen island, to how it becomes the focus of design and activity in the kitchen, but accomplishing that in your own kitchen involves some careful planning. Put Wheels On Your Plans Large kitchen islands serve to separate open-space rooms commonly found in home design today, and they help direct traffic flow, convert eating and cooking areas to multi-use areas between meals, keep the cook and guests together-but-apart, as well as complement other design ideas. Large islands are especially useful in kitchens with large floor plans or odd-shaped dimensions or in open-space eating areas in apartments and condominiums. Existing kitchens with little space, or that have floor plans and traffic patterns that limit the work area, benefit greatly by having a small island in the kitchen. Often, there is no better way to achieve that highly-desirable workspace 'triangle' between the refrigerator, stove, and sink than to install a small island that frees up the work area. Small islands are especially useful in kitchens in apartments or condominiums, particularly where two small islands can be arranged efficiently where one large island won't even fit. A cart or wheeled island adds to the versatility of a small island. The size of a kitchen island raises questions about features. Large islands have the advantage of space and can be fitted with bar sinks, deep fryers, serving shelves, storage cabinets and drawers, utensil and towel racks, small refrigerators, wine racks, and beverage service, among other options. Smaller islands and carts, quite obviously, have more limited features. Steve Ecclestone is webmaster at Kitchen Island Ideas
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