Design Ideas for Kitchen Island Countertops

A kitchen island countertop is a highly functional surface that you and your family can use for eating meals, playing games, preparing food and several other activities. Countertops come in wide array of styles and can include some clever added features such as dual surface heights and built-in sinks. If you are thinking of installing a kitchen island, there are several countertop design ideas that can work for you. Does this Spark an idea?

Material

Some of the most in-demand materials for kitchen island countertops include wood butcher block and marble. According to The Sexy Kitchen, butcher block is the choice for slicing and dicing foods---as it provides a soft surface for knife blades to land on, keeping them sharp---while marble, with its smooth, nonporous surfaces, is ideal for rolling dough and preparing pastries. However, as Oregon Home Magazine warns, both wood and marble are prone to staining and scarring, so they are not good options for active cooking areas that involve setting down hot pots and pans. Instead, for cooking-intensive island countertops, use granite or fabricated solid-surface materials such as CeasarStone and Corian, suggests Oregon Home.

Shape

The shape of your island countertop largely depends on the size of your kitchen. For a smaller space, standard rectangular or even square island countertops work best, while in a larger space, countertop designs can become more elaborate. Better Homes and Gardens' Kitchen Bath Ideas states that one option is to use an L-shaped design, which establishes two different countertop areas that you can use for different activities. Alternatively, a T-shaped design provides a large end-section that you, your family and your guests can sit around like a dining table. To maximize the flow of foot traffic in your kitchen, consider using a more casual and compact wedge-shaped island countertop. Regardless of the shape you decide on, The Sexy Kitchen recommends rounding off the corners of the countertop to minimize the risk of injury.

Dual Height

As This Old House notes, instead of keeping your kitchen island countertop surfaces all at one level, you may want to stagger them and create two distinct surface areas. The lower level works well for food preparation, and the higher section---where people can sit---serves as a protective backsplash. Also, instead of using the same material for both levels, you can vary them according to your kitchen needs.

Sink Space

Incorporating a sink into your kitchen island countertop's design is an efficient and stylish way to set up an instant dish-washing and rinsing station. In addition, if you are going to use your island as a food-preparation area, a built-in sink means that you do not have to walk to another part of the kitchen to rinse vegetables and other foods.