No Room for a Kitchen Island? Look Again
Sneak in an island, peninsula or a breakfast bar with some clever planning
Amanda Pollard
9 July 2017
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Need more work surfaces or just a sociable spot to perch? Take a look at these well-planned kitchens to find out how to squeeze in that island or breakfast bar you want.
1. Pop out a ledge
You don’t have to go large to get a hardworking breakfast bar. Not only is this mini peninsula big enough for two bar stools, it also has a cabinet and shelves for extra storage. This end-of-counter surface even helps separate the kitchen from the adjacent living space.
You don’t have to go large to get a hardworking breakfast bar. Not only is this mini peninsula big enough for two bar stools, it also has a cabinet and shelves for extra storage. This end-of-counter surface even helps separate the kitchen from the adjacent living space.
2. Take a U-turn
The owners of this bright, open-plan space have cleverly tucked their kitchen into the area next to the stairs. And the U-shaped design has created an instant breakfast bar.
Opting for white and pale grey features, including the counter tops and stools, helps this substantially sized seating area blend in.
The owners of this bright, open-plan space have cleverly tucked their kitchen into the area next to the stairs. And the U-shaped design has created an instant breakfast bar.
Opting for white and pale grey features, including the counter tops and stools, helps this substantially sized seating area blend in.
3. Go around a corner
If your kitchen is located in an open-plan room with a partition wall, get your place to perch by making use of the space as these homeowners have done. One run of cabinets continues beyond the wall, and the counter top turns the corner to form a ledge for bar stools to sit neatly under. It’s a really efficient way to use an awkward, unused area.
This idea can be adapted for a room with structural pillars too.
If your kitchen is located in an open-plan room with a partition wall, get your place to perch by making use of the space as these homeowners have done. One run of cabinets continues beyond the wall, and the counter top turns the corner to form a ledge for bar stools to sit neatly under. It’s a really efficient way to use an awkward, unused area.
This idea can be adapted for a room with structural pillars too.
4. Book a table
Instead of opting for an island-breakfast bar, why not try a wall-fixed table? This one fits nicely at the back of this narrow kitchen and is the perfect spot for a glass of wine beside the window. And the curved design avoids the danger of sharp edges.
If you can’t install a wall-fixed model, hunt around for a tall freestanding table you can fit into a spare corner of the room.
Bringing back the kitchen table
Instead of opting for an island-breakfast bar, why not try a wall-fixed table? This one fits nicely at the back of this narrow kitchen and is the perfect spot for a glass of wine beside the window. And the curved design avoids the danger of sharp edges.
If you can’t install a wall-fixed model, hunt around for a tall freestanding table you can fit into a spare corner of the room.
Bringing back the kitchen table
5. Custom design to the space
In this kitchen-dining area the owners have managed to fit in quite a roomy island. The L-shaped footprint of the cabinets to the left could have presented a problem, as there might not have been enough room to pass between the ‘wall’ and the island. To overcome this, the designers cut a corner off the island’s tabletop to provide easier access.
In this kitchen-dining area the owners have managed to fit in quite a roomy island. The L-shaped footprint of the cabinets to the left could have presented a problem, as there might not have been enough room to pass between the ‘wall’ and the island. To overcome this, the designers cut a corner off the island’s tabletop to provide easier access.
6. Stow storage in the surface
This overhanging counter top is super clever. Not only does it create a seating space, but it contains three nifty drawers too. But it gets better – a simple partition creates storage for glasses above the built-in wine cooler.
This overhanging counter top is super clever. Not only does it create a seating space, but it contains three nifty drawers too. But it gets better – a simple partition creates storage for glasses above the built-in wine cooler.
7. Float away
To create the illusion of space, it’s a good idea to keep furniture off the floor. The counter top here is extended from the kitchen cabinets to form a floating peninsula breakfast bar. The lack of base cabinets gives the room a feeling of flow. The designers also have thought carefully about the bar stools, choosing white tops to melt into the surface and wooden legs to blend into the floor.
To create the illusion of space, it’s a good idea to keep furniture off the floor. The counter top here is extended from the kitchen cabinets to form a floating peninsula breakfast bar. The lack of base cabinets gives the room a feeling of flow. The designers also have thought carefully about the bar stools, choosing white tops to melt into the surface and wooden legs to blend into the floor.
8. Go along the walls
The compact kitchen here has plenty of storage along two walls, so the other wall has been utilised for a streamlined breakfast bar. Two swivel stools are tucked under and can be turned around to face each other or the chef. The narrow surface is large enough to enjoy breakfast and a glass of wine and some nibbles in the evening.
The compact kitchen here has plenty of storage along two walls, so the other wall has been utilised for a streamlined breakfast bar. Two swivel stools are tucked under and can be turned around to face each other or the chef. The narrow surface is large enough to enjoy breakfast and a glass of wine and some nibbles in the evening.
9. Size doesn’t matter
Sometimes even a small extra work surface is enough to make a difference in a busy kitchen. The compact island here provides a useful spot for preparation and even includes a handy cabinet. Anything larger wouldn’t have been able to fit in the space, so the size of this one is ideal.
Sometimes even a small extra work surface is enough to make a difference in a busy kitchen. The compact island here provides a useful spot for preparation and even includes a handy cabinet. Anything larger wouldn’t have been able to fit in the space, so the size of this one is ideal.
For more surface when needed, an extra counter top slides out from below the existing one.
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6 Things to Consider When Designing a Kitchen Island
TELL US
What other kitchen dilemmas do you wish to read about? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
6 Things to Consider When Designing a Kitchen Island
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#6 is pretty top-notch, got to agree. Kitchens #3 & 4 are lovely as well.
Absolutely love #2 but where is the refrigerator located? Refrigerated drawers?
this article is ridiculous for one dealing with limited spaces and ‘squeezing in’. There’s is not a single mention of the dimensions in any of these examples, nor how much space is needed per seat etc. ie the really important information is missing. Photos can be very deceptive. I found this article frustrating and superficial, ‘nice pictures’ school but not terribly useful.