The kitchen island is the center of the home where the household gathers to prepare a meal, work remotely, do homework, celebrate with family and friends, and much more. Follow these 5 tips when designing your kitchen island to ensure it is ready to handle day-to-day activities.

Island Sizing

Large kitchen islands are currently a staple in new builds and remodels. If you’re building or remodeling, consider your available space for an island to help determine the size. An oversized island is great, but make sure it proportionally fits in your kitchen. The walkway between cabinets and appliances should be a minimum of 3 feet. However, 3 feet can feel quite tight when drawers or appliances are open. If you have the space, plan 4 feet of space between your island and other cabinets and appliances.

Island Seating

How many stools can I fit at my island? The number of stools that fit at your island will depend on the size of your stools. Measure the width of your stool and add 4-8” between each stool, so a 20” wide stool would require 28” total. On average, to see how many stools will fit at your island, divide the length of your island by 24-28”. On average, use 3 stools for an 8-foot island, 4 stools for a 9-foot island, and 5 stools for a 10-foot island.

Island Overhang

Most kitchen islands have an area with an overhang. The overhang area is a great spot to place stools. When designing your island, determine the width of overhang that you would like. Granite and Quartz countertops are heavy and therefore Wisconsin Granite follows the National Stone Institute guidelines on the amount of overhang that is allowed without support brackets. Without support brackets, the maximum overhang for granite is 10 inches, while the maximum overhang for quartz is 12 inches. Want more overhang? Not a problem. There are many options for countertop brackets, from hidden brackets to decorative posts, and extra width in the overhang is possible. Talk with Wisconsin Granite for more information.

Island Stone Choice

Ask yourself, who lives in the house and how will the space be used? With so many options for countertops, it can be overwhelming to make a selection. There are pros and cons to each countertop material. Briefly, Quartz is a manufactured product that does not require sealing, offers consistent patterns and popular color palettes, but can get surface stains, and is not as resistant to heat. Granite is a natural stone and is resistant to heat. Granite is from the earth and every piece is different, a true piece of art. Granite does require sealing, which is a simple process of wiping on and wiping off. Granite can stain due to its porosity, but the sealer will reduce the likelihood. We suggest stopping at Wisconsin Granite to view our showroom and learn more about the differences in material.

Island Design Tips

There is a lot to consider when designing your island, consider texture, color, and shape. The island cabinetry can be a fun place to add a pop of color. We have installed several kitchen island countertops in homes where the island cabinet is a different color than the perimeter cabinets. We love how it turns out! Consider what color you choose, and keep it classic rather than trendy so the style will last for years to come. Another option for adding a pop of color to your island, select a different stone for your island than your perimeter cabinets. Choose a statement stone for your island countertop while keeping the surrounding pieces simple. Texture is another fun way to add character to your island. Wisconsin Granite offers some brushed and leathered finished stone countertop options. Lastly, consider the shape of your island. We can add a curve or angles to your island, which creates a nice space for stools to pull up to and converse rather than sitting in a straight line.