Have you always dreamed of having a kitchen island?
In recent years, kitchen islands have become a very prominent feature of kitchen designs. Everyone wants a kitchen island. (me, too!) And because most of these islands are part of the full kitchen design, they are often installed permanently. This means the flooring is probably finished around the island as opposed to underneath it. All and all to say, it is probably not moving.
Well, maybe you have an older kitchen, designed when kitchen islands were not as popular. So, you aren’t lucky enough to have a built in kitchen island. You can still live the dream and have an island in your kitchen!
As long as you have the space, you can purchase and have a portable kitchen island.
Portable Kitchen Islands
While the word portable may imply small, portable islands are not always small. Some of the islands are quite large…and still portable – meaning simply that they can be moved and are not necessarily permanently installed.
With the popularity of permanent kitchen islands in new kitchen designs, the styles and designs of the islands themselves has evolved greatly. The types of islands installed in a kitchen can vary a lot from the cabinet style. They can be a different color, a different material or even a completely different and contrasting style.
For example, you could have a very traditional kitchen with traditional cabinetry – molded wood cabinets, crown molding, etc., and yet have a sleek, modern island. In this case, this would be appropriate for a more eclectic style of home decor.
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Kitchen Island Design Styles
So, now with the growth of kitchen island installations, the sheer number of styles and designs available has greatly increased. As with, or as a result of the popularity of permanent kitchen islands, the number of styles, designs and materials for portable – or moveable, uninstalled – kitchen islands has grown at about the same rate.
As such, if you are looking to add a kitchen island or cart to your existing kitchen design, you are sure to be able to find a style, design, color and material that you desire. Kitchen portable islands, as with permanent islands, are available in just about every shape and size too.
Some of the now available styles of kitchen carts and islands include solid wooden kitchen islands, metal kitchen islands, glass portable islands, in any style you like. There are contemporary islands,
traditional kitchen islands,
modern portable islands, classic islands, industrial themed kitchen carts,
kitchen islands with enough overhang to allow for seating,
and more.
And just when you think you may not be able to get the size you need, nowadays you can get just about any size you need without having to get a custom built kitchen island – a potentially very costly project. Anytime custom is involved in home decor and design, you know the price is high.
Now that you are convinced that you want to add an island in your kitchen, and make your kitchen even more tremendous, you need to know the absolutely most important thing to consider.
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Kitchen Island Sizing
The most important thing about the sizing of a kitchen island is that you must leave at least 36 inches or 3 feet of space around each side of the island for walk around space (unless of course you are putting the island up against a wall).
You must measure between walls, cabinets and appliances. So make sure you have at least 3 feet from your stove-oven, dishwasher and refrigerator, etc. You do need to be able to open these doors and move around too.
This is the only real consideration required when determining what size of portable island you need or want. If you have less space than this, perhaps you should not have a kitchen island or you should choose one that has wheels so that it can be rolled out of the way when you are not using it. This would be an island for mainly practical purposes – so still possible but, only for a temporary installation.
Moveable Portable Kitchen Islands with Wheels
For both practicality and functionality, if you are limited in space – that is, you do not have at least 3 feet of space around your island – you may opt for a basic kitchen island which also has a butcher block top so that you can do your cutting, chopping and prepping right on top, and with wheels so that it can be moved out of the way easily.
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With wheels or by adding wheels, you can have the portable kitchen island you need without requiring a lot of kitchen space. Move-able kitchen islands are a perfect addition to any small kitchen.
A small portable island with wheels can also be used as a kitchen cart. With it’s mobility, it can easily be moved and used as a small side table at your dining table – great for holding extra dishes, wine, glasses or utensils.
If you have more space and have enough for a semi permanent kitchen island, then you can choose a larger style which may even incorporate room for seating at it. You have the option of getting an island with room for wine bottle storage, pot storage, kitchen towel racks or decorative shelves.
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Kitchen Islands with Seating Areas
Some islands available here offer a fold out table for extra bar stool seating – perfect for a smaller kitchen with no seating area.
One final note on this particular style of island…because it has an extension, be sure to measure your space based on the measurement of the island in full extension. If you have a little less space, you should be ok assuming that the extension will be folded down and compact for the majority of the time.
Hopefully, you have got a sense of whether you can have an island or not…and hopefully, that answer is YES!
Once you get yourself a kitchen island, you will be amazed at how people will be drawn to it and congregate around it, not to mention the practical usage you will get our of your new portable kitchen island.
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