Islands in the Stream ... of Traffic - Part II

Author: Brian Mahoney
Published on: Feb 1, 2001

Islands in the Stream ... of Traffic (Part II)

You see the pictures in the magazines ... a large multi-level island, usually topped in granite or Corian and, almost always, with a raised snacking area on one end or the other. On paper these islands look wonderful and, in theory, they are. In actual fact, as I described in my last article, few kitchens are large enough to accommodate such a creation. If you happen to be one of the lucky homeowners whose kitchen is large enough for an island and a breakfast or snack area, read on.

Kitchens with family rooms or dining rooms off to one end, work well with islands. An eating area on one end of this island helps to integrate the two rooms and also helps to de-isolate the person(s) preparing the food.

Eating areas can be as simple as an extended 36 inch wide bartop on a peninsula or as complicated as a multi-level granite island. Check out the magazines or design books, look around the kitchen showrooms in your area but also make sure to check out the granite and Corian showrooms in your area too. These last two spots will almost certainly be able to provide you with a wealth of ideas on how to arrange your island.

Corian and granite are heavy, obviously, and you will require some form of support for them. A kneewall is a relatively quick and easy solution on one side of the island, ending at about 41 1/4 inches above the floor. The granite I sell is 3/4s of an inch so this would make the finished height a comfortable 42 inches. You can finish the kneewall in the same material as your kitchen or just paint it to match the room on the side it is on.

Alternatively you could use upper cabinets placed on the floor as a base for the top. I prefer a 36 inch upper which, with a 4 inch base made to toe kick material, will have a finished height of almost 41 inches. The cabinets will be twelve inches deep and can be the full width of the island or perhaps set apart with one to each end and one or two in the middle, depending on the length of the island. Normally the cabinets are left without doors but this is up to you. Just don’t bonk your head when you are setting your knick-knacks up!

Other solutions are as simple as a leg. Corian will make up a solid Corian leg for you, if you have deep pockets. Kitchen cabinet manufacturers will also make up legs to match the kitchen material to support the raised top ... or a top that juts out but is at the same height as the main counter for that matter.

Finally, there are angled supports that will support a heavy top but my preference is for another solution. These tend to look too retro for my tastes, although with Corian’s incredible ability to take on any shape you can imagine, a chrome support might just fill the bill in a trendy, retro kitchen. Do some research, check out some vendors and I’m sure you will be happy with your choices. Good luck and I’ll talk to you next month!