How to Make a Kitchen Island Design Come to Life

Not a day goes by without stepping into the kitchen to make a meal or grab a drink. So much more than that, a great kitchen is an ideal place to share stories with friends and family, make new memories, and enjoy life to the fullest.  

It is not surprising how much homeowners are willing to spend on remodelling their kitchens. For many, they dream of a beautiful kitchen island. Luckily, you can build a kitchen island using personal specifications and achieve a customized kitchen layout. To do so, it’s always recommended that homeowners hire a professional.  

Those unsure where to start can book a virtual consultation with Caesarstone beforehand and bring their questions and concerns to the professionals. They can also follow Caesarstone’s checklist to hire the right pro. 

Building a kitchen island adds more counterspace, seating and storage to the room, and it’s not as complicated as it sounds.  

Wondering how to build a kitchen island? Here’s how to make a kitchen island design come to life. 

Start with the best kitchen island materials 

The key to building a kitchen island lies in selecting the best countertop material. It may be tempting to try and save costs by using cheaper countertop materials but if the wrong material is used, the investment will only stand for a limited period of time. 

There is a wide variety of kitchen island countertop materials in the market. How do people select the best material?  

• Choose a countertop material with a natural look – Kitchen islands sit in the centre of a kitchen and take the focus away from all other features and appliances. Guests need to be drawn in by the first thing they see when they enter the kitchen, and that’s the kitchen island. What better way to create a focal point with breath-taking natural character than with Caesarstone quartz countertops? For example, 5003 Piatra Grey would be a great natural colour to catch any eye. Pair that with the right kitchen island cabinets and be sure to impress. 
• Durability – No one intends to build a kitchen island only to start carrying out repairs shortly after installation. Quartz is the most durable countertop material on the market. Created with a mix of resin, quartz particles and polymers, the result is an extremely durable countertop material that mimics natural stone, such as Caesarstone’s 5111 Statuario Nuvo, which boasts the soft browns and dark greys of classic marble. However, unlike natural stone, quartz does not need sealing (which can be tedious) or polishing.  
• Ease of maintenance – How much time does the average homeowner have to clean their countertop? Choosing an island countertop that is easy to clean and requires less maintenance is a major timesaver. With Caesarstone quartz, the need to seal the surface regularly is eliminated, which lowers the cost over time as well.  
• Uniformity – To achieve uniformity on the kitchen island, a uniform countertop material should be used. Caesarstone quartz slabs eliminate imperfections that would be seen with the use of other countertop materials like granite.   
• Ease of fabrication – One should be able to customize their kitchen island in any size, height and shape. Using a countertop material that can be custom-fabricated eliminates the rigidity of a non-customizable kitchen island.  

The height 

While the normal height of a kitchen island ranges between 30, 36 and 42 inches, you can combine heights based on the specific needs of the kitchen. For instance, if you want a kitchen island for food preparation, a 36-inch height works best. However, this is different for baking and eating. The good thing about building a kitchen island is that it allows you to explore different kitchen island design plans. You can even have one side with a different height from the other. Make the kitchen island taller on one side to place bar stools and shorter on the other side for food preparation. If extra storage is needed, go a bit higher to a 36-inch height.  

The location 

Kitchen islands can be put anywhere in the kitchen. However, this does not mean it should be placed where it obstructs traffic in the kitchen or where it is barely used. A kitchen island should help in almost all kitchen functions such as food preparation and even storage. If you plan on using the kitchen island for food preparation, it should be located in a place closer to the pantry or the fridge, so time isn’t wasted accessing the cooking ingredients. And if you want to use the kitchen island as a serving area, then you can place it near the stove.  

The size 

Just how much more can your kitchen accommodate? If you have a small kitchen, the kitchen island should be sized accordingly. Luckily, kitchen island design plans vary and can be customized to any size. You can also create your desired depth. When selecting the size of the kitchen island, ensure that you leave enough clearance space. This is the free surrounding space that allows safe and easy movement. It also includes enough space to open drawers, cabinets and accommodate appliances that swing out. For a kitchen island, the approximate clearance zone is three feet.  

What about those slab leftovers?  

Wondering what to do with those leftover kitchen island slabs? Here are some fantastic ideas that will perfectly suit your home and needs. 

• Make coasters – Coasters are vital if your kitchen countertops are not resistant to heat. Make unique coasters of different shapes and sizes. Gift your friends and family with trendy coasters made from quartz colours like 5143 White Attica. 

• Create a serving platter – Use the leftover slabs to make a beautiful and durable serving platter. 
• Make wall hooks – Using small slab pieces, apply adhesive glue to small wooden blocks and stick them to the back of the slab.  
• Create a DIY backsplash – With a large slab, place it behind the kitchen tap to create your ad-hoc backsplash.  
• Make accent tables – If you have a substantial amount of slab left, make accent tables. Create an industrial-style look with a quartz colour like 4033 Rugged Concrete and a strong metal base, or opt for a more rustic style by pairing a quartz slab like 5000 London Grey with a wooden base.