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custom kitchen islands

July 8, 2023 by admin

Almost all kitchen islands are custom (unless you’re using a mobile island you can buy off the shelf), in the sense that it’s unlike any other and made to fit your space and needs. Custom kitchen islands run the gamut from the island completely custom-built and custom finished to match your custom cabinetry, to a much more affordable island made with standard-size cabinets and creatively assembled countertops.

How to customize your island

You can use any arrangement of wall and/or base cabinets that suits your space to form the base of your kitchen island. Then you can customize it in many ways:

shape

• Change levels in part of the island, up to the height of the bar or up to the height of the table
• Make the island an unusual shape. Who says everything has to be rectangular? Try Angles and Curves – Simulate the shape with cardboard and tape to see how it looks and how it works.

Materials

• Combine more than one countertop material – perhaps a butcher block prep area with a marble pastry slab
• Change cabinet finishes on the island: dark vs. light cabinets, painted vs. stained, antique vs. modern
• Use two-tone finishes on island cabinets: light and dark wood paneling, distressed or distressed paint finishes
• Customize the non-door ends and sides of your island – panels with decorative materials like board or tile, panels or doors to match your cabinets, even wallpaper or fabric (varnished for protection). You can also use a translucent material and light it from the inside.

Details

• ‘Dock’ a mobile island or cart on or under a larger fixed island for added flexibility
• Add legs to the ends or to support an overhang to eat. Check the proportions and sizes of vintage tables – some island legs I’ve seen in magazines are too big and look clunky to me.
• Use small spaces between your base cabinets for cookbook shelves, bottle storage, display niches, cutting board or baking sheet storage, pull-out towel storage, narrow pull-out shelves for spices, etc.
• Add drawers for appliances: refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, or heater.
• Include an interesting sink that would be impractical as your main sink: an odd shape like a channel or an unusual material like copper
• An unusual or specialized faucet also makes a great island feature.
• Light up your island with multiple decorative pendant lights: mini chandeliers, art glass shades, industrial lighting, whatever suits your style. Dimmable of course!

Have fun with your island, it doesn’t have to match the rest of the kitchen!

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