DIY brick kitchen island. Kitchen islands with a dining area: design options and layouts. Using the space above the kitchen island

The island in the kitchen is a multifunctional kitchen table, which is now widely used in the decoration of modern homes. However, it can only be installed in rooms with a large area. Unfortunately, owners of a small kitchen cannot count on a stylish island.

The main requirement for its installation, in addition to a large area, is convenience. The hostess during cooking should move freely between the stove, refrigerator, sink. However, there are other important factors to consider when designing an island in the kitchen.

What you need to install a kitchen island

Considering the option of installing an island kitchen table, it is necessary to take into account such nuances:

• The area of ​​​​the room for the island kitchen table must be at least 25 m²;
• If the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room is less than the indicated figures, but you really want to install a similar structure, you should pay attention to small structures or peninsulas;
• Be sure to choose a table design identical to the shape of the room;
• The island in the kitchen can be made by hand. In this case, the minimum space for installing a kitchen table should be 3 m², while the width should be 60-150 cm, length 120 cm, and height 85 or 90 cm;
• Consider the fact that all ongoing communications will need to be hidden so as not to spoil the interior of the kitchen.

Benefits of an island kitchen table

Despite the listed factors that are necessary for the correct installation of the island in the kitchen, there are still a lot of advantages for such a design:

• First of all, this is an increase in the convenience and efficiency of work at the island table;
• The central location of the island in the kitchen makes the room more attractive and ergonomic;
• You will be able to effectively use the freed wall;
• On the kitchen island you can place everything you need - a sink, oven, hob. The hood can be placed above the kitchen island;
• The large size of the countertop will serve not only as a cutting surface, but also as a place for eating, as well as a bar counter;
• The design of the island kitchen table can be thought out so that it can accommodate a large number of dishes and other small things for storage;
• After installing the island, new opportunities appear - several people can cook food without interfering with each other;
• The hostess in the kitchen has the opportunity to communicate with other family members, which makes the cooking process more interesting.

Features of installing a kitchen island

Proper installation of the island in the kitchen provides for compliance with certain installation conditions:

• First of all, to connect kitchen appliances, such as a hob, dishwasher, oven, you must first carry out all the necessary communications. It is also important to think over the wiring diagram of the systems in such a way as not to violate the style of the room. It is necessary to hide the wiring and pipes with high quality, it may be necessary to raise the floor for this. Therefore, all work on installing the island in the kitchen is best done at the repair stage;
• When choosing household appliances, it is better to stop the choice on stationary models;
• High-quality lighting of the work surface is necessary. Install additional lights, it is better if they hang from the ceiling at a certain distance from the countertop. For shelves, you can use spot lighting;
• The stove will require a hood. Installation is best left to a professional.

Thinking through the design of the island in the kitchen, use the following recommendations:

• The shape of the island in the kitchen can be varied, but most often they use a rectangular and square shape. You can also find a zigzag, oval or round shape, but such tables occupy a very large area in the room;
• Use tiered island kitchen tables;
• For a harmonious combination of the table with the interior of the room, use the same color and finishing material. However, if you like something non-standard, try experimenting with the colors of the furniture and table;
• Mobile kitchen island can be installed both metal and wooden.

A quick look at styles

The classic style of the room welcomes natural materials, the use of stained-glass windows and carvings in cabinetry. Countertops are best made of stone, and open shelves. The hood is also better to withstand in the general style.

For rustic, country style, use open wood tables. Drawers will perfectly replace wicker baskets made of wicker, and doors - chintz curtains.

Modern style welcomes a large amount of metal and glass in the design of the island in the kitchen, but without sharp corners. The design should be smooth and streamlined. All appliances must be built-in, and furniture fittings are hidden.

The minimalist style is demanding on the conciseness of interior items and maximum functionality. This style uses glass, stone and metal. The surfaces are glossy and the fittings are chrome-plated.

Scandinavian style loves natural wood surfaces.

The organization of the kitchen space is one of the basic tasks when choosing a design for this room. In particular, great attention must be paid to planning. The convenient arrangement of furniture and appliances will provide comfortable conditions for cooking, eating and just spending time at home. From an ergonomic point of view, the best option for spacious rooms is a kitchen with an island, that is, a tall cabinet-top, which is most often installed in the center and can perform many functions. Such a scheme is ubiquitous in country houses, elite studios, restaurants, but if desired, it can be adapted and applied even in ordinary small apartments.

Functions of the island in the kitchen

Depending on the design, the island in the kitchen can have many purposes. Sometimes it even acts as one of the vertices of the so-called "working triangle", which includes a stove, sink and refrigerator. However, the installation of these elements in the center of the room requires special communications, which is not always possible, especially in multi-storey buildings.

As a rule, the island is used as a countertop - due to the height, it is easy to work behind it while standing. In addition, it can completely or partially replace the dining area. In order for chairs to fit nearby, the cabinet must be devoid of side panels. Often, the island interior detail is designed in the form of a bar counter, which allows you to save as much as possible square meters of the kitchen and visually delimit the space.

Many housewives use the free space under the island table to store dishes, small household appliances, and products. If necessary, an oven, dishwasher, freezer can be built into the cabinet.

Pros and cons of an island kitchen layout

A high table in the central part of the kitchen is undoubtedly very convenient. This layout is ideal for co-cooking as the worktop is accessible from all sides. During the execution of processes, the hostess can communicate with household members or guests without turning her back on them. In addition, compared to other types of planning, the trajectory of movements is significantly reduced, which in turn reduces the physical effort required for cooking.

The presence of the island allows you to fill the area of ​​\u200b\u200ba large kitchen, but in small rooms it can be difficult to fit this piece of furniture. In any case, at least one meter on each side should be left around a separate pedestal so that it is comfortable to move around. For a compact cooking area, instead of monumental tables, it is better to choose narrow mobile or folding designs.

At the mention of the island, most people imagine heavy and bulky cabinets in the middle of a luxurious 20-meter kitchen in a private home. Of course, this is a classic option for cottages, but modern design provides for other types of similar furniture. So, the island table does not have to be rectangular or square at all - oval, semicircular, smoothly curved, zigzag, triangular shapes are quite possible.

Currently, multi-level structures, which are also called archipelagos, are at the peak of fashion. The different heights of the tabletops allow, on the one hand, to work comfortably while standing, on the other hand, to have breakfast or dinner while sitting on familiar chairs. Sometimes the low part of the archipelago can be adapted for a sink or hob, and in this case the high part is used as a working kitchen table or bar counter.

Another type of island layout is the peninsula. Such a table is different in that one of the sides is adjacent to the headset, wall or window sill. This is a good way to save space in a small kitchen, in which the protruding part remains a harmonious part of the whole ensemble without losing its functionality.

Stylistic interior solution

In most cases, they try to match the island to match the set and design of the kitchen as a whole. Repeating colors, materials and decor look thoughtful and appropriate, which is especially important for small spaces. If the cooking area is spacious, this piece of furniture can be accentuated by a brighter color or original texture. One way or another, the island cabinet, as one of the most noticeable details in the interior of the kitchen, must correspond to the chosen design direction.

Kitchen with an island in a classic style

Successful examples of a kitchen with an island in a classic style can be found in the collections of Italian furniture stores. As a rule, these are exquisite combinations of polished wood of expensive species and light ivory enamel with decorative gilding, panels, columns, carved baroque decorations. Black and white, black and gray, olive, pinkish options with silver fittings are also possible.

The table top of the island in a classic style can be wooden or marble, with a noble glossy pattern. The curbstone is suitable exclusively stationary, large and stable, rectangular in shape with symmetrically rounded corners. Above it, you can hang either a hood (for the hob) or a beautiful crystal chandelier.

Kitchen with modern island

Distinctive features of the 21st century kitchen are conciseness, functionality and high technologies designed to speed up the cooking process as much as possible. The island in such an interior is an integral part of the headset, almost completely repeating its design.

The smooth plain table top is made of durable composite material - artificial stone, tempered tinted glass, stainless steel. An induction cooker, a sink can be mounted in it, and the body of the cabinet is reserved for household appliances or spacious storage systems.

Provence style kitchen with an island

In a Provence-style kitchen, the island looks the best. Traditionally, this is a simple wooden structure, painted in pastel colors. The palette is dominated by milky white, mint, turquoise, gray, blue, lavender. The case is without unnecessary frills and decor, but its functionality is provided by a large number of cabinets, drawers, shelves, wicker baskets.

Since the south-east of France is a wine-producing region, the local kitchen island often has diagonal honeycomb shelves for storing bottles of wine in a horizontal position. The Provence-style countertop material is light stone, marble or its artificial counterparts in white or grayish, but it should not be too glossy.

Country style kitchen with island

Rustic style is, first of all, natural materials and natural tones. A stable, somewhat rough cabinet made of solid wood, with large facades of cabinets and drawers for storing utensils, will fit well into such an environment. Ideally, the material should be without any coating, with the exception of a protective layer of varnish or beeswax. New furniture items can be artificially aged, giving them a medieval look.

Forged fittings should be used, because it is it that serves as the main decoration and the most important stylistic device in a country interior. As for the countertop, it can be made of the same wood, unpolished stone, or lined with matte ceramic tiles (porcelain stoneware) in terracotta shades.

Loft-style kitchen with an island

The deliberate simplicity of the industrial interior does not tolerate pretentiousness in details. In an open kitchen in this style, the island, in addition to its usual functions, often acts as the only partition between the cooking area and the living space of the loft.

When compared with other areas of design, here a separate table looks the most unassuming. Instead of a pedestal, a rough plank, steel or stone countertop can even sit on brickwork or welded legs from old metal pipes. Above such an impromptu island there are open communications with spotlights or "factory" lamps in black cartridges.

Small kitchen with an island: interior design

It would seem that in a small kitchen one cannot even dream of a comfortable island. But this common misconception is true only for bulky classic cabinets. Modern designers have developed a huge number of mini-format models that allow you to use square meters economically and rationally.

In addition to the stationary tables reduced in size, there are a number of movable structures. So, a narrow kitchen island (peninsula) can be fully or partially extended from the set; fasten to the wall and, if necessary, unfold; hide in a wall niche or under a window sill. For periodic use, it makes sense to look at mobile products on wheels that can be freely moved around the apartment.

In narrow open-plan kitchens, the island is often presented as a breakfast bar that doubles as a table and partition. At the same time, from the side of the living room, it is equipped with high chairs, and in the cooking zone, the design can be supplemented with a folding tabletop at a lower level for convenient work with products.

Kitchen with island - photo

The best way to find an acceptable design option is to look at a photo of what a kitchen with an island might look like in different types of rooms. To do this, we propose to study the photo gallery on our website, which contains a large collection of examples of the design of the cooking zone. Among the presented solutions, there are sure to be good ideas suitable for both spacious private houses and apartments with small or medium-sized kitchens in different stylistic directions.

Just because your kitchen is modest doesn't mean you have to give up all the amenities that a kitchen island brings. First, a smart kitchen island is the perfect way to expand your cooking area, which can also be used as a dining area and even mate with a narrow breakfast bar. Secondly, the island allows you to get additional storage space for numerous kitchen utensils. And believe me, even in the tiniest kitchen, the problem of the island can be solved with grace and ingenuity!

Moreover, finding smart and functional solutions for small spaces is one of the main trends in interior design today. Today we'll show you 20 ways to create a small kitchen island that can enhance the aesthetics of your small kitchen.

Square and homemade islands for the kitchen

When it comes to large kitchen islands, they are most often rectangular in shape, in which the length of the countertop far exceeds the width. At the same time, small kitchens can benefit from small square-based islands that are both ergonomic and visually intriguing. Put this island on casters and you have a handy mobile option that you can remove from the center of your kitchen whenever you need extra space!

You can also use a butcher's block or a stylish wooden table, restored or made by yourself, as a modest kitchen island. This approach helps to give the kitchen a cozy rustic aesthetic.

Non-standard forms of kitchen islands

Small kitchen islands definitely offer us more form and function than large kitchen islands. Narrow rectangular, round and even octagonal - choose what you like best, just do not forget to take into account the ease of movement and the overall layout of your kitchen.

Remember that in addition to an extra countertop, a kitchen island can also provide a lot of extra storage space. And if you don't need it, it can always be converted into an open section to accommodate decor or to hide kitchen chairs.

Small kitchen islands with a canopy

A small kitchen island with a beautiful canopy will serve you as a wonderful corner for breakfast and simple friendly gatherings. Note that the most reliable material for such canopies, as in the photographs below, is natural or artificial stone.

As we can see, the concept of "small kitchen" is quite subjective, and what may be small for one room may simply not fit in another. However, no matter the size of your kitchen, there is always a smart way to give you extra work and storage space. We hope you found a useful idea for this in our article!

20 ideas for creating an "island" in a small kitchen updated: December 1, 2014 by: Margarita Glushko

I am designing a kitchen with an island. Let's highlight the topic...

The island kitchen is a U or L shaped kitchen with a small island of kitchen furniture in the center. This layout of the kitchen interior is recommended for large enough rooms, because. it is necessary to provide that two people move freely in the kitchen.

A distance of 2 meters from the island to the items of the main group of furniture in your kitchen (passage) is considered convenient. At least 1200. Firstly, the facades on both sides usually break down at the bottom (if 60 cm can be found), and secondly - 1200 - the minimum distance between the cabinets to which you need to lean.

You can place a cutting surface, a small refrigerator or freezer, a sink, a gas stove or a hob on the island. But remember that in order to install all these "charms" you will need to bring all the necessary communications (electricity, water, sewerage and gas) to your island. In this case, for sure, you will have to lay everything under the floor.

If you don’t really want to bother with communications to your island, then you can use it as a cutting surface or additional space for storing dishes.

You can also install small hanging open cabinets above the island, but in this case you will have to consider a system for attaching them to the kitchen ceiling, and the cabinets themselves will need to be made to order. And don't forget the kitchen lighting. With this design of your kitchen, the lamps will need to be placed around the entire perimeter, because. the center of the ceiling is already occupied by you.

If you are going to have meals on your "island", please note that its height is usually equal to the height of the work surface, and this is significantly higher than a regular dining table (70-76cm). Bar stools that are higher than usual will help to avoid inconvenience. As a rule, they can be bought together with a kitchen set.

You can divide the kitchen island into two or more functional interior groups. For example, on one side there is a cutting surface and a built-in refrigerator or sink, and on the other, arrange a small table for breakfast.

It is worth considering that when designing your kitchen in the form of an island, you must strictly follow the triangle rule. Those. to concentrate all the components of the triangle (refrigerator, sink, desktop and stove) in one zone of the kitchen.

At the same time, you get a surprisingly compact working triangle, and you can use the rest of the working space of the kitchen interior at your discretion. For example, under built-in household appliances or as an additional storage space.

It is not necessary that the island be strictly rectangular or square. Play up the details of your kitchen interior using the intricate shape of the island.

An island is a great chance to have two work surfaces of different heights in the kitchen. It is customary to build the main line of a modern kitchen without transitions of floor furniture cabinets in height, but no one will stop you from making the island itself higher or lower than the main furniture. This technique is suitable for families in which not all family members are satisfied with the standard height of floor cabinets of 90 cm.

About the kitchen with an island from IVD.ru

Ergonomics

The main aspect of ergonomics is the optimal organization of areas of greatest activity. The sink is the most important of these places: here you spend 40-60% of your "kitchen" time. The ideal option is to locate it in the center of the "working triangle", at a distance of 1200-1800 mm from the stove and 1200-2100 mm from the refrigerator.

Freezers and refrigerators placed in the corners of the kitchen so as not to "tear" the work surface. On average, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe named triangle is about 7 m 2. If the width of the kitchen is more than 4.5 m, then the distance between the appliances (with a linear layout) becomes significant, and the owners are forced to constantly move between the stove, sink and refrigerator. "Island" and "peninsular" layout - the most suitable way to reduce the distance between functional areas.

Unlike the "island", open on four sides, " peninsula"is a kind of protrusion or bend in the line of a single-row or L-shaped kitchen (including closed). It is appropriate when it fits into a multifunctional space (kitchen-dining room, kitchen-living room, etc.). As a rule, " peninsula" separates the kitchen area from the adjacent territory and acts as a bar counter or serving table. In principle, its size can be any.

What is located on the "island"?

The free standing element can be used for any kind of food preparation activities. Here are the most common options for completing the work surface.

They take out the hob and sink, separated by a worktop with a width of at least 300 mm.
. "Island" complete with hob and cutting surface. The sink stays against the wall.
. On the "island" place a large sink and cutting area. At the same time, you will not have a dish dryer (in the cabinet above the sink). True, it is recommended to store utensils in specially arranged lower drawers.
. "Island" is equipped with a hob, a cutting surface and a sink with a diameter of 380 mm (you can wash glasses, tea utensils, fruits in it); the main sink is located against the wall.
. The working surface of the "island" can consist of a cutting area and a compact sink.
. The whole "island" serves as an additional working area. If you combine it with a bar counter, a table for a quick meal or a dining table and bring sockets to the "island", then you can transfer household appliances here: a juicer, a kettle, a coffee machine, a toaster. Get a well-equipped place for breakfast.

Our fellow citizens most often use "islands" as a bar counter, an additional cutting surface or for space zoning. In this form, they are more popular than as a technological part of the kitchen.

Since "islands" and "peninsulas" are often part of a residential interior, they are functionally arranged from the kitchen side, and organically fit into the recreation area from the living room side. For example, the lower part is made completely closed or open, combined (on the one hand - ordinary cabinets, on the other - false doors), with drawers for various purposes; it is decorated with glass stained-glass windows with illumination, and cells for bottles are arranged.

A dishwasher, an oven, a wine cabinet, a compact refrigerator without a freezer are sometimes built under the "island" countertop (it is appropriate in the cooking area when there is a large refrigerator in the remote part of the spacious kitchen). Above the remote unit, a decorative shelf attached to the ceiling - a mensola (it can be supplied complete with an extractor hood and lighting) looks spectacular, visually balancing the massive structure of the "island". Everything that is usually located above the work surface in front of the hostess is suspended from it, including utensils - pans, pots, stewpans ...

Expert opinion

"Island" kitchen is ideal in a large room (15-18 m2 or more). Designers recommend highlighting food preparation and cooking areas here. The first of them contains the main working surface (between the sink and the stove); it should be long enough and well lit. An island table is best suited for this. In the case when a sink is located on it, the distribution of zones is ergonomically optimal. But then the size of the "island" increases significantly, respectively, and the kitchen should be more spacious.

Studies based on the "long thread method" (moving while working in the kitchen) clearly prove the advantage of choosing a kitchen with an "island". Here the hostess will walk 100-150 meters less per day, which will greatly facilitate her work and, undoubtedly, improve her mood. The table-"island" is convenient for eating.

Kirill Ilyichev, head of the marketing department of the factory "

All work areas in the kitchen "Caprice" (" ") are separated and open - this is convenient

. Options for a comprehensive solution for working and dining areas

How to avoid problems

When integrating a kitchen into a living space, there are many obstacles: these are a rigid layout of city apartments, a lack (and sometimes an excess) of space, financial constraints, and technical problems. Moving kitchen equipment to an "island" or "peninsula" is associated with the transfer of communications - water supply and sewerage, gas and electricity. In the design project, they not only work out all the nuances of the composition, but also stipulate each type of communication work, taking into account the requirements of SNiPs.

The biggest difficulty is moving the sink. Difficulties arise primarily when agreeing on a project: after all, water and drain will most likely pass over the living quarters of an apartment located on the floor below. To get permission, you need to make high-quality waterproofing of the floor and be able to convince the housing inspectorate that the move will not cause inconvenience to neighbors.

" ". Mobile pedestals on casters are easy to move

Water is supplied to the sink under pressure through pipes with a diameter of 15 mm. The diameter of the sewer pipe providing the drain is 50 mm. When removing the sink from the riser, it must be taken into account that the drain device requires laying a pipe with a slope of at least 0.03 (for 100 cm of length - 3 cm of difference). It is not difficult to hide the eyeliners in the screed. To hide the drain pipe, and besides, under a slope, the floor will have to be raised. How much? Now we'll find out.

A crosspiece is cut into the sewer riser for outlets from plumbing fixtures and a kitchen sink. It can be located above or below the upper plane of the intermediate floor. If it is lower, there are practically no problems with drainage: it is not difficult to ensure the slope of the sewer pipe. And if the cross is high, you need to raise the drain pipe coming from the "island", and therefore increase the thickness of the floor. Depending on the type of the latter, the "sandwich" can be quite thick (up to 10-15 cm). However, according to European standards, the floor in the apartment must be single-level, so they usually level the floors in all rooms, and this is expensive.

When the ceilings are rather low or the bearing capacity of the ceiling and financial possibilities do not allow raising the floor level in the entire apartment, and engineering communications need to be hidden, they arrange a technical podium. It has not only the "island", but the entire kitchen. The farther the remote element from the riser, the higher the podium.

Moving an electric hob, oven, refrigerator and other electrical appliances to the center of the kitchen is not particularly difficult. You just need to think over the wiring diagram, select a cable of a suitable section and plan the placement of sockets. Any qualified electrician can handle this.

Light wing flap

Cooking classes in the center of the kitchen, combined with the living room, are inconceivable without an "island" (attached to the ceiling) hood with a capacity of 500-800 m 3 / h. Otherwise, food aromas will hover in the public area ... For an open kitchen where a lot of cooking is done, only an extractor hood with a diverter mode and an outlet to the ventilation shaft is suitable (it removes kitchen air from the room along with fats and odors). The efficiency of the circulation hood, which takes in air, cleans it with filters and returns it back, is 2 times lower than the first type of hood.

Most often, a hood with a diverting mode of operation is connected by means of a metal duct-duct (corrugation) to the channel of the ventilation system at home. Since the corrugation blocks the outlet to the ventilation shaft for the rest of the air in the room, an additional hole is made in the channel to preserve the natural ventilation of the rooms - a check valve or a forced exhaust fan is inserted into it. In new multi-storey buildings with a modern layout, along with conventional ventilation shafts, additional ventilation ducts for kitchen hoods are provided.

There are many tricks that allow you to beat the air duct: multi-level ceilings of various configurations, false beams (they hide the corrugation, and you can hide lamps in them that provide soft lighting). For very high rooms, models of hoods with a long pipe (1.5 m) are provided.

When choosing an "island" hood, not only technical aspects (performance, low noise level) are taken into account, but also the method of attachment to the ceiling. Such a design is a very noticeable component of both the kitchen "island" and the entire interior, so it must be impeccable in terms of design.

Kitchen ( )

Don't get lost in space

A furniture composition with an "island" or "peninsula" requires sufficient space. Designers designing open kitchens believe that an important condition for their integration into the interior is not only the total footage of the kitchen area, but also the width of the room.

A room with a width of at least 4.5 m and an area of ​​15-20 m 2 in terms of ergonomics and safety is best suited for an "island" or "peninsular" layout. So that family members are not constrained in their movements, freely pull out drawers, open doors, use equipment, and finally, they can disperse when they meet, the desired width of the passages around the "island" is not less than 1-1.2 m.

Obviously, a small "island" in a large open space is like a dot on a map. Therefore, its optimal dimensions (height, width, depth) should be 850/950/1000 × 1800 × 900 mm. Dimensions 850/950/1000 × 1200 × 900 mm are already at the limit.

. One of the advantages of an open "island" layout is the possibility of communication in the process of work.

constructive unity

"Islands" and "peninsulas" are made from the same structural components as the entire kitchen. A single database of elements and decorative details allows designers to manage them based on consumer requests. And the higher the level of the manufacturer, the wider the range of proposals and combinations of components even within the same model, the better thought out functionality, the more original catalogs, the more diverse finishes, which means more opportunities to make a kitchen for a particular customer.

The variety of elements (including convex-concave), accessories, countertops allows you to literally plan cabinets, drawers and shelves for storing kitchen utensils and supplies to the smallest detail. Skillfully managing all this wealth is the task of a designer designing a kitchen. And it's not just the potential of a particular factory. By applying simple but elegant design solutions, you can also design a kitchen space that will delight its owners for many years. For example, one of the economical ways to create an "island" is to make it from two layers of moisture-resistant drywall, choosing power profiles or stronger bars (100 × 50 mm), and then tiling the countertop and facades. A hob, an oven are cut into such a remote element; it can also be used simply as a practical work surface.

The designs of "islands" and "peninsulas" are made with facades made of the same material as kitchen furniture, with similar decor, handles, piping, plinth, etc. Choosing chipboard, MDF, plastic, solid wood, veneer for the "island" , metal or glass, which are successfully used in the manufacture of modern kitchens, are usually guided by the main composition, but this is not necessary. The main thing is that in the general context of the room they are combined with each other. Particular attention should be paid to the materials in the case when the countertop is used as a large cutting board. Manufacturers now offer natural stone, composites (including Corian), stainless steel, laminated chipboard, tiles. Thick cutting elements made of solid wood are integrated into the work surfaces, which can become an integral part of the table top made of any material.

" " You can order an "island" as a version of any model available in the catalog and make a kitchen

comfortable, beautiful and fashionable. For example, move the hob and oven to the center

Expert opinion

Recently, many furniture manufacturers have shown a new approach to the design of the kitchen, and architects and designers are striving to increase the size of the kitchen "territory", combining it with the living-dining room. And no wonder: what hostess does not dream that everything you need is within reach! An idea arose: in addition to the main kitchen area, arrange in the center of the room a kind of core of the house, an "island" that unites the family. A stove with an extractor hood, around which you can move around, successfully organizes the space. And the multi-level bar counter, emerging from the depths of the "island", serves as a "gathering place" for adults and children. One of the popular options is a technological "island": a sink, a hob are mounted in its work surface, and built-in appliances under the table top. When setting up such a kitchen, take care of a few things.

The combination of the kitchen "island" with the living room requires additional (in addition to the "island" hood) forced ventilation.
. Think over the lighting of the working surface in advance (it is advisable to mount a controlled system of light sources in the hanging shelves).
. Gas, water and sewer connections must be available.
. It is better to leave the sink at one of the walls occupied by the main composition. When taking it to the center of the kitchen, take care of the slope of the sewer pipe in the floor structure.

Tatyana Kalugina, Deputy General Director of the architectural and construction company "Euro-Build Service"

. Working block with extractor hood, cutting boards, shelves for various utensils at the bottom and mensola at the top,

to which the accessories are attached, typical of an antique styled kitchen

Style? Any!

Free-standing elements are relevant for any style direction. In classic kitchens, they are richly decorated with panels, carved overlays, pilasters, and open arched shelves. Modern style requires a strict and restrained approach. Thus, a minimalist interior makes an impression due to the horizontally elongated arrangement of objects in space.

Since the "island" is a rather massive architectural dominant, be careful with dark colors that visually reduce the space, especially if the kitchen is small. Light designs look lighter and seem more elegant. The combination of materials and colors depends on the imagination of the designer. It is not necessary that the remote elements repeat the tonality of the main composition, especially given the current trend of polychrome cuisine. The "workbench" itself was initially rectangular, but today it can be anything: U- or L-shaped, represent an open ring.", " , Arclinea, Lube, Salvarani, Santarossa, Scic, Tomassi, Varenna, Verona (Italy).

Buying an island

Kitchen "islands" and "peninsulas" are an expensive pleasure, indicating a certain social status of a person. After all, we are talking about the organization of the studio space, where a certain author's idea is realized, embodied in its very design. Unlike built-in kitchen elements, these units do not have a back; all four sides are designed and executed with the same care. Facade materials, non-standard modules (including convex-concave), ensuring the stability of the structure make the project not cheap, not to mention the transfer of communications.

According to the most conservative estimates, an "island" kitchen without appliances, devoid of frills, with plastic facades costs at least 200 thousand rubles. And the price of a set of solid wood is 350 thousand rubles.

It is difficult to say unequivocally how much more "island" and "peninsular" kitchen layout is more expensive than usual. Dimensions, materials, interior equipment and, of course, design determine the price of the central element. It can be a rectangular desktop or a multifunctional design with an original bar counter. For example, the entire "island" composition based on the "Elina" model from solid birch ("") costs 142 thousand rubles. (without equipment and accessories), and the "island" included in it without claims, with a minimum of drawers with dimensions of 855 × 1300 × 860 mm, will cost 27 thousand rubles.

An option for comparison is a kitchen planned on the basis of the Metropolis Caffe () program. The cost of an "island" element with a width of 1800 mm, together with a bar counter and chairs, but without appliances, will be more than 30% (about 300 thousand rubles) of the price of the entire kitchen set with a hood.