With a loft/condo of a little over 600 square feet, adding a chef kitchen may not be the best use of space. Sadly, I understand, but for an enthusiastic home cook this is an obvious dilemma. The first glance at the floor plan of my new home was disgruntling. The space niched-out for my grand dream kitchen was only 10 feet wide and barely stove deep. Of course, the builder had designed the kitchen with a single-bowl-inset sink to give the illusion of more counter space, but I was resolved to find a solution for more.
The safest choice, of course, would be to go with the builder’s offer island upgrade. Starting at around $3600 for basic box-topped island, it was not at all within budget. And honestly, I wanted something more versatile and interesting than the “same as the cabinets and counter” standard box. Plus, the island was an opportunity to give our new home some much needed personality.
In our ongoing efforts to maximize space and efficiency, the kitchen island solution would have to double as a dining table and provide much needed storage.
Must haves:
- high enough table to use at counter height
- easy to clean
- a good overhang so we could use it for dining with stools
- large enough to seat six to eight if necessary
- a shelf or cupboards to store my collection of stainless steel pots and pans, and our heavy bamboo butcher block
- multi-functionality! movable or convertible from island to dining table
Having spent several years working in restaurant kitchens I was well familiar with the stainless steel prep tables that looked slick even banged up and well worn. Super durable and functional, this was an obvious choice. With some luck, you may be able to source a used prep table from a auction or restaurant closing. While some are available on Internet buy/sell sites, we could not find just the right size for our purposes. We ended up purchasing ours from a restaurant supply outlet in Scarborough, ON called Atlas.
The addition of an adjustable height shelf provides extra storage. Wheels with locks & casters allow us to move the island from functional food preparation position to a space more appropriate for seating and dining. We also have the option to wheel it against a wall to have room for party-food spreads and dance floor space if the mood strikes us.
What do you think about our choice? Do you have an unusual island?
By Jennifer Myers, one of our lovely web designers
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