Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Nov 22, 2008 8:17 pm We are looking to get a lip shaped island bench with the big curve at the front for seating. I can't decide is it better to put the sink in the island bench or leave the island bench completely free and place the sink elsewhere? For those that have island benches what did you do and why? Are you happy with your decision on where you placed your sink?
Thanks for your help. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 2Nov 22, 2008 9:02 pm I prefer nothing on my island bench.
I would personally not put a hotplate on an island just for safety reasons, plus a rangehood might close the kitchen off a lot. But I can understand why ppl like to have a sink on it - you can face the room instead of facing a wall/splashback/window while doing dishes. But I stil prefer nothing, so I can put whatever on it without worrying about it getting wet. Plus kids can sit up and do homework on it, have the odd meal on it etc - ours is quite small so a sink would limit these uses of it. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 3Nov 22, 2008 9:24 pm Our rental has the sink in an island bench, and I'm not keen on it. It chops the area in half, so as a breakfast bar, you really only have room for two people, separated by quite a distance. Actually, that can be an advantage, because your kids are out of punching range of each other...
We also find that water gets splashed onto the floor on the other side, instead of onto a splashback. If it's a very wide bench, neither of these may even be an issue. Unless you have a pretty big kitchen, you may have no choice but to place either the sink or the cooktop there - I think from a safety point of view, the sink is better. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 4Nov 22, 2008 10:35 pm I personally hate the sink-in-the-island-bench style that's so popular right now. I not only decided against having a sink there, but I changed the kitchen so I don't have an island bench. A couple of teenage boys, who still chase each other around with implements - not a good thing with an island bench.
Judie Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 5Nov 23, 2008 12:27 am Hey, Judie, we should start a support group for the non island bench minority!!
And we are a minority too, judging by most new houses these days. I have a good size kitchen, 2.7m x 4m, with full length breakfast bar (ah yes, a support group for the raised breakfast bar type - that's a minority group now too ) and the sink is under the window, u shaped kitchen. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 6Nov 23, 2008 1:22 am hubby and i debated long over this when designed the new abode...eventually we decided to still have it on the bench (which is not quite an island but adjoins the wall) but to keep it close to the wall. that way we can still use the majority of the bench for "bench" stuff yet we can face the family room whilst washing up etc. tough choice! Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 7Nov 23, 2008 9:52 am I'm having a sink in the island so that the cook can look out onto the world, rather than at a wall. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 8Nov 23, 2008 9:55 am I'm having two island benches.... one with a sink and lots of prep area and one with a data point for homework. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 9Nov 23, 2008 10:43 am Casa2 I'm having a sink in the island so that the cook can look out onto the world, rather than at a wall. That's exactly why I like the sink under the window - so you can see into the garden. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 10Nov 23, 2008 11:08 am Helyn Casa2 I'm having a sink in the island so that the cook can look out onto the world, rather than at a wall. That's exactly why I like the sink under the window - so you can see into the garden. I guess it depends n whether watching the world go by or watching the family is more interesting. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 11Nov 23, 2008 11:15 am We are having a 4m island bench that is the width of a sheet of c'stone (can't remember for the life of me what it is?). Our kitchen sink will be in the centre with a raised splash solely behind it - from the front view it will be a set of cupboards facing into the sitting area. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 12Nov 23, 2008 11:27 am we're having a split level island with both the cooktop and sink on it - sink and prep on the lower level (c'stone), cooktop and b'fast bar on the higher level (stainless steel).... about 4300mm long all up
also a big fan of being able to look out into the family room when cooking etc...and we're using a downdraft ventilation hood, so no big rangehood above the cooktop to take up space Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 13Nov 23, 2008 11:31 am Casa2 Helyn Casa2 I'm having a sink in the island so that the cook can look out onto the world, rather than at a wall. That's exactly why I like the sink under the window - so you can see into the garden. I guess it depends n whether watching the world go by or watching the family is more interesting. Oh, no contest - watching the grass grow in the garden is definitely more interesting than watching the husband veg on the couch Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 14Nov 23, 2008 11:40 am BuildingACT we're having a split level island with both the cooktop and sink on it - sink and prep on the lower level (c'stone), cooktop and b'fast bar on the higher level (stainless steel).... about 4300mm long all up also a big fan of being able to look out into the family room when cooking etc...and we're using a downdraft ventilation hood, so no big rangehood above the cooktop to take up space How high are your two levels. The high level sounds fine for a breakfast bar and cooktop, but the low level for the sink sounds like a sit down job. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 15Nov 23, 2008 11:41 am lol
Since DH does most of the Dishes. ( I'm trying to convince him to get the kids involved but he's a bit OCD on the issue) He likes to do the dishes when it's peaceful and we aren't around so sink at the window works for him. In the rental the sink is overlooking the family room area ( U shaped kitchen) When I do the dishes I don't mind it at all. BUT I wish there was a splashback behind it. I hate the dirty dishes sitting there looking at me when I'm in the main living/family room part of the house. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 16Nov 23, 2008 12:17 pm Casa2 How high are your two levels. The high level sounds fine for a breakfast bar and cooktop, but the low level for the sink sounds like a sit down job. Sink bench is 900mm and breakfast bar/cooktop is 960mm...stools at the breakfast bar, rather than "sit down" chairs! Our sink will mainly be used for prep and rinsing off dishes - actual washing will be left to the dishwasher Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 17Nov 23, 2008 4:01 pm BuildingACT also a big fan of being able to look out into the family room when cooking etc...and we're using a downdraft ventilation hood, so no big rangehood above the cooktop to take up space Functionally the sink and cooktop should be close together. It can be a safety issue if you have to cut across a traffic area with hot utensils from stove to sink. But once you combine both sink and cooktop on the island then you lose space as a servery/breakfast bar. The combo works if you conduct cooking classes or you are entertaining and most of your time is spent at the stove (eg teppanyaki). On the other hand, if most of your cooking is prep work with short bursts of cooking (eg stir-frying) or doesn't need much attention (nonnas tomato sauce making day) then maybe keeping the island free is more sociable. Exhaust fan dynamics show that downdraft vent hoods are inherently less efficient, as so island rangehoods. They need far higher flow rates to achieve the same effect. The best set up is against a wall with the rangehood sitting completely over the stove and the two sides extending down to capture the cooking fumes. Imagine the appearance of a fume cupboard in a science lab with only the front part open. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 18Nov 24, 2008 8:51 am I think it depends on you individually. I want the sink in the island bench as I can see what is going on when I do the dishes. At our house, the sink faces a window, and half the time the curtain is shut during the day, and at night I can't see out of it, so I'm either staring at black or a curtain. So for me, I want the sink to face the living areas. Plus, then I get more bench space where the sink would've gone. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 19Nov 24, 2008 9:43 am mrs_smith I want the sink in the island bench as I can see what is going on when I do the dishes. My parents put a small mirror on the window to look back into the living areas.. Re: Island Benches - sink or not to sink? 20Nov 24, 2008 4:54 pm Quote: Plus, then I get more bench space where the sink would've gone. But, Mrs Smith, doesn't this even out - I mean, if the sink is under the window or against the back wall, you gain more bench space on the island bench or vice versa? Quote: My parents put a small mirror on the window to look back into the living areas.. Ah, just when the kids thought you couldn't see what they were up to..... DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair Are you going to have the frame exposed or are you cladding it with something. Usually if you are making an exposed frame you would use solid legs around 100x100 or… 3 6592 Have had stone benches with undermount sink (kitchen) and drop-in (laundry) and top-mounted basin (bathrooms) for coming up 13 years and not one chip/scratch of any kind.… 2 9680 The HIA contract, in the term & conditions section states that "Commencment" is deemed when the drainage is started or the piers are dug or the slab is formed up (incase… 2 6183 |