Browse Forums Kitchen Corner Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 21Jul 17, 2009 8:56 pm I'm the odd one out here - I'm not having an island bench. I hate the look of a cooktop or a sink on them. I also hate having people come in from two sides of the kitchen. Add teenage boys and 2 cats to the equation and it's a nightmare. I've gone for a modified U shape, with one long side of it having nothing on the benchtop. I think everyone should do whatever suits them. Judie Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 22Jul 17, 2009 9:06 pm Judie I'm the odd one out here - I'm not having an island bench. I hate the look of a cooktop or a sink on them. I also hate having people come in from two sides of the kitchen. Add teenage boys and 2 cats to the equation and it's a nightmare. I've gone for a modified U shape, with one long side of it having nothing on the benchtop. I think everyone should do whatever suits them. Judie You are so spot on Judie I wanted something different from my last kitchen, but I lived with the U for 15 years nicely. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 23Jul 17, 2009 9:50 pm Hi...well, we have a U shaped kitchen and, as much as I like the island benches, there's not room for one so we will probably go for a U shape again when we renovate....one day (sigh). I also like the one bench to be clear of any hotplates or sinks or anything too. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 24Jul 21, 2009 7:07 am Definitely having an island bench. Definitely NOT having the sink in the island. Life's too short too drink bad wine Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 25Jul 21, 2009 8:00 am OK, now that all the other closet non island benchers have come out, I will join in the confession - we chose NOT to have an island bench too, although there is easily room for one, the bench we have is 4m long in a U shape kitchen 4m x 2.7m, cooker, pantry, overhead cupboards on back wall, sink under the window on short end of the U and raised breakfast bar with nothing in it on outward side. Get more bench space that way and like Judie I do not want 2 entrances, and therefore thru traffic, in my kitchen. Slightly off topic, but Im also not a fan of the many modern kitchens now which are in the middle of the house with no window. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 26Jul 21, 2009 11:07 am I find this topic really interesting because it really says a lot about personalities as well. I won't have an island bench, I absolutely love them and how they look but I am in the category of hating people using my kitchen as a walkway or thinking they should all be standing in it. To me that is what an island bench does, invites people in. It's great if you like that, but I don't. I like to be alone in my kitchen, I like everyone on the other side of the bench away from what I am doing. Too many personalities amongst friends to have them all in my kitchen trying to do their parts. And that's the thing, more people do try and fit into the kitchen with an island bench because they can come from two directions. Stay on the other side with a drink and just talk to me. Plus with my kids they would just be running around it all the time, too dangerous for mine. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 27Jul 21, 2009 4:12 pm To be honest I would be happy to stick with the U-shape (so long as the replacement kitchen was more functional i.e. drawers not cupboards etc) because it would save me a heck of a lot of $$ to not relocate the plumbing. Problem is: as much as I loathe and despise others inviting themselves in to the kitchen when I'm there cooking (they're just getting in the way, not actually helping ) you can't teach old dogs new tricks so I might as well get used to the idea and deal with it in the best way possible; by having 2 entry/exit options for the masses (& me!). While this wont solve the problem it might at least make it tolerable (for me!). "They" are oblivious to how much their visits actually annoy me Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 28Jul 22, 2009 5:07 pm I have seen kitchens that have a smaller island (1m-2.5m) and they look great without anyting on it. On the other hand ones that are over 3m look too bare imo. 3m is quite long and if they are 1.1m+ wide or more it looks funny to me without a sink on it... I dont like the cooktop on it at all in any length. Still deciding whether or not I want my sink on it! DA approved Waiting on a few more Builder's quotes. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 29Jul 23, 2009 11:02 am I would be hopeless wtih a sink on an island bench. As it is now everytime I turn the flickmixer on, water goes up the splashback. I would have water all over the place. I would definitely have to have some kind of barrier up. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 30Jul 23, 2009 12:17 pm I have made a few water messes already photogirl, but I am learning to be more careful. Having other people in the kitchen is going to happen for me with or without the island, my DH and DS were both in the kitchen last night while I was trying to get dinner lucky I had the other end to escape, I said ... let me know when you two are finished, I will come back and get dinner ready and I have a friend who insists on "crossing over" and promptly begins to clean my bench even if it's spotless she means well. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 31Jul 23, 2009 4:55 pm We are having a 4m long island bench with stone benchtops, waterfall edges, with an undermount sink - and I lurrrrveeee the look of it. Different tastes eh! Building with Ventura homes (WA) Building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20516 Slab: 17/04/10, Bricking started: 12/05/10, Bricking finished: 2/06/10, Roof frame done: 11/06/10, Colorbond on: 14/07/10, Lock Up: 19/08/10, Cabinets: 25/08/10, Tiling done: 28/09/10, Electrical: 2/10/10, PCI: 29/10/10, Keys: 4/11/10 Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 32Jul 24, 2009 10:12 am I'm an island bench fan, like the idea of being able to face outside the kitchen and chat while I'm working in there. We have a small space so are planning an L shape with smallish (1.2 x 1.7) island bench and .... yes, some may think I'm crazy ... but we are having a gas cooktop in the island bench .... we are really pressed for space and a sink can't go there without a lot of extra cost and drama (huge concrete slab under - gotta love old houses!), so cooktop it is ... Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 33Jul 24, 2009 10:40 am My island bench is 4m long by 1.2m wide. It will have a 1.25m long undermounted sink centred with a taller section of cupboards being used as a splashback for the tap. This way water shouldn't go anywhere but back into the sink. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This isn't my final design as it has been changed slightly but you get the idea about the higher cupboards being used as a splashback. Some things are worth waiting for. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 34Jul 24, 2009 11:23 am I had one truly non negotiable thing I wanted in the house I build... a galley kitchen with a big island bench. This is my kitchen. Turns out it was negotiable. I think both can work.... I am warming to my kitchen and the idea that people can't get in there when I'm cooking. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 36Jul 24, 2009 2:32 pm SuH and I have a friend who insists on "crossing over" and promptly begins to clean my bench even if it's spotless she means well. I have that same friend, can't help herself. To the point it makes me nervous to be in the kitchen when she is over. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 37Jul 24, 2009 2:46 pm photogirl SuH and I have a friend who insists on "crossing over" and promptly begins to clean my bench even if it's spotless she means well. I have that same friend, can't help herself. To the point it makes me nervous to be in the kitchen when she is over. I laugh at mine photogirl, she is a cleaning freak she cleans her whole house while we talk on the phone NOT normal IMHO. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 38Jul 24, 2009 2:51 pm vness I'm an island bench fan, like the idea of being able to face outside the kitchen and chat while I'm working in there. ... I dont understand this comment, vness - you can easily have a sink in the outward bench of a u shape kitchen if you want to, just as much as in an island bench. We do not, we have the sink under the window, but, for example, as in Joles kitchen in plan above. Re: Island kitchen bench - would you install one 39Jul 24, 2009 2:54 pm SuH photogirl SuH and I have a friend who insists on "crossing over" and promptly begins to clean my bench even if it's spotless she means well. I have that same friend, can't help herself. To the point it makes me nervous to be in the kitchen when she is over. I laugh at mine photogirl, she is a cleaning freak she cleans her whole house while we talk on the phone NOT normal IMHO. I WISH I was that much of a clean freak. My house would look at lot better at the moment if I was! Building with Ventura homes (WA) Building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20516 Slab: 17/04/10, Bricking started: 12/05/10, Bricking finished: 2/06/10, Roof frame done: 11/06/10, Colorbond on: 14/07/10, Lock Up: 19/08/10, Cabinets: 25/08/10, Tiling done: 28/09/10, Electrical: 2/10/10, PCI: 29/10/10, Keys: 4/11/10 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 39755 Hi - thanks for your reply. Yes I think 'Ill go for whitish with very speckly bits rather than pure white something like this. PS was actually 2008 I built the… 2 11709 Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 8783 |