In the midst of cooking dinner for your friends or family, a lack of counter space can be frustrating. While you might not be able to move to a bigger house, you can expand your work area by building a kitchen island. These structures can serve many purposes, from increased storage space to an impromptu breakfast bar, but you’ll have to treat their construction with a bit of deliberation. Use the following guide to start the planning process off on the right foot with your building contractor.

3 Factors to Go Over With a Building Contractor in Preparation for a Kitchen Island

1. Size & Shape

When creating the blueprints for your kitchen island, start by asking the most basic questions: How large can you afford to make it, and what shape would suit the room best? The size of your kitchen island will mostly depend on the square footage of the room, as well as clearances for appliances, such as opening oven doors. However, the placement and shape of your island is largely tied to its functionality. If you’re simply using it to cook or bake on, you’ll want it close to the other counters, so you can turn around and keep working with ease. If you’re looking to create a bar or countertop complete with seating, you might want to set the island further away from the main cooking space.

2. Materials

Next, you’ll have to choose the materials for your kitchen addition. If it’s close to your other counters, stick with the same material and color for a seamless transition. However, an island that is designed to stand out as more of a table or entertainment space can feature different yet complementary materials. For example, if your main counters are black, speckled granite, add contrast to your kitchen with a light butcher’s block or white marble kitchen island. If you’ll be using the workspace to cook and not just dine, opt for durability over style.

3. Special Features

The last step of your planning process should be to clearly outline your special requests to the building contractor. If your dog is always roaming around the kitchen when you cook, ask the contractor to create a nook within the island with enough room for a dog bed. If you’d like to maximize your cooking space by adding a second oven to the island, make sure there’s room in the plans to accommodate for the appliance. Other special features include cabinets for roll-out trash bins, built-in lighting, or an overhang for storing bar stools.
 

If you’re ready to get started on this home improvement project, reach out to Dahl Construction Company in Bayfield, WI. This family-owned and -operated building contractor will design and build a kitchen island to suit your needs and tastes, and ensure it all fits within your budget. To learn more about their other services, including roofing work, visit their website. You can also call (715) 779-3600 to schedule a consultation for a free estimate.