Question from a darling client:

We are building a new house, and thinking of having the cooktop in the island.

Is that a good idea?

 

Recently I’m hearing this question more and more.

Is it a new trend?

I’m baffled, so I go to my good friend, Google, to find out. (The beautiful kitchen in the feature image is from Naked Kitchens)

Indeed.

This is what she says:

 ” Yes, incorporating a cooktop into the kitchen island is considered a current trend in kitchen design, offering a convenient way to cook while being more social and engaging with guests in the kitchen space…”

 

You could slap me with a wet fish.

Sure, I can see the initial appeal, sounds reasonable.

But when you think it through, maybe not the best solution.

 

Think about it:

Kitchen islands – and we’ll include peninsulas – has become a standard installation in most kitchens these days. We love them.

They are sociable – especially when you have seating around.

And convenient – you can reach them from all sides, minimizing steps and making cooking and food prep easier.

They offer a large surface – it’s astonishing how this surface simply invites activity, participation, creativity. So many non-kitchen activities and projects end up around the island.

IF you don’t have an island in your kitchen, you are probably looking for a way to add one.

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YOUR ISLAND?

In our house, there’s no doubt the island is the center of life. It’s the fist place the kids aim for after school, and the preferred place for homework, to doodle, draw and paint. We prep food, sort mail, and eat most (informal) meals here. Because the counter chairs are super comfortable, we often sit here to work, play board games, and have a glass of wine while the other one is cooking. When we have friends over, this is where we first gather, serve snacks, and often stay.

Ours is not even an island, only a peninsula!

For us it’s definitely the center of everything around here, and we love it.

But we don’t have the cooktop here.

Even if we had more space, we would never have the cooktop in the island.

 

WHY NOT?

A cooktop would be in the way.

While we love cooking, it’s not all we do in the kitchen. With a cooktop in the middle of the island, it would take up prime countertop space that then cannot be used for all the other fun things that wants to happen around the island.

 

A cooktop is bulky

And so are the things you use on it

It gets hot

And steamy

It gets messy  – ours in any way

Things splatter

and frankly I’d rather have my marinara sauce on the backsplash than on my people.

 

But that’s just us.

If you are in two minds whether to have the cooktop in your island, just ask yourself these questions:

 

DOES IT MAKE COOKING EASIER?

If the cooktop is in the island, would the layout allow for an easy flow between the most important features in your kitchen – water, heat and refrigeration?

The trusted concept of the kitchen work triangle – brainchild of the amazing and brilliant Lillian Gilbreth in the 1920’s, that aims to reduce the steps between taking things from the fridge, rinse and chop, and cook – has been popularized in the 1940’s, and is today still one of the most stable design principles in kitchen design.

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A kitchen island makes it easy to place these important work areas in close – but not too close – proximity of one another. Circular Routing, as Lillian called it.

 

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WHERE WOULD YOU PUT YOUR STUFF?

Is there enough work and storage space for all the things you need around the cooktop, like spices, and cooking utensils?

Where would you keep the olive oil and the spatulas?

 

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HOW DO YOU USE  YOUR ISLAND?

Is it more about people and activities – a place where people are drawn to, where they eat and drink and sit and chat and do things?

Or is it more about cooking – like a functional chefs island where cooking is the main activity.

If you think your island may lean more to the first, then perhaps a cooktop in the island is not your best option.

Unless…

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Your island is pretty big, and the cooktop is to the one side, and seating area to the other side.

That can work.

 

WHAT’S MORE IMPORTANT?

When you have guests – to face your people when you’re busy behind the pots?

Or face your people when you’re busy prepping and chopping and serving food?

Personally I don’t like to have my face right up against the steam when I’m sitting in the kitchen.

 

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Sure, perhaps if you’re a food blogger or chef and you want a camera filming you front view, a cooktop in the island makes sense.

 

WHAT ABOUT EXTRACTION?

Your options for a hood are:

– An island hood hovering over the island and venting out to the roof, like the image above.

Pretty bulky and in your face, in my opinion. But mostly, it hogs the air space in the middle of the room – see the following further down.

– Downdraft extraction, pulling smoke and odors horizontally away from the stove.

Less bulky, but still in the way, plus you’re fighting the natural path the steam wants to go.

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– The last option is to NOT have a hood at all.

Not sure how good this option is in terms of smoke and steam and odors. Up to you.

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All in all, I think a hood around the island complicates things.

 

AND LIGHTING?

If you have a hood over the island, it will be tricky to add beautiful pendants there.

 

Lighting over the island is super important.

It provides functional task lighting when you work there, and also soft ambient light that can be dimmed when you eat, entertain, or just want a relaxed atmosphere.

 

A chandelier or pendants are also nice above the island – perfect opportunity to add a pop of color and show your personality.

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In summary, placing the cooktop in your island is not something to do lightly.

Once it’s there, it will be very difficult to change around.

All I’m saying, just give it some good thought before you go ahead.

 

Happy to answer any questions you may have.

Mia

 

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