Let's go to the islands...

[Huligar]

Kitchen centers are convenient for cooking and cleaning
By NZONG XIONG The Fresno Bee

Patty Kruger of Fresno, Calif., always wanted a kitchen island in the house in which she and her family live. She designed and built the home 16 years ago, but the contractor at the time talked her out of putting in a kitchen island. Instead, she had a long countertop bar where people could sit or where she could do some prep work.

"But it was not very functional," says Kruger, 50, a school psychologist.

It was situated far from the sink and stove area. "It wasn't a good working space," she says.

Then, she and her husband, Frederick, built a home at Shaver Lake, Calif., 11 years ago and had a small kitchen island installed. Once she started using it, she realized it had been a mistake to leave out the feature in her Fresno home. So when she decided to remodel the home, she made sure the kitchen finally got an island.

Finished in June, it has granite countertops at two height levels and distressed cherry cabinets. Its many features include a sink, a drawer dishwasher, a two-shelf bookshelf, garbage disposal, instant hot-water faucet, chopping board, 13 drawers for storage and extra detailing such as corbels and raised paneled wood on the side of the bar.

"It totally changed my kitchen," she says.

Kitchen islands have become more popular as families and kitchens have grown and changed, say interior designers. As families have expanded and have more than one cook, and as kitchens enlarge to accommodate, islands also have adapted, becoming larger with multiple functions. Instead of being accessories, islands have become centerpieces in many kitchens.

Traditionally, kitchens had a hallway look or were U- or L-shaped, says interior designer Leonore Van Dalen-Seng in Fresno.

"They were confining," she says. "They were built for one person. … There was only a need for one cook traditionally. We became wealthier, families got bigger and kitchens expanded. You needed more space for multiple cooks."

Before the 1970s, extra cooking space came in the form of extensions of the countertop called peninsulas, she says. Many had cabinets above them for dishes, cups and storage.

They were still confining, but people were beginning to entertain in these areas, she says.

By the 1980s, kitchen islands started to emerge. They provided better movement or circulation around the kitchen. Besides places to set out dishes, they also had more features, such as sinks and dishwashers for preparation and cleanup.

In the 21st century, many kitchen islands are masterpieces on their own. More than just places to prepare meals, kitchen islands nowadays sport numerous features, such as sinks, dishwashers, cutting boards and storage space for extra pots, pans and trays. Many also have two or three countertop heights.

Islands also can include extras such as microwaves, bookshelves, instant hot water faucets and wine coolers. They also may stand out by using different countertop and cabinet finishes from the rest of the kitchen.

"We're down to the point they look like furniture," says Mavra Patropulos, an interior designer and owner of Inner Decor Associates in Fresno. "Some islands, we'd use cherry wood and the rest of the kitchen may have glazed cabinets. The island is a separate unit."

"The living spaces here are a lot more conducive to kitchen islands," Martin says. "We have big kitchen islands here. I love to do islands."