Hello World! Welcome Friends! Do you already have a kitchen island, but it just does not meet your needs any longer? If you can answer that question in the affirmative, then it might just be time to renovate that island. Depending on the age of your island, you may be surprised at what is now available to you.
Seating Around the Island
Do you enjoy having family and friends around when you cook in the kitchen? Having people in the kitchen with you can add to the ambience. There is a way to accomplish that, and it may be something that you have not thought about in the past. It can be accomplished by something remarkably simple and low tech: bar stools.
Once you have purchased these low-tech items, you can begin to enjoy having people near you. It might even bring back memories of being in the kitchen with your parents or grandparents. Especially if you are cooking something they did back then. Would the smell of breads, cakes, or cookies baking bring back fond memories? It is well-known that smell is the strongest memory trigger.
Electrical Outlets
Having plenty of electrical outlets in the kitchen has long been a drawback to those who cook frequently. In kitchens without islands, the electrical outlets are typically installed in the drywall just above the backsplash of your countertop. Since islands do not have backsplashes, you can imagine how difficult it would be to install electrical outlets on them.
There is a new type of electrical outlet you can install on your island countertop. They are known as pop-up outlets, and they have a modern look to them. When you have pop-up outlets installed, you can pull them up when needed, and push them down when finished.
Pop-up outlets have many advantages over standard electrical outlets:
- Less costly
- Pleasing to the eye
- Space saving
- Security
- Array of choices
One reason pop-up outlets are less costly is that they are electrically efficient. They use less power than standard outlets. The other reason is that they are less expensive to install than standard outlets.
Pop-up outlets tend to be more pleasing to the eye than standard outlets. When not in use, pop-up outlets can be pushed down, leaving a smooth surface behind. Standard outlets on your island can become eyesores. People just do not like to look at eyesores. Plus, the standard outlets are more difficult to clean. The smooth round surface of a pop-up outlet could even be considered artistic.
Pop-up outlets save counter space because they can be pushed down when not in use. This allows that part of the counter to be used. Standard outlets simply use more counter space.
If your kitchen island had no electrical outlets at all, you would need to run power cords down along the floor, and up to the standard outlet on the wall. This presents a safety hazard to those who walk through your kitchen. When power cords are run across any floor, they are a trip and fall hazard. If you have children who run through the kitchen, imagine what could happen to them if you had power cords across the floor.
Pop-up outlets are available in a wide array of designs and colors. For example, you may want to choose a color that matches your countertop. Or you may prefer a color that compliments the rest of your kitchen décor.
Storage Space Under the Island Countertop
The most efficient method of having storage space under your island countertop is to install shelves. The dimensions of the shelves will be smaller than those of the countertop. The next step is to install wood facing on the outer edges of the shelves. Once that has been done, you will have to make some choices for the outside.
The outside may just be the most important part of the island to you, as it can make the island look appealing. The choices you will need to make are cabinet doors, and door hardware.
Ideally, you may want to choose doors that match the existing cabinetry in your kitchen. If you are unable to find the doors you like at a home improvement store, consider hiring a custom cabinet maker. A custom cabinet maker can build the doors to your exact specifications.
The door hardware consists of the hinges, and door handles. Again, the idea here might be to match the hardware to your existing hardware. Once again, if you are unable to find the hardware you need at a home improvement store, consider a custom cabinet maker. Custom cabinet makers have access to a much wider variety of hardware than your local home improvement store will.
What Type of Countertop Should I Choose?
Countertop materials run the gamut from the common wood with a laminate surface, to marble, granite, and quartz. Each of these types of countertop materials have their advantages or disadvantages. Regardless of the type of countertop material you choose, you should bear in mind that constructing countertops is quite difficult and time consuming.
Constructing countertops is so time consuming, that many custom cabinet makers will not build them. So, if you are considering hiring a professional for your countertop, do not be discouraged if the first few custom cabinet makers you contact tell you that they do not build countertops.
When thinking of the color of your countertop, keep in mind that granite and quartz both look a certain way. There is a little more variety in marble. Masons work with marble, which can be either man-made or natural. This allows for more choices of color patterns.
The type of countertop that has the widest variety of styles and colors is still the time-tested laminate. You may have heard the name Formica® at some time in the past. Formica® is simply a brand name oflaminate, that was first used in 1912.
Wood Stain or Paint?
After all the other steps in renovating your kitchen island have been completed, you will have one final choice to make. That will be choosing between wood stain and painting of the outside of the island cabinet doors and facing. This is purely a personal choice based upon your preference. You can make this a DIY project or call in a professional.
If you choose to use wood stain, please bear in mind that it must be followed up by the application of a sealant. Before you apply any stain, you must first choose the color. Do you prefer a color that matches your existing kitchen cabinets? Or do you prefer something different that will make the island stand out? There are a wide variety of wood stains available on the market.
Painting cabinets has regained its popularity among homeowners. If you choose to paint the outside of your island, you will not need a sealant. Applying a primer beforehand is always a good idea. The choices of paint colors are much greater than that of wood stain. This is another situation where you may want to consider matching your existing cabinets or choosing a color that makes the island stand out.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
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Choosing the Right Brightness for your LED Strip Lights
Bathroom Counter Organizer Ideas
Personalized Cases for Your iPhone 12
Finding the Right Tree Removal Company
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
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