 | Mike Goebel
has been involved in the construction and home improvement industry for more than 40 years and is currently the Senior Vice President of the Home Center Division at Star Lumber & Supply Co. Inc. You may contact Mike by e-mail at mgoebel@starlumber.com or by phone at (316) 942-2221. |
Home Improvement
2003-07-01 13:54:00
Adding a 'kitchen island'
Mike Goebel
Question: We have a medium sized kitchen with a breakfast nook. Lately we have thought about adding an island in the center of the kitchen. We put an unused table in the center of the kitchen just to see if there was enough room. The table works nicely, but does not have the look we are wanting. What is the best way to add an island to a preexisting kitchen? Should we purchase one already made or have one built in the same look as the rest of the kitchen? How difficult is it to provide power to an island? Answer: An island counter is a nice addition to any kitchen. I like your idea of using the table for a temporary island. You not only determined the size you want, but have probably confirmed that you really want an island and have some ideas about what you wish it had.While there are no cut and dried answers to your questions, there are some things that should be considered. · If you have the required skills building your own island would not only be less expensive but it would allow you to make it exactly the size you want or need. · Buying pre-finished cabinets built specifically for that purpose should not be too difficult for the do-it-yourselfer. The caveat here is to find the style and color that matches or at least looks good with your existing cabinets. · If you hire a professional cabinet maker or remodeler to do the work for you, the cost might well reverse, making the pre-finished cabinet less expensive. · One consideration would be to make the island movable. An island with rollers on the bottom can be used as an extension of your existing cabinet top when desired or simply pushed out of your way when cleaning etc. · Providing electrical power to an island is usually a simple project especially if the ceiling below is open. Be sure to check the electrical code to determine the required specifications for kitchen outlets. Of course if you make the island movable, the electrical outlet would not be recommended. · Although I have not answered all your questions directly, I hope I gave you some useful information to think about. If you are going to hire someone to do the work, you might want to design the project together. If you're going to do the job yourself. visit with the people at the project center in your favorite home center.
