• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Portfolio
  • Services
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    Let’s Connect

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest

River Studio Design

Where style meets functionality

You are here: Home / Blog / An Ikea Kitchen Island That Functions Beautifully

An Ikea Kitchen Island That Functions Beautifully

Blog, Design, kitchen

19 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
This is my favourite spot at our Ikea kitchen island.
This is my favourite spot at our Ikea kitchen island.

How is it that our Ikea kitchen island deserves a blog of its own?

Well it is probably the biggest workhorse in our house. We obviously prepare food there, but it’s where we entertain, do our projects, eat sometimes, deposit our stuff. We love you island what would we do without you.

On this blog, I described in detail the perimeter of the kitchen, that we renovated in one month.

Before

Before we renovated, the island was quite small . It held a sink and dishwasher and that’s about it. We didn’t want the island to look exactly like the perimeter so we chose to build an island from Ikea cabinets.

This is what our kitchen looked like the day we bought our house.
This is what our kitchen looked like the day we bought our house.

Wish List For Ikea Kitchen Island

I had a long wish list. I wanted:

  • a dishwasher
  • microwave
  • beverage fridge
  • waste and recycling drawer
  • a bank of drawers
  • extra storage for big platters and bowls
  • a power outlet.
  • a small sink

The Details of Our Ikea Kitchen Island

This is how we did it.

This is the layout of our kitchen island
This is the layout of our kitchen island

The Main Working Side

We have a 30 inch dishwasher
A 46 inch bank of three drawers that hold most of my cooking needs
A 24 inch waste and compost drawer

The small bar sink is one of my favourite things about the island. I do all of my cooking preparation at the island and this is where I wash my produce. Right below is the waste and the compost, so it makes things easy. I also like this location because it is the first stop on the way from the dining room so plates can be cleaned and rinsed and put in the dishwasher.

This side of the Ikea kitchen island contains the dishwasher, 46 inch storage drawers and a prep sink with waste and compost below.
This side of the Ikea kitchen island contains the dishwasher, 46 inch storage drawers and a prep sink with waste and compost below.

Pantry Side

On the side by the pantry cabinets, we have the drink fridge, which is a handy place for guests. as its by the entrance to the kitchen. We also have an electrical outlet which is probably the most popular outlet in the kitchen. Its where all the small appliances are plugged in and it is the most popular spot for charging phones. I would highly recommend adding an outlet to your island.

This outlet on the iIkea kitchen sland was one of our best decisions.  Our small appliance storage is directly across so that is where blenders etc are plugged in.
This outlet on the Ikea kitchen island was one of our best decisions. Our small appliance storage is directly across so that is where blenders etc are plugged in.

Seating Area Of Our Ikea Kitchen Island

We have a nine inch overhang on the island where the four barstools are. Underneath the overhang there is a hidden cupboard that I only need to access occasionally. Thats where I keep big platters and seasonal things that I don’t use often.

These are the best seats in our house and there is hidden storage underneath the Ikea kitchen island.
These are the best seats in our house and there is hidden storage underneath the Ikea kitchen island.

Microwave Side

On the side of the island by the fridge, we have the microwave in a 24 inch cabinet that we customized. Since Ikea doesn’t make lower microwave cabinets, we used a a standard cabinet and added two extra drawers that I wasn’t expecting. One small one on top stores my silverware. The one on the bottom was supposed to be our bread drawer, but since we eat little bread these days, it is mostly empty.

Ikea did not offer a lower microwave storage cabinet so we improvised with a 24 inch cabinet and got two extra drawers.
Ikea did not offer a lower microwave storage cabinet so we improvised with a 24 inch cabinet and got two extra drawers.

Other Details Of Our Ikea Kitchen Island

We packed a lot into this island and the layout works very efficiently. From my “command centre” at the centre of the island, I have all my tools available to prepare, wash and dispose of food and clean dishes.

For the cabinet doors we chose from Ikea, appear to be no longer available. I liked the deep grey colour and the fact that the modern look is completely different than the perimeter cabinets.

Instead of using the legs provided by Ikea, we installed a frame using two x fours to ensure that there was a solid base for everything we installed.

For the work top we used the quartz. It is so easy care and the light colour on such a large surface brings brightness to the room. The quartz on the perimeter cabinets is a mid grey.

Its the heart of the home they say, and this island is one of my favourite places to be.

Always

Leslie

Tweet
Pin19
Share2
21 Shares

27/11/2019 · Leave a Comment

Previous Post: « Kitchen Renovation Done in One Month
Next Post: A Surprise Four-Hour Bedroom Makeover »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Latest on Instagram

Follow on Instagram

Lets connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest

About

My name is Leslie Buchanan-Jones. I love design and all things beautiful that function well. I am a mom of three thriving young adults and am married to an awesome Welshman. Follow me on my journey.

Subscribe for tips and tricks on making your house a beautiful and functional home!

Footer

Join us!

Subscribe for tips and tricks on making your house a beautiful and functional home!

Privacy Policy Disclosures

About

Contact

 

Let’s Connect

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2023 · anchored theme by Restored 316

19 shares