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Are you planning a kitchen remodel? If so, there is no doubt that you are probably considering having an island installed in your kitchen. In fact, believe it or not, an island is one of the most sought-after features during a renovation project. A well-designed island that is proportionate to the size of the kitchen can provide a smooth workflow while making cooking and dining comfortable. You will even find that installing a kitchen island can enhance the space.

Does Your Space Allow for an Island?

When it comes to installing a kitchen island, you might be concerned that your kitchen is not big enough. However, it is important to remember that islands are not a “one size fits all” feature. Even if you are working with a smaller space, that does not mean that you will not be able to install an island. In fact, there are numerous ways a contractor can make it work since kitchen islands are built and tailored according to the design and size of the kitchen. In fact, most companies will customize a kitchen island with reduced depth or height to fit the dimensions of the space.

What Is the Clearance Zone?

An additional factor that you will have to consider when having an island installed in the kitchen is how many people live in your home and how often they use the space. This factor is essential because you will want to have adequate room for everyone to navigate the area. This is called the “clearance zone.” A practical distance from the clearance and the edge of the countertop is at least three feet. This spacing allows for free and safe movement around the island.

Consider a Tailor-Made Kitchen Island

If you decide to have your kitchen island built from the ground up, you can design it to be much more efficient by having drawers, extra storage, and even built-in seating. In fact, your kitchen island can be completely customizable to your lifestyle and space.

Fitting an Island into Small Kitchen

As previously mentioned, kitchen islands vary in size and shape. A fixed island should be at least 40 by 40 inches. Although it sounds small, these nifty islands still provide a good chunk of workspace, and you will still have the option of integrating some of your favorite appliances on the island.

All in all, kitchen islands are a fantastic feature that you may want to incorporate in your kitchen remodel. They provide an additional workspace with extra storage and seating opportunities.

What do you think about kitchen islands? We would love to hear your thoughts below in the comment section.

If you’re looking for a fun and mildly educational activity you can share with your child, how about baking cookies? It’s a valuable life skill, it involves following directions and accuracy in measuring, and it has its own rewarding snack at the end.

First, anticipate a mess. Children are not naturally tidy and baking has a lot of things that can spill and splash. Plan ahead to reduce any problems this could cause.

Fortunately, kitchens are made to handle messes. Simple preparation such as paper towels or work cloths ready to wipe up spills on your floor and countertop can provide quick clean ups and allow you to go right back to baking. You may want to pre-measure some of the messier elements such as milk and have the eggs already cracked and waiting in a bowl.

Next, don’t stretch your own capabilities. If you’re a regular baker, then make cookies from scratch using one of your tried-and-true recipes. If not, then plan for a mix or even pre-made dough. Add some decorations such as sprinkles, even with a chocolate chip cookie, to make the process more fun and exciting.

Be sure to plan for your final clean-up while the cookies are baking. Start with the cooking implements. You may want to put them all in the sink out of the way. Then wipe down the countertops. End with the floor, to pick up anything that’s landed there during either baking or cleaning. Have your child help clean – it’s an important part of baking.

Finally, be sure to check your young one’s hands and shoes or feet for flour or other ingredients before he or she heads out the kitchen door to less forgiving flooring.