The islands in most of our kitchens match the rest of the cabinets.  Other times we mix it up and change the materials or the color of the all-important workplace.  There is no right or wrong other than to keep the cook happy and the Kitchen looking good.

Kitchen islands are a great place to hang out.  You can either help the chef prepare the food or simply provide moral support while sitting at the counter.  In my childhood home, down in Louisiana, you were expected to do both, whether you were one of the family or a first-time visitor.  Weekend cooking was a group effort that generally involved making delicious food.  As adults, we cut up the ingredients while entertaining the cook and perhaps enjoying a festive beverage.

Islands are also a wonderful place for kids to sit and do their homework while mom or dad cooks and tries to help with those difficult homework questions.

It is rare for us to design a kitchen that does not have an island.  Sometimes there is more than one.  We include everything from sinks to microwaves and refrigerator drawers to appliance garages in our islands. Unless the kitchen is very small, we always try to include seating. Although peninsulas work well too.  Occasionally instead of what we would consider an island, our clients decide to have a farm table.  That can work just as well.

Photos by Rob Karosis  Curated Brochure by Crisp Architects: Portfolio

To get my monthly newsletter, On The Drawing Board, click here.  Jimmy Crisp