Kitchen Island Plans
A kitchen island can be a wonderful idea for a kitchen just being built or a kitchen that is not very large or
accessible. The kitchen island is the heart of the kitchen. It is located in the middle, between the
sink and stove area as well as the refrigerator. It acts as the connecting link in the “kitchen chain.”
You can go to the store and purchase an island, but in doing that, you cannot customize it. If you are
handy and have a little imagination, you can build one yourself. All you need are the proper tools and a
kitchen island plan that is simple enough for you to handle.
Before beginning working on your kitchen island plan, you will need to make sure that you
have all of the tools necessary. Whatever tools you do not have, you will need to go out and purchase.
You will need most of the basic carpentry tools. If you do not have a circular saw, a table saw can be used
in its place.
There are a couple things that you will need to know. If you are using a circular saw you should clamp a
straightedge in place to act as a fence or a guide. It is also important to keep a sharp blade and be sure
that the blade is square. You can check this by checking the blade with a combination square. This
should be done only after the table saw has been unplugged.
Before you begin building your kitchen island, you will need to draw up a plan.
This plan will need to include all of the appliances, shelving, and even the utilities which will need run to
your kitchen island. If you are considering a cooking surface or refrigerator, or even lights in your
island, you will need to plan for an electrician to run the electricity to the unit.
The first thing that you will want to do is take the initial measurements. This is done after you have
decided what you will be including in your island. You will want to purchase the appliances which you will be
including and deciding the measurements of the
shelving. This way, you will be able to fit everything in properly. If you do not take accurate
measurements, you will either not have enough room for everything that you want to add or have too much empty
space.
You will need to decide what you want to add to your island so that you can measure these things.
There are many different things that you can add to your kitchen island plan. Most people will add lots of
cupboard space and shelves. One reason for building the island could be extra storage space. You will
need to measure the cabinets so that you can measure the cabinet doors to fit. If you are considering an
additional cooking source, you will need to choose the exact one that you want and take measurements of it. You
will want to measure both the length and width of it as well as the depth of the cooking source.
It is important that you measure everything correctly so that it all fits in the end. You can opt to put a
refrigerator in your kitchen island plan. If you will be doing this, it is important that you measure the
refrigerator precisely. The measurements are important so the it fits in length, width and depth. You
also need to figure how you will be connecting the electricity for any electrical appliances that you will be
installing.
Another good idea is to put electrical outlets on the island. This could possibly free up counter space
that you do not have. If you have a small appliance, such as a toaster or a blender, and you do not have the
counter space, rather than keeping these things in drawers until you need them, you can keep them right on
your island. If you will be preparing food on your island, the outlets will come in handy in your island plan
as well. You can use an electric knife or an egg beater right on the island.
Once you have measured all of the amenities you are adding to your kitchen, you can figure the amount of wood
that you will need. First you must choose the type of wood that you want. If you are adding the island
to an already existing kitchen, you should choose a wood that close to matches with the existing kitchen. If you
are installing an island in a new kitchen, you should still be sure to match the wood accordingly. You should
also choose the type of counter top. Before purchasing it, you should have an idea of the size of it.
Because this is the last part to be put on your island, you should have an idea of the size that your top should
be. The material for the top of your island can vary. You can do it in butcher block, granite or
marble, or stainless steel. One you have chosen this it is time to begin assembling your island.
This can be a complicated job but in the end the finished product will become the heart of your
kitchen.
|