The island is a popular feature in kitchen remodeling because it answers many homeowners’ needs: extra storage space, expanded counter area, additional seating, and an anchor point for the room layout.
If you’re an Atlanta homeowner who is also an avid cook, parent, party host, or all of the above, the island can also offer something else: room for a central cooktop.
Why is an island cooktop a good idea?
You might be the cook who wants all your ingredients within easy reach. You might be the parent who wants your eyes both on the stove and the kids doing homework before dinner. Or, you might be the host who absolutely hates stepping out from the party while putting the finishing touches on the main course.
A cooktop right in the middle of the island lets you stop worrying about all of these things. With family and friends seated around the island, you no longer have to turn your back on them, stuck to the stove as guests share stories or kids try to behave (or misbehave). Whipping up a meal will also go more efficiently with all your ingredients at hand around the stove.
What should you consider when designing an island cooktop?
That said, installing this feature is easier said than done. Execution begins with discussing the following considerations with your kitchen remodeling contractor:
- Up and out, or down and out? Even in the middle of the kitchen, your cooktop needs to come with exhaust vents precisely because of its positioning. You could hang a hood over it, which will suck the steam and smoke up and out of the house, as if through a chimney. If you think a hood disrupts the kitchen’s aesthetic, you could have a similar mechanism suck smoke through a grate near the stove.
- What sort of stove? This is not solely an aesthetic consideration, even if different stovetops can lend different looks to your kitchen. The specific stovetop you choose will affect which exhaust system you can use—not to mention how the compartments beneath the island are configured. You might have less storage space if pipes or electrical work takes up room. You also need to decide if your island will have your only stove. Depending on the size of your household, you might need a secondary one installed elsewhere in the kitchen.
The kitchen remodeling experts at Sterling Works can walk you through several other options for designing an island cooktop that works best for your needs and your home.
Sources:
Kitchen Island Cooktops: The Good, the Bad, and the Options, DoItYourself.com
Kitchen Island Planning Guide: Space, Sinks, Cooktops, and More, TheSpruce.com
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