Kitchen work island and upcoming kitchen changes

I am moving.

For the first time in 29 years.

And, therefore, I am freaking out.

But that second part is not your concern. I do have a few questions to ask about doing up my new kitchen [which is much larger than my current kitchen and part of the reason for moving].

I don't have the money to do a kitchen rehab. The kitchen appears to have be re-done in the early '80s, judging by the roll linoleum floor and the color/condition of the cabinets. The most decoration I'm planning for the cabinets is new, unfussy knobs. I'm planning on making the kitchen a "lots of room for cooking and hanging out" kitchen and if more than 2 are dining it's off to the dining room with you! I'm planning on installing a large-ish stainless shelf rack, a pot rack, and a kitchen island.

I can't decide what to buy for a stand-alone island.

At this point, I'm not going to install a second sink or electrical outlets. Like I said, no money for a rehab. But I do want an area for storage and prep. And a breakfast bar to sit at on a stool to eat or have the gentleman caller sit at to sip wine & watch me chop the mushrooms. I'm seriously considering buying a Catskill Craftsman Super Island like this http://www.catskillcraftsmen.com/products/64238.html
but sometimes wonder if something semi-custom from Ikea would be a good idea. I generally prefer the look of natural wood over other styles, so the Catskill island would likely be easy to integrate into some future kitchen.

Anyone have a stand-alone island that they love? Have anything built? Have any experience with a Catskill Craftsman product?

Giovanna

I do not have an island in my current house. The one you selected is very nice but keep in mind its dimensions...it looks massive. Here is a website you can look at that sells a variety of kitchen islands.

http://www.ekitchenislands.com/

PS they also sell Catskill islands on this site.

Giovanna-

I had a Catskill Super Island in my previous kitchen. I bought the one with the drop-leaf thinking I would move it out so I could sip wine while my gentleman caller chopped mushrooms (or vice versa ), but it was only used as a workspace up against the wall. I was happy with the piece. (It is now a laundry folding area in the basement of our new place.) Be forewarned that the Super Island was heavy and a pain to put together.

Good luck with the move!

Giovanna wrote:I'm seriously considering buying a Catskill Craftsman Super Island like this http://www.catskillcraftsmen.com/products/64238.html
but sometimes wonder if something semi-custom from Ikea would be a good idea.

FWIW, I asked my handyman re. Ikea cabinets & he said he'd seen them sag under heavier countertops (presumably the non-Formica stuff like granite, Corian, etc.).

Here's an IKEA "hack" in real-time


Kitchen Island made from IKEA Akurum Cabinet & a Modern Kitchen with BackSplash IN : : a small modern designed Kitchen that "Works"! : : aka, a Real-Life IKEA Kitchen (with more than a few Hand-Crafted touches,adaptations,etc. created by The Furniture D by Man_of Steel, on Flickr

That I created using an IKEA 2-door cabinet with Steel Legs I created (and later had powdercoated gloss white to match the cabinet)
topped off with a small piece of Peacock Green Granite.
The Cabinets (specifically The Kitchen Cabinets) that IKEA designs and sells is one their best kept secrets- really.....
this from a Custom Furniture Designer /Maker/Fabricator (moi!)

My point is this- go to IKEA with your eyes wide open.
Think of the Big Blue and Yellow place in Schaumburg as one Big Huge Hardware Store.
Look at everything- I mean everything as a building block- as an element
to be "hacked" into something other than that which it's being sold as ....

(and send me a pm if you need some steel legs made!)
Good Luck!

I have this island (though, look around for prices/wait for a sale because I paid something like half that price for it). It comes in white as well.

I LOVE it. I love that it feels and looks like a piece of furniture and not a rolling cart and is solid. I love that it has a finished back and is not intended to go against a wall. My husband was able to assemble it himself with the exception of me helping to put the top on.

The only thing I don't love is the finished wooden top, but I bought a bamboo cutting board that goes completely across the side of it I work off by the stove and that solved that problem. We've thought about getting a butcher block top for it eventually, or having a granite top made for it if we end up getting granite counter tops.

We bought two stools for it and do flip the side up occasionally for quick eats or extra workspace.