Design your own kitchen island

Before you start thinking about smart storage solutions and what range you want, decide what your island's main function is going to be. Most islands have a side devoted to cooking and a side devoted to eating, but what will your emphasis be? Prep work, cooking, cleaning, eating or entertaining? Or will you use it for everything, including homework and house projects?

If you want appliances and sinks in your island, you'll need more space. If it will be used just for casual meals, seating should be your priority.

"The discussion regarding a kitchen island is really just a small subset of issues which the overall kitchen design and surrounding space must resolve, " says Ahmann. "In the overall scheme, what gets delegated to the island is part of the overall flow of working and living patterns. The island is part of a solution, and this is where most of the discussion should focus. Then the details will fall into place."