Dueling Kitchens from Design Star Challenge 2

By Vern Yip

Another major concern with the design is the island. Islands are a great way to make a kitchen efficient and practical, and this one is no exception. The two major issues with the team's approach are the color choice of the hood and the treatment of the countertop. In order to tie-in with the colors used in the eating area, the team paints the hood box bold red, highlighting an unattractive element and making it a focal point (see the next photo). Keeping the hood box the same color or hue as the ceiling would have shifted focus to more attractive elements such as the cabinets, appliances or the view out the window.

The island countertop brings a different and darker-colored wood into the kitchen design scheme and a new peninsula protruding from its perimeter. Wood on an island countertop can be a smart way to warm up a space, but this wooden top is poorly executed and could become problematic for the homeowners. The peninsula also could become an issue since it's not properly supported. A protruding element must be supported by legs on its far end or be of sufficient thickness to prevent the shakiness that this team experiences.