Kitchen Islands with Seating

One of the most common reasons for adding a kitchen island is to gain more seating space. Learn how to make it work in your kitchen with this guide.
Kitchen of contemporary house

White Open Kitchen

Kitchen of contemporary house

Photo by: Andy Sotiriou

Andy Sotiriou

By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik

For many homeowners, the kitchen island is a functional area that provides a space for kitchen storage and food preparation. But it is also an ideal place for creating a casual seating area, whether it be for breakfast for the kids before school or entertaining guests in the evening.

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Kitchen island seating is rather versatile in the sense that it can be designed for kitchens ranging from small to large. Seating can accommodate anywhere from one to four people, depending on the size of your kitchen and the style of seating you are seeking. Consider whether you want your design to make room for a solo spot – a cozy place for sipping coffee and reading a book – or provide space for several people to sit while you work in the kitchen.

If you are thinking of adding seating to your kitchen island design, then it is important to keep in mind the amount of space you would like to devote to dining and the height required to adequately fit chairs. Depending on the style of seating you choose, the counter overhang will be approximately 12 to 18 inches and the countertop will be 28 inches to 48 inches high.

The added bonus, of course, that comes hand-in-hand with kitchen island seating is less "travel time" from your food preparation spot to the dining space. Plates can be easily prepared on a countertop and simply placed on a kitchen island for a simple dining solution.

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