Top 10 Things To Do When Considering Adding An Island To Your Kitchen

1) Most important! Make sure your kitchen has the needed room for the island.

2) Use colored tape on the floor to make an outline of the island. This will help you select both the size and location of the island.

3) Place some similarly sized boxes in the island's location to get a feel for what it will be like once it is installed.

4) Decide how your new island is to be used. Is this just an extra workspace? Or will you need storage capabilities as well? Perhaps this island needs to have a butcher's block surface?

5) After choosing a position, check to see that you have at least 3 feet of space on each side of the island in this spot so that there is ample room to get by.

6) Measure the height of your existing counters so that you can make the island match them accordingly.

7) When selecting a location for your island, avoid choosing a location that interrupts the traffic and workflow of the kitchen.

8) If you cannot get an island made of materials identical to your current kitchen, do your utmost to make certain the island will not clash with your current kitchen's theme and style.

9) Decide if you want a stationary or portable island.

10) Get a second opinion on your decision. Ask a designer, contractor, or friend with good decorating or remodeling experience what they think of your idea.