ISLAND SHOPPING
Determine your daily needs, then add a dash of ingenuity
Q I decided against the kitchen island upgrade for my 500-square-foot condo, and ever since, I’ve been living with a dining table from my old place. The problem is, I can’t turn around and prepare dinner on my dining table without hurting my back from bending. I feel I made a mistake by not taking the upgrade. My intent was to make my condo more like a house. I’d like a higher surface I can eat on, but where I can also do a bit of work sometimes. My place is quite contemporary, no bells and whistles, mostly simple and clean. Have you seen anything that will work? Should I try to find a high-top or island to match my counters? I’ve seen another condo in my building with a custom stainless steel island, but that’s not my taste.
A As much as I love a dining table in a small space, when you live in 500 square feet, prepping and entertaining is much easier when you have an island.
Don’t fret about not choosing the upgrade.
Sometimes it’s better to live in a space to figure out what you need before you completely furnish it. And there are many island options on the market, from custom to offthe-shelf.
It’s not necessary for your island to match your countertop.
In fact, your condo will feel more homey if you choose a different material.
You can certainly go the custom route, with a modern one. For a clean look, a waterfall island looks substantial and luxe.
Plus, you can use off-the-shelf cabinetry from a big-box store to customize your base with drawers or cabinets. Storage is something to think about if you frequently work from home or if you’re lacking cabinetry space.
As someone who has lived in 500 square feet, I know that more storage is a bonus.
That said, if you’re good at keeping clutter to a minimum, an island without cubbies and drawers won’t feel large or overpowering.
The stools you choose for your island will help give your condo a collected look.
Steer clear of anything that looks like it was modelled after a dentist chair or anything austere looking with sharp stainless steel corners that can hurt you. I’m only partially kidding. Anytime I see stores selling cheap 1990s contemporary furniture, I wish there were decorating police I could call.
Choose comfortable stools: wood will add warmth; industrial will add some edge to your modern space; and, upholstered stools are a great way to add comfort and personality through pattern or colour.
If you do buy an off-the-shelf piece, you can customize it with an off-cut piece of marble or a piece of salvaged wood.
If you’re looking for sources, Latitude-Countertops. com is a good source for marble waterfall islands or off-cut stone.
And, you can shop for multiple types of unfinished reclaimed-wood tabletops and countertops at UrbanTreeSalvage.com.
I’ve done a little shopping for you. The photo above from CB2 features two white, high dining tables from Public in high-gloss lacquer ($ 399; 48- by- 24- by- 42 inches) placed side by side to create an island dining table that doubles as a work spot and provides plenty of storage.
I especially like the centre cub- by, which has a hole for a laptop and phone cords.
Happy kitchen island shopping.