Creating an island paradise: Tips for adding an island in your kitchen renovation

(BPT) - Custom cabinetry, granite countertops, reclaimed wood flooring and accents, and top-of-the-line, high-tech appliances what more do you need to make your kitchen renovation perfect? How about adding an island? Designers and builders across the country are pointing to the addition of an island as the must-have upgrade for kitchen renovations this year.

Homeowners are embracing the island, and whats not to love about it? Adding an island can dramatically alter a kitchens appearance, provide additional storage space and work area, and create a fresh focal point for family meals. Whats more, common challenges that have historically held homeowners back from adding islands such as the difficulty and high costs associated with adding plumbing drainage in the center of the room are easier to solve than ever.

Plumbing problem solved

While you could add an island without plumbing, having a sink in an island can improve the workflow in a kitchen and open up counter space elsewhere. Plumbing an island can be problematic, however, if your home is built on a slab or a crawl space. The cost of cutting through concrete and adding piping can be prohibitive.

Above-floor plumbing can solve the problem. Manufacturers like Saniflo make a variety of pumping systems that can eliminate the need to cut concrete and reduce the cost of installing plumbing in a new island. For example, the SANISWIFT gray water pumping system is about the size of a small wastebasket (so it fits easily in an island cabinet space), and comes out of the box fully assembled, reducing installation time and costs.

Cutting through concrete to install plumbing can easily account for 50 percent of a renovation budget, says Chris Peterson of Saniflo. Homeowners may decide to abandon the idea of an island altogether when they face that kind of cost. Above-floor plumbing allows them to add an island, hide a single drain pipe in a decorative column, and achieve the kitchen of their dreams at a fraction of the cost of traditional plumbing options.

Top island trends

Islands are increasingly becoming the focal point of kitchen renovations, serving both practical purposes and as design statements.

More homeowners are replacing traditional dining tables and breakfast nooks with spacious islands that feature seating. Islands are replacing tables, said Audrey Macdonald of Creative Interiors By Audrey in Mississauga, Ontario, in the National Kitchen & Bath Associations 2015 Kitchen & Bath Style Report.

In addition to seating, homeowners are incorporating restaurant-quality fittings into islands, adding charging stations for the familys personal digital devices. Theyre also choosing architectural and design touches such as decorative legs, and countertops and cabinetry that contrast with those around the perimeter of the kitchen.

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Creating an island paradise: Tips for adding an island in your kitchen renovation