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When many homeowners in the Washington DC Metro area bring us idea books or mood boards with images of kitchen islands that have captured their imagination, most feature seating on one side of the island only. Many islands only feature one sided seated because one-sided seating makes for a beautiful visual. However, that often comes at the expense of functionality, and it does not always have to be that way. We advise Washington DC Metro area homeowners to consider other options especially if the kitchen island is to serve multiple purposes that may include kitchen table, office, café, study, classroom and conference room.
Homeowners in Washington DC Metro area that want to use their island as a dining area should give second thought to seating arrangements for meals. When all of the seats face in one direction, it’s difficult to make eye contact or make for an ideal environment to talk with one another. If you need to move seating to another side of the island, you run the risk of not have sufficient leg room and constantly bumping legs against cabinets and pulls. One sided seated may work for two or three person families but is not ideal.
The amount of island seating is often determined by the space for the island and its design. If there is insufficient space in the kitchen for multisided island seating, we often recommend an island with legs that can fit seating between them. Another option is to design islands without sides that provides for more leg room underneath.
Homeowners in Washington DC Metro area that have the space for more comfortable and inviting island dining options can create islands with two-sided seating by extending an overhand on two sides, which allows family members and friends to face one another at mealtime. This design option allows homeowners in Washington DC Metro area to achieve the visual of all seating in a line during most of the day and then moving seating when meals are served. It’s the best of two worlds.
Larger kitchens may be able to accommodate three-sided seating without sacrificing storage space underneath. Square-shaped islands can often accommodate seating on multiple sides.
The functionality of the island as dining table also will be influenced by the number, size and shape of the seats. If space is at a premium, we often recommend homeowners in the Washington DC Metro area consider backless stools or armless seats that can easily tuck under the island.
Surfing for inspiration on Instagram, Houzz and other sites, you will often find glamour shots with plush seating almost always on one side of the island. In reality, almost all of those arrangements won’t make for a pleasant dining or family experience. To achieve the best combination of form and function and to learn how you island can be best used for your and your families’ needs, give us a call at 240-821-5257 or make an appointment to visit one of our showrooms in Kensington, Beltsville, or Cumberland Maryland.
LICENSE NUMBERS:
MD 109118, 132225
DE 2015601897
PA 145953
DC 420219000112
WV 2376-1062
LICENSE NUMBERS:
MD 109118, 132225
DE 2015601897
PA 145953
DC 420219000112
WV 2376-1062
3923 Plyers Mill Road, Suite 2
Kensington, MD 20895
240-821-5257
Open Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm,
by Appointment
307 N. Mechanic St.
Cumberland, MD 21502
240-839-4508
Open Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm, and Saturday by Appointment
*Credit and loans provided by Regions Bank d/b/a EnerBank USA, Member FDIC, (650 S Main St, Suite 1000, Salt Lake City, UT 84101) on approved credit, for a limited time. 19.99% fixed APR, effective as of November 2023, subject to change. Minimum loan amounts apply. Interest starts accruing when funds are disbursed. Interest is waived if repaid in 365 days from first disbursement. When open line period ends, the balance becomes a fixed rate installment loan; repayment terms vary from 24 to 132 months. Actual loan term may be shorter if less than the full approved amount of credit is used. First monthly loan payment due 365 days after first disbursement.
*Credit and loans provided by Regions Bank d/b/a EnerBank USA, Member FDIC, (650 S Main St, Suite 1000, Salt Lake City, UT 84101) on approved credit, for a limited time. 9.99% fixed APR, subject to change. Minimum loan amounts apply. Interest starts accruing when funds are disbursed. Open line period payments due 90 days after origination and monthly thereafter during open line period. When open line period ends, the balance becomes a fixed rate installment loan; repayment term is 60 months. Actual loan term may be shorter if less than the full approved amount of credit is used. First monthly loan payment due 30 days from the end of the open line period. 60 monthly payments of $21.24 per $1,000 borrowed. The minimum monthly payment will be no less than $50.00.