Expanding the kitchen island will involve careful consideration of how much floor space you can afford to lose and then, so you won’t have to go through the process again, how big you will need the island expanded to. The first thing you are going to have to ensure is that there is enough room in the kitchen to handle the expansion. If there is already barely enough room in the kitchen you are going to have to consider removing something such as existing cabinetry or relocating the island to a more suitable spot. A quick way to test whether the expanded kitchen island is going to fit is to mark out the boundaries of the proposed island with masking tape. As you move through the kitchen it will help you determine whether it will allow the traffic to flow unimpeded.

With any luck the expansion will only need to occur on one end of the island, although the chances are to make it look symmetrical, it will have to be expanded at either end.

Depending on the flooring that you have you may need to remove some of the floor covering so the larger island will fit and look like it has always been there. You will then have to begin the construction of the framework of the new cabinet. With any luck you can use a portion of the existing cabinetry.

A new countertop to fit the larger island will have to be installed and then the finishing touches may be added such as the kick plate etc. The color and finish of the expanded kitchen island will be determined by the rest of the room, hopefully it will blend in with the rest of the kitchen décor.

Rather than go through a permanent kitchen island expansion there is also an option that will allow the kitchen island to expand on an as-needed basis.

When you are not blessed with a great deal of available space in the kitchen / breakfast room area but you would like a kitchen island and possibly a breakfast table or some kind of dining area you will be fairly limited in your options. Ina great space saving solution there are reasonably sized kitchen islands that expand out into dining table by simply sliding the top out when it is needed.

The ideal version of these expanding kitchen island / dining table combinations will provide you with a food preparation area that is high enough to work comfortably at, and then, when it expands into the dining table configuration the table top height will lower itself to a normal dining table height.

You will find kitchen islands for sale further down this page.

Rather than entering into the possibility that a kitchen island will not meet the needs of a bustling family, take the view that you can have a kitchen island built would not only solve this issue for you but also give your children an area to sit and do home work while you prepare dinner or to expand a natural gathering place in your home. Having an island designed and built is a cost effective way of expanding your kitchen’s ability to manage the traffic of your family and friends.

Kitchen island designs are very similar to each other. There are two options for design and those are the kitchen island cart and the fixed island. Of course the difference between these two is the ability to move them. Each design has general dimensions that can be increased or decreased according to the needs of the specific customer. These changes of course will change the amount of storage space that is available but not the overall function of the island. The size of your kitchen will likely determine if you want to be able to move the countertop to accommodate guests or have a permanent countertop to accommodate your family.

So what are some of the more popular kitchen island designs? Let’s start with the permanent islands and you can go with a simple small countertop with under bench storage, something that might complement a traditional L-shaped kitchen. In a larger kitchen you might go with an oversized square kitchen island that will give you extended cabinetry underneath and perhaps a cooktop in the center.

NEW 3pc Counter Height Drop Leaf Kitchen Table Island and 2 Stools Pub Bar Set    US $199.50

ELEGANT CREAM KITCHEN ISLAND CART DINING TABLE & 4 BAR STOOLS SET SALE    US $999.00

SEI White Nantucket Kitchen Island Bar w/ Stools DN1439    US $249.99

BRAND NEW American Girl BITTY TWIN BABY Play KITCHEN ISLAND NIB    US $76.99

NEW SEBRING ATHENIAN BRONZE KITCHEN ISLAND PENDANT VAXCEL LIGHTING SE-PDD380AE    US $302.40

VINTAGE STAINED GLASS KITCHEN ISLAND LAMP TULIP DESIGN NR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    US $99.99

NEW PARK RIDGE VINTAGE BRONZE LIVEX KITCHEN ISLAND FIXTURE LIGHTING 6292-70    US $299.90

Wooden Kitchen Island / Cart With Drawer, Shelves & Folding Top    US $129.00

Wooden Kitchen Island / Cart With Drawer & Stainless Steel Top    US $139.00

Mobile Kitchen Island/Cabinet/Storage/Cart/Pantry ws Shelves Stain resistant    US $198.00

Kohler 6417-1-FT Kitchen Island Integrated Top & Basin    US $1,640.99

Cottage Distressed Kitchen Island Solid Wood with a Zinc Top    US $1,092.75

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Another popular kitchen island design is the island that accommodates seating on one or a couple of sides. This creates the perfect gathering place in the kitchen and turns it into the heart of the home.

Floating kitchen islands take a number of different forms and starts with the small cart, moving up to a butcher’s block and up to a more extravagant mobile table. These are perfect for the smaller ktichens where you only need the extra coutner space on a temporary basis.

Butcher's Blocks For Sale

Powell Black Butcher Block Top Kitchen Island Furniture 502-416    US $466.45

Kitchen Island Butcher Block TOP, cabinet Top, MAPLE Edge Grain TOP    US $175.00

KITCHEN ISLAND Maple Butcher Block Top Country FRENCH Furniture Quality 5 FT New    US $1,729.99

Natural Wood Counter Top Kitchen Island Butcher Block Cart W With Wheels    US $169.00

Kitchen Island Butcher Block Top Distressed Cottage    US $909.54

Distressed Kitchen Island Butcher Block Top Solid Wood    US $823.05

vintage industrial work table bench desk kitchen island butcher block with vise    US $625.00

72"Kitchen Island Solid Wood Butcher Block Top-Wow    US $1,349.00

5 ft Kitchen Island Solid Wood Butcher Block Counter Top. Custom welcome    US $1,099.00

FOLDING ISLAND OVAL SHAPE KITCHEN CART W/BUTCHERS BLOCK 3 DIFFERENT FINISHES    US $119.99

52" Kitchen Island Solid Maple Butcher Block Counter Top ,trash tray-ship 2 days    US $949.00

58" White Butcher Block Top Kitchen Island ISL06-AWH    US $2,195.00

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The cost of course, will depend of the extent of material and complexity of the design. Islands construction can be done from most any type of wood material as long as it is sturdy and has some durability. The countertops also vary in style and material. A few of the most common countertop materials include laminate, butcher block, marble and granite. The cost will also be determined by availability and whether or not the island is custom built.

A feature that is a popular addition to the kitchen island is a sink, which will require some plumbing to be done before adding the cabinets. A stove top, particularly one that sits flush with the rest of the counter is another nice feature for the island. However adding this to the kitchen island may negate some of the other possible functions such as using it as a servery or a place where children can sit.

Islands that are already fabricated can be purchased right away and delivered or installed with minimal planning. Many of us have specific needs, though, and for this reason they will decide to install a custom island that requires more planning, a solid design and lengthy discussion with the builder. If the island will be added to the existing kitchen and unmovable, serious considerations will need to be discussed and planned before construction begins. Moveable islands are a great deal less complicated but if building, will need to be given the same considerations so that style and efficiency are well thought-out.

As with all new features the kitchen island design that you choose should attempt to meet the needs of the entire family. Safety issues must be considered as well as the most efficient use of the space.

A kitchen island can look and be just about anything you want it to be, from just a work counter to a built-in unit containing a sink or a cooktop. It’s a great way to add functionality to the room, making use of some extra space and creating more bench space.

A floating kitchen island is one of the many configurations you may choose to use and could consist of a butcher’s block or a cart that has been converted to act as the island. The floating part of the island refers to the fact that it may be moved from place to place as the needs change or as more space is needed.

Take a look at the range of butcher's blocks available that would serve very well as properly functioning floating kitchen islands.

Butchers Blocks For Sale

Butchers Block 30.5"x 24.5"x 31"    US $499.00

FOLDING ISLAND OVAL SHAPE KITCHEN CART W/BUTCHERS BLOCK 3 DIFFERENT FINISHES    US $119.99

NEW Top Chef 9 Piece Knife Set including Wood Butchers Block    US $93.92

Small Butchers block Solid    US $34.95

antique butchers block authentic restored kitchen cutlery home decor great shape    US $.99

Quality dollhouse furniture lot kitchen set chair fridge butchers block 1/12    US $24.99

NEW BOOS LARGE WOOD BLOCK BUTCHERS KITCHEN TABLE 30x30    US $1,090.00

VTG CHICAGO CUTLERY BUTCHERS KNIFE BLOCK SMALL OAK CASE    US $36.59

VTG CHICAGO CUTLERY BUTCHERS KNIFE BLOCK LARGE OAK CASE    US $49.59

From the butchers block (A Media General publication)    US $2.38

Kitchen Island Utility Stand w/ Butchers Block - NEW    US $114.95

knack v 6 74 butchers block table metal clock case lath    US $9.99

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The floating kitchen island gives you the versatility to place an island into a kitchen that may not have the room to contain one all the time. When the island is not in use it can be rolled away into a corner, another room or under a table and then brought out when food preparation is required.

Some floating kitchen islands also give you another little benefit and that is another storage option with cupboards, a drawer or a shelf (or all three) contained under the food preparation area. If your space is tight, then the odds are there is going to be a necessity for any storage space you can get and this portable option will come into its own yet again.

The butcher’s block as the floating island option is probably the most commonly seen but just about any food preparation surface set on wheel for convenient movement will work too. It’s all about choosing the piece that best meets your needs and works well in your kitchen.

Possible brand names to look for when buying a butcher's block include John Boos, Whitmore and Bally. Kitchen carts can be found from brand names such as Danver, Winsome and Legnoart among others.