Allowing for a proper width walkway is key to successful island placement

“What is the minimum suggested walkway next to a kitchen island?”

If you turn your body sideways, suck in your tummy, and can just squeeze through, you’re good. OK, completely kidding there…(Although, there might actually be a house out there with a layout like that!) Anyway, the recommended minimum is 36″. If you have 42″, you will find that to be more comfortable in the long run.

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A black painted island makes a strong visual statement in this Early American kitchen

“Having a hard deciding: Should the kitchen island match the cabinetry, or be in a different color?”

Though there is no truly wrong answer, some thoughts come to mind:

• With larger kitchens, having a contrasting/complementing island helps break up the area visually.
• If your cabinet runs tend to be straight and uniform (same depth, same height), an island in a different finish adds appeal.
• A kitchen that gets an above-average amount of light could benefit from an island in soft complementary color.
• Cabinetry in a dark stain or paint works well against a light colored island, especially in smaller kitchens.

The bottom line, of course, is go with what you like. Search the web (or, say, our section on custom kitchen islands!), flip through magazines, and soon you’ll feel more comfortable about the decision.

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The four drawer bank consists of all slab style drawer fronts in this Shaker-influenced kitchen

“Large Shaker style drawer fronts: Should they be slab style or resemble a door with stiles and rails?”

If you are interested in coming as close as you can to an authentic Shaker design, then stay with the slab style drawer fronts. However, the wonderful thing about design is that it is all about you! If you prefer the look (and many, many clients do) then by all means, have your drawer fronts made with stiles (those are the vertical pieces), rails (the horizontal) and panel. And speaking of panels: Depending upon the size of the drawer front, you might prefer a raised panel in the frame, instead of a flat panel.

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Careful measuring will result in great fitting cabinetry!

“I’m measuring to see how much room I’ve got so I can design my layout. How close should I measure to the door and window casings?”

You  can measure tight up to the casings, but it doesn’t mean that you have to use every fraction of an inch. (Though you can if need be!) You will at least know how much space is available. However! Bear in mind that if you intend to change your casings, get the measurement of the new casing so that you can take that into account.

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Can't fit the microwave near the oven area? Look to the fridge!

“I’ve tried many different arrangements, but just not happy where my microwave ends up!”

While the most common arrangement involves placing your microwave near the oven area, sometimes things just don’t fit the way you’d like. Here’s an option to consider: Microwaves do extensive duty re-heating leftovers, thawing frozen food, etc., so explore the area near your refrigerator for placement.

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Soft, low-contrast color scheme helps create the illusion of more space

“My layout for my bathroom is not a huge space. Should the color of my cabinets blend with the wall color, so that the room will appear larger?”

If your goal is to create the illusion of more space, then yes, have your cabinetry and walls in light colors, perhaps with cool pastel colors for accent. The result is low contrast, and tricks the eye in your favor. The combination also works because the colors appear to recede. (Generally speaking, warmer tones seem to advance towards you)

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When it comes to planning new spaces, or better utilizing current ones, it can be a heck of a challenge. Especially if  you find yourself staring at a blank piece of paper saying: “Now what?”

We can help! We now offer three different guides available to download for free! Check out our Kitchen Island Idea Starter Pack or our Custom Bathroom Planning Tips, or available now: our Custom Laundry Room Planning Guide!

All guides are loaded with great suggestions, dimensions to consider, and approximate costing as well as treatment options and graph paper! There is no charge for any of these guides, download yours today!