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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This barnboard and black kitchen cabinetry features a unique combination for an amazing one-of-a-kind custom kitchen island!

We’ve handcrafted the authentic, honest-to-goodness barnboard lumber (reclaimed by the good folks at Carlisle Wide Plank floors) into posts and horizontal runners for cabinets that feature our frameless construction! The island itself will contain an oven on one end, and a cooktop in the center area. (Note: The brackets you currently see under the cabinetry won’t be necessary once the cabinets are installed into the client’s home.)

Here’s a look at the opposite side. The left door on the end is fixed, and the right door is hinged to function as a normal door.

Front view.

A closer look at the door and frameless construction.

Our last image brings us in close for a detail view that really shows the beauty of the barnboard!