If you didn't see my other post, we are buiding a new house.

We are meeting with our kitchen guy tonight. In our kitchen we will have a island with a breakfast bar on it. When i stand in my kitchen at the island, i will be facing our family room.

Here is the question: We need to put either the stove top or sink in the island. Which one would you choose and why?

Here is my thought: If i am cooking at the stove, i can be facing the family room and be able to watch the t.v. or the kids, or talk to whoever happens to be there.

What do you think?

By Kaye on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:00 am:

I would not put a stove there. If your house is anything like mine, that bar will be the place kids hang out, things get set down, cutesy flowers or kids art of the day. Seems like a fire hazzard (or a huge pain) to make sure it is safe. I know two people with that open plan, they both have the sink, and dishwasher in that island. One of them comments that it is nice to be able to see the tv while cleaning up..LOL.

By Andi on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:02 am:

I would put a sink. You could prep food while talking to people. When you have a party at your house people can stand/sit around the island and you don't have to worry about the stove being in the way if you need to cook something.

Hope that all make sence...I just woke up.

By Kate on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:10 am:

Ditto the others. A stove sounds way too dangerous in that breakfast bar area where kids will be up on stools eating and doing homework and such. I'd keep the stove as far from a gathering place as possible.

By Bellajoe on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:40 am:

Just to clarify , i think the breakfast bar part would be either a bit higher, or a bit lower than the surface the stove would be on.


What you all said about safety is exactly what i was thinking. Of course dh disagreed with me......MEN! LOL

By Conni on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:51 am:

Well, of course I have to disagree! lol I have been to many houses where the island was large and the stove was at one end. Bar w/stools at other end? It was not a problem.

Of course, have also been in houses where there was a stove and EXTRA small sink in island. Then have been in houses where island had nothing- it was just a large counter top with bar and storage underneath.

My other thought is, where will your dishwasher be> In the island? I always want my sink next to my dishwasher. To me that just makes sense.

Whatever you do keep the triangle. ;)

By Conni on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:01 am:

You know after thinking more about it if I were to add an island to my kitchen I would not move my stove top onto it. Because we have the microwave above it now that has a vent/light underneath for the stovetop. Just another thought. If you put your stovetop in the island would you have a vent?


A couple that moved out of this neighborhood and built a new house have a floor plan that sounds similar to yours. I LOVED their new house. I cant remember where she had her appliances tho in her kitchen. I would love the kitchen to be open to the living room.

By Debbie on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:07 am:

I have had both. In our last house the stove top was in the island and I hated it. I always worried about the dks touching it when they were sitting at the counter. Now, I have a sink and my dishwasher at the island. I love it! I never have to worry about the kids. However, when we first moved in my youngest ds was 3. He was fascinated by the little nozzel that pulled out and sprayed water. A few times I would turn around from the stove and get a face full of water. LOL

By Shellyg on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 12:15 pm:

We have our stove/oven in our island and I LOVE IT! We just remodeled our kitchen. Its nice to be able to cook and not stare into a wall. Our vent is above in the ceiling. I'll see if I can take a picture and post it.

By Bellajoe on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 12:15 pm:

LOL Debbie. I'm glad you have had both, that really helps me out!

I appreciate all your comments!

My house will be a ranch. Mst bed room on one side of the house, and the 2 kids rooms on the other side. Kitchen and family room in the middle. There will also be a laundry room on the main floor and a study/bedroom in the front of the house. I'm pretty excited about it!

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 02:21 pm:

Being someone who drops stuff on counters, I would prefer to have the stove NOT in the center island, for safety reasons and knowing mine and my family's habits.

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 03:35 pm:

Count me in on the vote: SINK!

By Shellyg on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 08:09 pm:

By Shellyg on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 08:18 pm:

There is my island with my stove top. I love it! I love being able to watch the kids/T.V. while I am cooking.

By Cat on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 10:02 pm:

I've had neither, but I think it would depend on whether you spend more time at your sink or your cooktop. Me? I'd put the sink there.

Shelly, I love your kitchen! Very nice!

By Tink on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:23 pm:

Sooo in love with your kitchen, Shelly! I'd go for the sink since I spend more time there. I don't think there would be a huge drawback with either item there for me.

By Kate on Thursday, February 16, 2006 - 11:44 pm:

It's a beautiful kitchen, Shelly, but I just see little hands reaching for those bananas and brushing a hot burner. I would definitely go for the sink, BUT, your meeting is already over! So what did you decide Bellajoe??

By Alberobello on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 02:32 am:

DEfinetely a sink! I am always thinking to myself that the day we will build our house i'd like to have a sink facing the family room because if we have guests for dinner then i can wash the dishes after eating and still be able to talk to them.

But of course that will be in Mexico where the are is not eough pressure to put a dishwasher! I'd imagine that you would have a dishwasher, so think about where do you spend most of your time.

oops i just read that by now you must have decided... sorry. What is it going to be then? Let us know! I agree with the others, it's a lovely kitchen.

By Alberobello on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 02:38 am:

Well of course it's too early for me! I didn't notice it was Shelly's kitchen. It looks so new and neat that i thought it was from the catalogue Patti wanted to buy from!

Sorry, again...

By Conni on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 07:52 am:

Beautiful kitchen Shelly!!

By Bellajoe on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 07:58 am:

O.k. Ladies, my kitchen is all planned out! I decided on....

the sink in the island! Most of you, my mom, my neighbor, and my sister all thought that the sink in the island was a better idea. So i went with the sink.

Shelly i absolutely LOVE your kitchen! I think i picked out the same cabinets! LOL I got the shaker style (which is the square sort of style) with maple. I am definitely going to show my dh this picture of your kitchen.

I got a wine rack above the fridge....there was nowhere else to put it. I have a wine rack now and really like it. And i will have a walk in pantry in the corner. We did not pick out the counter tops yet.

Thanks for all you help ladies!

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 09:38 am:

Shelly, GREAT kitchen!!! I'd personally put my stovetop in the island - no small kids in the house -, or nothing at all. My friend's new home has an island and there is nothing in it. She uses it for chopping/preparing/serving, or placing decorative things, or... collecting junk. LOL

By Bellajoe on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 09:43 am:

I have a plain island now. I use it all the time for preparing food and stuff, but mostly for piling the mail on or for all the papers the kids bring hom from school. It's a nice big junk collector! LOL

By Shellyg on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 12:55 pm:

Thank you for all the nice compliments on my kitchen! I worked my bootie off to get rid of the white linoleam (sp?) and 70's pressed wood cabinets it once was.
Bellajoe, I love my cabinets.. When we went to pick out the style I kept going to the same one. It happen to be the inside of a cabinet he was making. So he adjusted it a bit, and now I guess they are shaker style? I really like all the new style of cabinets with the glaze. I thought I should keep it simple, after a few years I would get sick of the glazed cabinets.
One thing I HIGHLY suggest are pull out drawers for your pots and pans. If I get a sec, I will take a picture of mine so you know what I mean.

By Bellajoe on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 04:30 pm:

Shelly, i do know what you mean and we are getting those.
They had these drawers that you could slam shut as hard as you can (not that i do that often or anything ) but they stop about 2 inches from closing and then slowly shut. It's pretty cool!