[Caroline and Dave]

Hi Everyone.
We are in the final stages of approving everything for our new house near Okura ,North shore, Auckland. Our new house will have an island in the kitchen and we are told that the norm in NZ is to put the sink in the island.
We have the option of having it there or in the more traditional place by the window. We are not at all sure about this as we use our island at home for preparing food and as a breakfast bar which works well.
Has anyone got an island with a sink in it and if so do you prefer it or is it an hinderance there.I think we will opt for the window position but it would be nice to know how people find getting along with an island sink.

Kindest regards

Dave and Caroline

[StevieD]

I would prefer it in the traditional sense but it does sound nice....

[Ana&Steve]

I've always thought that the large sink should go under the window, and have a smaller "bar" sink in the island to wash veggies for cutting, dispense filtered water, quick wash hands after cutting something messy, etc. The large traditional sink would be for washing dishes, filling large pots, bathing babies:confused: , etc. This is my ideal, mind you, I've never had this set-up on my own! If this isn't an option, I'd vote for the traditional sink location and leave the island pristine for big baking and lasagna projects:)
Ana

[Belmont Babes]

I would agree with by the window. I work for a very wealthy lady who has a large sink in the island but it doesn't seem to work.

[Rizak]

Putting the sink in the island has always seemed dumb to me. Every time you move something from the sink to the stove, you increase the chance of dripping water all over the floor. It may sound silly, but I always think Safety First!

[katandbob]

You could have the sink under the window and the island as a breakfast bar?

I just wish I had more counter space - and MORE PLUG SOCKETS - Make sure you have loads of Plug sockets or you'll be constantly switching the kettle for the toaster the grill for the blender - chaos thats what it is - and bakings a nightmare I have maybe 3 foot of space!

But I am not putting a new kitchen in - Its new as it is and they are too expensive so I have to live with it!

Kat

[gil]

Some friends have just moved into a house here that had a new kitchen (i.e. not fitted by them, but by the Kiwi folk they bought from.) Their sink is under the window and their island is for food prep/breakfast bar etc. I would select what you fancy!

Gil

[Trigirl]

we've got sink under the window and island as food prep/breakfast bar. wouldn't have it any other way. its great :)

[Moorf]

Slight diversion,albeit with a sink theme... but has anyone noticed the lack of sink/bath overflows?

We were having a drunken discussion about this the other day and figured it must be down to that kiwi attitude such as lack of crash barriers... i.e. oops, you over did it.. pay attn next time..! :laugh

[jubjub]

Moorf, thats something I have noticed, and has caught me out with the kitchen more than once, although our laundry sink has one.

I dont think I have seen a sink in the island units at all anywhere I have been. OUr island unit is breakfast bar/food prep.

[willsken]

Slight diversion,albeit with a sink theme... but has anyone noticed the lack of sink/bath overflows?

We were having a drunken discussion about this the other day and figured it must be down to that kiwi attitude such as lack of crash barriers... i.e. oops, you over did it.. pay attn next time..! :laugh

Yup, I've noticed that one. I thought it was very strange and I now have to put less water in the bath. I just loved filling it to the top and then letting the water go down the overflow once I got in! :uhoh

[Nathan]

One line of thought on kitchens is that the refrig, sink and stove arrangement should be approx trianglar to make the most efficient arrangement. I've had that sort of floor plan in several homes.

What I have now and enjoy most is the sink between the rerfigerator and the stove. Most of my food goes thru the sink on the way to the stove if cooked. The dirty stuff from the stove goes to the sink. It's very efficient. The center island is bare, making it an excellent place to eat, prep, or just sit and chat with the cook (me) :cheers ...who then leaves out a spice or two and/or burns something because the wine is just too good! :uhoh

Sinks in islands are gross!!

I don't have a window in my kitchen, but my OH prefers one because handwashing dishes while gazing off outside is a nice treat.:raebanana

[Super_BQ]

My biggest complain is the lack of large size sinks. Americans are spoiled with the double large sinks - big enough to rinse the biggest pot (20L).

Our main sink is in the island. Countertop made by Mercer stainless steel. I must point out that the dishwasher must be close to the sink which means it'll have to be located in the island also.

The advantage with our island is that the dining table sits near it. So all dirty dishes and pots can be conveniently placed on the island ; rather than walking further away to the sink near the kitchen.

It also helps to have the cupboards and cabinents close to the island so that you don't have to walk too far away to store away the clean dishes.

Large swivable goose neck taps is a big plus! Least usable fixture I find is the electric rubbish disposal "In-Sink-Erator?". Much better to compost the cuttings in the garden than down the local sewage system.

BQ

[zardell]

Our new house will have an island in the kitchen and we are told that the norm in NZ is to put the sink in the island.
We have the option of having it there or in the more traditional place by the window.




We have been spending quite a lot of time recently looking at newly built houses and also various builders house plans, with the intention of building our own home too and it seems that in lot of the 'open living' type plans (which aren't my personal favourite) the kitchen sink does seem to be either in an island or set in a worktop that separates the kitchen from another area.

I think that being told that 'it's the norm' to have a sink in a kitchen island may be a bit of an exaggeration - it is done regularly in new builds I'll grant you that, but I wouldn't go as far as to say 'it's the norm'. I think it's a matter of personal preference.

New fashions and fads come and go and in the end it's your house and you must feel happy with it's layout.


Go for what you feel happy with.


Julie

xx

[sizzlingbadger]

Our sink is in the fixed island. Not our plan but then it looks over the table and out through to the garden. Having looked at quite a few new home plans a lot of kitchens have a back wall that doesn't have a window and the island often faces out of a window to outside. I'd prefer to have it in the island if there was a view and against the wall if there was a window.

All comes down to personal preference, I'd sit there with the plan and no kitchen for a while then start putting things in whilst trying to imagine you were walking around the kitchen.

[zardell]

I'd prefer to have it in the island if there was a view and against the wall if there was a window.
.



Good point......never thought of that.:nice1

Julie

xx

[Caroline and Dave]

Putting the sink in the island has always seemed dumb to me. Every time you move something from the sink to the stove, you increase the chance of dripping water all over the floor. It may sound silly, but I always think Safety First!

This is quite a good point that I had not thought about. This kitchen below was one of the ideas we were shown but it does highlight what Rizak is saying

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/davros1nz/IMG_0766xxx-0-600-0-600.jpg

With the help of everyones comments we have decided to go for the traditional method of the sink by the window. We love our kitchen in the UK and we have asked the builders if we can have a similar layout and design in NZ which they will do we just were not certain of the sink situation

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/davros1nz/Picture019.jpg

This is our kitchen in UK and we hope for similar in NZ.
Once again thankyou everyone for your comments they really are appreciated.Thankyou Kat for your point about sockets. As you can see in our kitchen we do love plenty of sockets.

Kindest regards

Dave and Caroline

[Rizak]

Okay, one thing: THAT CANNOT BE YOUR FRIDGE!

:laugh

There is no way that we could survive with that tiny little cooler.
I'll include a couple of quick pics that I just took.

Our refrigerator/freezer:
http://rizak.info/PIX/kitchen-refrigerator.jpg

Our freezer (which we wish was twice as big):
http://rizak.info/PIX/kitchen-freezer.jpg
Please disregard the mess. A whole pile of new fabric came in and I felt the need to make cookies. Two wholly unrelated events. ;)

[Caroline and Dave]

You are right Rizak ,we have another fridge and freezer in the garage.Our garage is like a mini store.The car lives outside in the drive. That fridge is for the important things like beers and milk etc

[sizzlingbadger]

Love both the kitchens Caroline

But have to say the top one is totally unworkable, you end up with a tiny space each side and not much working space. More suitable for the microwave meals people :)

Your kitchen looks awesome definitely be happy with that, the whole thing works and there's plenty of prep space.

The house we're looking at is a U shape and has an island in the middle with just the hob on, no space either side :wah Which comes back to the health and safety issue Rizak has bought up, once you have to dish up you've got to take the pans over to the side, not good if there's a kid in the way and you end up spilling hot stuff over them:( Has the oven and hob next to the sink, not that practical either.

[Nathan]

D&C, nice kitchen (yours, not the proposed one) but it wouldn't work for us because we go from 'frig to sink often,
Rizak, toss the water and put the beer in the 'frig. It's better for you! ;)

[Ana&Steve]

A bit off topic, but I was watching a show called "I Want That" and they had a versatile folding faucet above the stove for filling pots with water. it folds flat when not in use. Might be nice for those "feeding an army" kind of get-togethers.;)
Ana

[Moorf]

After the beer comments I'm thinking that one of you might be interested in this new invention...

Beer Can Throwing Fridge (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2223971.html)

"There is a slight danger of being hit in the head with a flying can but this danger decreases the more you use it."

:laugh:laugh

[Rizak]

A bit off topic, but I was watching a show called "I Want That" and they had a versatile folding faucet above the stove for filling pots with water. it folds flat when not in use. Might be nice for those "feeding an army" kind of get-togethers.;)
Ana

Yeah. Like these (http://www.keidel.com/design/select/faucets-k-potfiller.htm).

I've seen them before and don't like them. Call me old fashioned. You still have to get that pot full of hot water and pasta to the sink to drain it.

[KerryS]

You still have to get that pot full of hot water and pasta to the sink to drain it.

Unless you have a pasta pot, which has a built in strainer - then you just lift out the pasta and the water remains in the pan.

Like this one:

http://www.millies.co.nz/index.cfm?C99C4B6E-EE20-EBDD-A923-00CE19F08D21&cat_uuid=null&pde_uuid=98777E9F-E018-8BD1-327F-016C806909D2&pit_uuid=9879AB43-E018-8BD1-32C6-AB360A92B1B0&orderby=pde_name&orderdir=asc¤trow=0&currentrow=0&sitemode=normal

Am I the only person without a kitchen island? I feel deprived... My current kitchen is teeny and I can't wait to move and get a decent sized one. Just need to find a house first...

[Nathan]

No! No! Make it stop!
I don't have room for more kitchen stuff!!:eek:

[Ana&Steve]

I've seen them before and don't like them. Call me old fashioned. You still have to get that pot full of hot water and pasta to the sink to drain it.I've never used one, but I could get to like them; also, I've spilled boiling water on myself lugging heavy pasta pots WAY too many times! *see below* Unless you have a pasta pot, which has a built in strainer - then you just lift out the pasta and the water remains in the pan.

I have one and it rocks!:)

[Rizak]

Unless you have a pasta pot, which has a built in strainer - then you just lift out the pasta and the water remains in the pan.

Those are quite good and I've been looking at something similar for our pot.


Still, afterward ... big pot of hot water ...
I'm just saying.

I know a few people (okay, one) who dread making pasta because they are tiny and have a hard time carrying a huge pot of water.

[KerryS]

Those are quite good and I've been looking at something similar for our pot.


Still, afterward ... big pot of hot water ...
I'm just saying.

I know a few people (okay, one) who dread making pasta because they are tiny and have a hard time carrying a huge pot of water.

Just leave it on the stove until it's cold? That's what I do as there's no way I'd contemplate lifting it while full of boiling or even warm water.
Sometimes I take it outside and use it to water the garden as well...

[gil]

I know a few people (okay, one) who dread making pasta because they are tiny and have a hard time carrying a huge pot of water.

I use it as part of my kitchen fitness regimen. :D