Hands down, one of the best small-space solutions for kitchens is the addition of a butcher-block island. We have one in our kitchen, and with it, we have a giant space for chopping, rolling out dough, plating big meals, and eating (it's become our primary dining space) plus storage for appliances, large pots, and hanging space for our dishtowels. It's kind of like a miracle.
I have seen so many people who are taking our Kitchen Cure struggle with their small spaces and if I had to recommend one piece, it's Ikea's GROLAND. Starved for counter space but blessed with an open-plan kitchen, we lugged this piece from Ikea up our four flights of stairs and spent a good hour or so putting it together. And it was worth it. It's supported a busy cooking life and abuse administered by a small child for the past few years.
At 21-inches by 47-inches, it runs the length of our small kitchen counter, offering a logical place to spin around, dump a hot pot, roll out a pie crust, or serve waiting guests a drink. It is solid wood and very sturdy provided you put it together properly. My one recommendation is that you use treat the wood with an oil like Bees Oil, or mineral oil. Bathe the wood before using it, then apply a thin layer with a rag once a month or so.
I see this piece in many kitchens, most recently in a Scott and Ray's Colorful 10-Year Renovation Kitchen Tour, above.
Buy It: GROLAND Kitchen Island (at Ikea stores, $199)
Related: Best Butcher Blocks with Seating
(Above image from Scott and Ray's Colorful 10-Year Renovation Kitchen Tour, by Dana Velden)
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I have a kitchenette and after struggling with the lack of counterspace for a couple of months, went to Ikea and got a Varde island. More expensive than the one featured here, but it is incredibly stable and the storage and counterspace is invaluable.
I'm very happy with it. The only difficult thing about it was putting it together myself without a drill.
That's great, if you have the space.....
I bought this one from Amazon and it is nice and solid, made a big difference in my counter starved kitchen.
http://www.amazon.com/Home-Styles-Natural-Wood-Kitchen/dp/B0000DI5RZ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1257967060&sr=8-7
i got mine off craigslist and could not live without it
We had this a couple apartments ago and it's by far the best, sturdiest piece I've ever gotten from IKEA (and that's a large sample size). Our kitchen was very long with counter-space on only one side. It got a little tight width-wise, but the counter space was definitely worth it.
Our current kitchen is tiny. Two people cannot make sandwiches at the same time tiny. We ended up getting a smaller IKEA cart and putting it in the living room. The microwave, toaster, wine, cereal, and bread live over there allowing us enough counter space for one person to work, at least.
My boyfriend & I just moved into an apartment that has a kitchen with almost no prep space. We also purchased the Ikea VARDE base cabinet and it has totally transformed our space. Highly recommended- absolutely the most sturdy & best piece that we've ever purchased from ikea!
My rental kitchen wouldn't work without my six-foot island (which I got from Craigslist for $80 but I think was originally from Costco). I had the interesting problem of a large kitchen (for an apartment-- it's 16'x13') with two feet of counter space next to the sink... which is across the room from the fridge and the range. I stuck in the island in the dead center, and problem solved! Couldn't live without it (for prep and for dining).
The key point is "blessed with an open-plan kitchen". We still have ours left over from our old rental but it sits in the garage, covered up and unused because while I have zero room in my galley kitchen, I dream of one day pulling it back out again. Love(d) it.
That island looks great but I don't see it on the Australian IKEA website. The search continues.
This is a nice idea but in my small kitchen I'd never have room to turn. The wood island would be in the middle and constantly banging into the refrig door, the stove door or me.
Does anyone know what the recommended clearance is between the counter and the island? I imagine it depends somewhat on personal preference but is there a rule of thumb? I'm thinking of cutting out a piece of cardboard the size of the island and putting in on my floor to see if it works in my kitchen before I spring for it. We could use the counter space.
heatherk -- the guidelines for space between an island and a nearby counter are 36 to 48 inches. If it's an area where two people often stand, or if it's a traffic route, 48 inches is recommended. However, in a small kitchen, 36 inches is probably fine.
I wish I had the room for an island or, heck, a kitchen table!
We currently don't have room to eat anywhere, but I just tell myself it's not permanent while I eat standing up or on the couch. Ugh.
*If I lived alone I would have a small table and two chairs in my bedroom, but my boyfriend thinks that would be too weird and crowded.
I got mine free from a grocery store that no longer needed it as a display piece. It's been great for dining and the counter space, sorely lacking in my kitchen.
I really wanted the UDDEN from Ikea, but it was discontinued this summer. :(
It looks great. We have the Ikea Forhoja which has 2 drawers that open from either side (and mrpiggy is available from Australia). It's fantastic. www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/80035920
I like islands if you need the space, but I hate the idea of someone eating right where I'm cooking even more than I hate barstools...
We actually made our own island. The base was the Metro knockoff from Storables sized to what we wanted and a Ikea butcher Block counter top that we drilled post holes (not thru holes) so the butcherblock fits snuggly in. We have a large rental kitchen that looks like it has enough counter space but it was choppy and really not functional. The island has made the kitchen so much more functional.
I really liked the idea of the stenstorp (I wasn't sure how sturdy it was) but they discontinued it. Is there anything comparable? How is the build quality for this line of islands?
Does anyone know if the GROLAND island would allow for casters to be put on the bottom of the legs? I have only seen side images of the island, and I can't tell if those metal finishes wrap around the bottom of the legs, or if they are just plain wood on the bottom.