KITCHEN ISLANDS
IDEAS FOR SAVING MONEY
Kitchen islands Ideas are floating around everywhere ... in magazines, on TV and on the web. Because your kitchen is the center of your home and the hub for your life at home. You cook, you entertain, you eat and you maybe even read your mail, pay bills and surf the 'net there! Well, if you don't have an island, and your kitchen is larger than 8' x 12' you should seriously consider building one. If you have the skills and/or the money, you might think about making it a functioning island too.
By that I mean building in a sink or a range top while you're at it. After all, the kitchen island is the meeting place for so many events. The image below shows the two sides of the island; the living side and the kitchen side. Notice the different functions of each side and the scope of possibilities this allows.
Your kitchen islands ideas and construction depends on several things. Before you commit to paper, and especially to serious design, discuss with your family just how you all actually use your kitchen. Islands ideas, photos and entire websites devoted to this are all over the place, but once the island is in, its "in." And your kitchen is changed forever. So, be absolutely sure its the size, shape and in the best position it can be in regard to the space and the people involved. Its easy to do, and its important.
First, make a blueprint of what's there now. This will be your kitchen islands ideas generator. With a legal pad or graph paper, a pencil and a tape measure, start by measuring the walls and, if its open on one side, that space as well. You should end up with some sort of box. Next, draw the countertop(s)—length and depths (Dwg. 1). Its not necessary to draw cabinets or windows (unless that helps locating sink, range, etc), and write in as many dimensions as you can.
Make copies of this layout before you draw in any of your kitchen islands ideas (Dwg. 2) so they won't seem precious to you and you'll be freer to "make mistakes" and pitch 'em if another idea pops up. 
You should leave a minimum of 28" - 30" from the counters. Graph paper comes in handy here because you can simply count the squares. Of all the kitchen islands, ideas, designs and drawings, a 48" (+/-) x 24" (+/-) seemed to work best (Dwg. 2). It could be longer, but its nice to have some space sometimes. I added a 2'x2' single leg extension to the countertop (dotted lines) just for fun, but it might be a good idea if this island replaces a breakfast nook. More storage, a place to gather, another nice working surface and maybe bistro seating for two or three.
Take a trip to a big box retailer or cabinet store and focus those kitchen islands ideas in your head with what's available. Talk to a salesperson. See what fits and what options you have.
Lighting your new island is another story, though. See what's available at Kitchen Lighting Tips. Here you'll find free expert advice on ways to get better island lighting, how to blend in new lighting with what you have and lots of great info! A REAL MONEY SAVING IDEA:How about designing and making your own island? I mean, for really, really cheap. This is one of the kitchen islands ideas anyone can do. Are your existing base cabinets ones that you can match or compliment with new (or used) cabinets? Great! We'll start there. With this idea you won't be able to design a multi-sided or custom island, but you could have a really nice gathering place. If you are going to attach it to a wall or the existing countertop, its called a peninsula. Just thought you'd like to know. And, be conscious of what they call "The Work Triangle".
Base cabinets are manufactured in standard width sizes from 9" to 48" in increments of 3" and are either 18" or 24" deep. Most are 34-3/4" high so that, with the countertop, the net height is 36". When you're ready to look for materials, take off one of your existing doors—leave the hinges attached to the door—and go searching. First, though, search online for "cabinet outlets" in your town. These places sometimes have very cheap new cabinets. Or, search online for "cabinets your town" or "used cabinets your town" (ie: cabinets topika kansas) and go to a big box retailer.
Custom Search Once you've chosen the place(s) to browse for your (er ...) "kitchen islands ideas" things may change, but for this example let's work with the kitchen drawing above so, including the countertop, it will be 26"x50". This means I'm looking for a 48" wide x 24" deep base cabinet. You might even find nice cabinets at a building salvage store (search "building salvage your town) for $20 or so each! 
Since we've gone this far, here's a few kitchen islands ideas in the same vein; if you have the room, attach two base cabinets back to back, or triangulate three base cabinets with a custom triangle (or circular) countertop, two 18" deep base units for a 36" x 36" x 36" cube island or create a foot or so overhang on the countertop for seating along the back side. Tape the unit(s) in place to the floor. Either screw the unit down, using blocks or braces, (for wood, laminate or linoleum floor) or adhere it to the floor using an adhesive like Liquid Nails™ on the inside of the base at the floor. Make sure its exactly where you want it. The basic equation is illustrated below. Finishing the back will be the challenge. If the cabinet is cheap enough (your call) and has a match, buy two, knock the face off one and adhere it to the back of the other, either gluing the doors closed or leaving access from both sides. Tile floor? Laminate? Linoleum? Can you match what's there for the back? How about paneling with stained molding strips to hide the edges? Maybe build or buy a shelving unit (with a back) stained and sized to match the cabinet. This idea will increase the depth, so make sure you have room. The countertop should overhang 1" all around and you may want to exactly match your existing countertops OR you might like to learn how to build a tile countertop. You can use the information there to spark ideas for the back, too. You'll save a ton of money doing this, and if you edge your new tile countertop with wood moulding to match the cabinets or use tile edging, it'll look great! So now, instead of $1000 - $2500 for a custom install, you could be looking at spending less than dinner at a nice restaurant! For a broad look at the many individual areas of remodeling your kitchen, click on Kitchen Remodel. Here you'll find free expert advice on ways to give your kitchen a fresh look, how to blend in new ideas with what you already have, pricing breakdowns and other great kitchen remodel tips! Click on any of the links below (or search "kitchen islands ideas") for more ideas and tips on things you can do to remodel and decorate your kitchen. If you have any kitchen islands ideas or tips that you think people might benefit from or helpful remodeling tips you'd like to share, please send them to us. Click here. KITCHEN LIGHTING IDEAS
GREEN KITCHEN CABINETS
KITCHEN BACKSPLASH IDEAS
USED KITCHEN CABINETS
KITCHEN DECORATING IDEAS 
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