What So Many People Get Wrong When Installing A Kitchen Island

Installing a kitchen island brings a whole tirade of hypothetical headaches. Will you invest in curved vs. sharp edges? Is the fluted design doomed to fail? Spoiler: this trendy kitchen island style looks high-end but is tricky to maintain. It's an intricate dance. That said, the biggest mistake is actually glaringly obvious. In an exclusive interview with House Digest, Beth Diana Smith, owner of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, shed some light on the biggest faux pas — literally. "The lighting should be hung 30 to 36 inches from the top of the island," she explained.

Illuminating your kitchen island is both a functional and stylistic necessity, and Tasting Table couldn't resist emphasizing the importance of Smith's advice. A well-loved island is a central part of a kitchen; that extra space is heaven-sent for cooking and creates a minimalistic surface to "spotlight" during its off-duty hours. Unfortunately, while careful lighting alignment is a golden rule in kitchen design, it's less well-known among DIY hobbyists or novice renovators. Failing to place it under those central lights at the correct height is a massive mistake — and one that is seen far too often.

Island lighting it is, then. Yet, while that settles the initial vision, picking the best design is a whole other process. The trick is to remain mathematical. Planning pendants? These hanging lampshades add a chic touch to sleek islands. They come with rigidity, though; strict spacing is the rule everyone should follow before installing kitchen pendant lighting. Measure the island and create balance by setting pendants equidistant apart.

Aside from the importance of measurements, consider the crowdedness of the final result. Stripping it back to a single naked bulb is too extreme and might seem basic (we won't knock that rather accurate analysis). However, there are strategies to enhance a simplified approach to lighting. What about an eye-catching ceiling fan? Upscale models are crafted from classic materials, like wood, and often feature inbuilt lights. Similarly, track lighting is a little more "tucked-up;" perfect for homeowners who don't want lamps at eye-level. Style matters — evaluate the options available.

Static Media owns and operates Tasting Table and House Digest