Island Kitchen

For maximum flexibility in cooking, entertaining and hanging out, an L-shaped kitchen with an island is the way to go. This set-up lends itself to a zoned approach to kitchen planning rather than the more traditional work triangle approach. The L-shaped kitchen shown here has three distinct zones, with enough space between them to avoid collisions and catastrophes. On the right leg, the sink and dishwasher create a clean-up station. On the left leg, the range with griddle and the adjacent wall oven and microwave comprise an impressive cooking zone. The island, with its under-counter wine cellar and raised bar top, makes a great place for casual dining or drinks. It can even encompass a fourth zone when necessary, as the lower counter provides an extra surface for prep work (and he upper level conveniently hides the mess).