When planning a kitchen island think about leaving enough working room around your kitchen. Leave at least 3', hopefully more, between cabinets and other cabinets or appliances. Check for door swings of the appliances to make sure nothing hits. A kitchen Island can feel cramped if it has less than 4' around it.

A large island is nice but can, with granite, get very heavy. I have seen an island 6'x4' crack all of the nice new tile on the floor. A two by four Island is probably not an issue, but when you get into the bigger islands then consider the weight.

Depending on what the floor is I approach weight differently. If there is a real wood floor, put the floor down first under the island, then install the island, then put the finish on the floor. If the floor is going to be tile,  install the island in first, including the counter top, before the tile to get the bend in the floor initially. Islands need an electrical outlet by code, so pre run some wire. If the island is over 6' then 2 outlets are needed, but check local code. See the Rough Electrical page at the online Kitchen Guide Book

To install the island, set out all the cabinets where they go and draw a line around the base. Take the cabinets off and screw down flat 2x4's where you can that will allow you to put screws in sideways after the cabinets are in to hold them in place(Figure 1).

Remember to always shim the cabinets up to finish floor height using strips of plywood and, or shims to level. Check the level from the island to the other cabinets as well.

Screw all the island cabinets together at the face frames and at the back and sides because there is no wall to screw to.

Lastly put solid wood base molding around the island after the floor is finished.

If you don't have room for a full time island then maybe a mobile kitchen island will work?


                                    PENINSULAS and BARS

Peninsulas over 4' need an electrical outlet, whether there is a 2x4 pony wall or just cabinets, so pre run some wire.

If the back of the peninsula is a 2x4 pony wall that is higher than the cabinets creating a bar, then corbels will be needed to support the counter top. Corbels can be decorative or hidden(Figure 4).

Secure a large peninsula the same way as an island with flat 2x4s under the cabinets that screws can later be put into sideways from the cabinet bottom.