Adding stools to your Kitchen Island or bench has become extremely popular. It is a great idea for extra seating in a house where the dining table is situated away from the kitchen, and it is also a good space saver for small houses or apartments where a dining table can’t fit. The traditional island bench base where the bench is supported by cabinets, doesn’t allow for much leg room, but we have some tips and ideas for some smart base alternatives which are a much better use of space.

You could opt for a metal base which is attached to the cabinets on one side, and has two legs at the end. The counter top then gets attached on top and you have a table at the end of your bench which allows you to have seating on both sides of the bench, doubling your seating space. The metal gives the table a modern look and would tie in well with metal handles and stainless steel appliances.

If you want to be able to fit more seats at the table then this next one is a good idea for you. This type of bench is attached at one end to the cabinets and at the other end is held up by one solid slab leg extending to the ground. This not only leaves enough leg room for people to sit across from each other, but also leaves enough room for a seat or two on the end.

Another option is to build the island bench with no cabinetry underneath. Underneath the island, bench seats are kept so that they are out of the way when you need to use the space as a kitchen bench, but are easily accessible when you need to use it as a dining area. This is a good idea for a large kitchen where you won’t miss the storage under the island bench, and you could use the same material for the top of the bench as  in the rest of the kitchen to tie it together.

A really modern look is the waterfall edge for a bench top. The bench over the cabinetry in the island can be extended (with no cabinets underneath) and include a waterfall edge on the end of the bench. This edge can be used as the end of the table, creating lots of leg room space for chairs or stools on either side.

All of these options can either be made at table height, to use the area as more of a dining room table, or can be kept at bench height so that when it isn’t being used as a seating area, it can be used as a kitchen bench. Whichever way you decide to go, adding seating to your kitchen island or bench drasticly increases the usability of your kitchen.

Here at Harrington Kitchens, our professional designers listen to your needs and personal style and incorporate this into the perfect kitchen design for you and your family.

Harrington Kitchens offers a wide variety of kitchen designs and styles including:

For more information on our various kitchen designs, please visit our Gallery. Our Gallery brings together a selection of our custom kitchen designs ranging from traditional to contemporary kitchens. Each kitchen style has the flexibility to work in any home environment and can be designed to suit all tastes and budgets.

The entire Harrington Kitchens team is focused on designing kitchens that utilise premium materials and offer each and every customer the highest level of service. Harrington Kitchens partners with the best quality kitchen suppliers within the kitchen manufacturing industry and employs experienced and professional tradesmen to ensure the longevity of your custom designed kitchen.

For a free quote and free design consultation please contact us at Harrington Kitchens on (02) 4647 4474 or submit an online enquiry, alternatively you are welcome to visit the Harrington Kitchens Showroom at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW or 5 Old Hume Highway, Mittagong NSW.

See more great kitchen ideas in our Online Gallery.