I prefer islands with no seating. I use it for food prep and serving.

Love my island with no seating -- it's where everyone congregates when we have people over. I set up drinks and apps on it and it's a great place to stand, drink, eat and chat.

Really depends on how you use the space. We are kitchen people so an island with seating makes sense for us. But it might not work for everybody.

We have an island with two stools, and no one sits at it.

I’m probably the minority but I find sitting on a stool uncomfortable, backless or not.

I think an island with no seating is fine. An island serves lots of utilitarian purposes.

Op here. Thanks for all the responses. My appliances would be in three different walls, so a minimum 42in is required for opening the doors, if you have more than 1 person in the kitchen, which there will almost always be more than one person doing something. The fridge would be on the wall of the walkway, which would need 48 inches in front. This would be a combo kitchen/dining room, so there will always be a table there.

I’m thinking that besides the smaller space, there will be a traffic jam if chairs/stools are there.

But then it seems that people love island seating, and I’m afraid I’ll regret it.

I would need the island for food prep and rolling, bc I would not have much other counter in the other places.

I don't like people sitting at the island to eat so I would be very happy with that set-up you propose, OP. The only thing I want done on the island is meal prep. If I have little kids helping me then they just pull up their little step stools to stand on while we make cookies or whatever.

I say that you need to do what you want/need. I would much prefer to keep a standard passing space than have an extension of the island jutting out so stools can go under. Then you've got bodies in the way and the whole space becomes a traffic jam. Nope, not for me.

What is the option? No island and just open space? I’d do the island because people will lean on it with their drinks, it’s good for food prep or laying out food, and it’ll give you extra cabinet storage.

We have a peninsula that is set up for seating (i.e., there's an overhang), but we don't use it for that and never bothered getting chairs for it. We have a breakfast table and a dining room and it never seemed necessary. We just use it for food prep.

I probably would not. As much as I try to shoo people away, everyone wants to sit at my island. I have one side of the island that is a 36 inch clearance and it’s fine.

Anonymous wrote:Sure. I think the seating is cluttered and cheesy.

I 100% don't think seating is necessary but cheesy?

Sure. I think the seating is cluttered and cheesy.

Sure, we use ours constantly for food prep and serving buffet style.

Would you do it? If you wanted to keep all the clearances 42+ inches for walkways