I like one level because it's lots of landing space. Cooling cookies, setting up for a dinner party, etc. Two levels divides the flat landing space. May not be an issue if you have a giant kitchen but we don't

Def sink in island. Do you Want to spatter your guests with cooking oil?

I only like the two level when your kitchen area is facing a more formal area- ie I don't want to see my dirty dishes from other areas in my home. How sloppy.

If that's not an issue I'd go for one level and probably sink as I'm at the sink more than I am at the stove. I can face outward, watch tv or talk to my kids/guests. I feel like waterfalls are already out though, even though our designer pushed for it (saved us $1000s with the stone we chose for counters not being continued down).

Anonymous wrote: Don't forget the push button for tge sink disposal on the island. I've seen some islands with switche, which didn't look good at all!

Or get a batch feeder.

Don't forget the push button for tge sink disposal on the island. I've seen some islands with switche, which didn't look good at all!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sink. I wouldn't buy a house with a cooktop in the island.

+2

+3

+4

We have 2 level and love it. Sink, dishwasher and trash on lower level. Four barstools on higher level. We use higher level for everything - including a very long buffet when we have large parties (frequently).

I have a friend who has a huge, one level island with nothing on it. It's really nice too and she uses it for huge buffets as well.

So it's really your preference. I wouldn't put cooktop on island. I lived in a house once that had that set-up and the vent (which came up from under the counter) didn't work well at all. DH is Indian and we cook Indian food a lot, so a heavy-duty vent was a must for us. The ones that go in an island cooktop don't work very well at all.

Anonymous wrote:We are in the middle of a high-end kitchen remodel. We are putting a farmhouse sink in our island. The dishwasher will be on one side and the trash bins pull out on the other. It's a large island and will be able to accommodate 4 stools.
Our kitchen designer's advice was to leave it 1 level which is what we're doing.

It definitely looks better to have 1 level. However, having had both, 2 level is definitely more functional.

We have neither and live it. Kitchen designer tried to talk us in to one of them--several years later...still glad we stood our ground. If I had to pick one, def sink (get a deep undermount) and go two level island IMO.

I have a two level island with a sink. I do not recommend two levels. It was a dumb idea. I missed the posts on GardenWeb about it. I did my kitchen in a huge hurry and just hoped it would work out. We put the sink in the island so it would face the big picture window in the family room. No regrets there. The view is worth it. I would never put a cooktop in an Island. Venting options are terrible, splattering will make your island unusable when you are cooking. I am a messy cook, so my cooktop faces a wall. If you don't cook, the island option would work, though. Otherwise, don't even consider it.

We are in the middle of a high-end kitchen remodel. We are putting a farmhouse sink in our island. The dishwasher will be on one side and the trash bins pull out on the other. It's a large island and will be able to accommodate 4 stools.
Our kitchen designer's advice was to leave it 1 level which is what we're doing.

Whatever you decide, you really need:
Dishwasher next to sink
At least 18 inches on either side of cooktop
Enough space between island and all wall counters that you can fully open appliances and walk through comfortably.

Don't sacrifice functionality for style in the kitchen!

Anonymous wrote:Neither. Small prep sink on the island.

I don't have it, but this would be part of my dream kitchen.

How large is your island going to be? Do you plan to use this as the only seating option or will you also have a kitchen table? I have found that my family will tend to sit at the small kitchen table to do homework and to eat breakfast rather than at the island.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sink. I wouldn't buy a house with a cooktop in the island.

+2

+3

Cooktop on the island greese and cooking splatters, kitchen sink on the island water sprays. You lose a large multipurpose space.