Why Island Hob You'll Use As Your Next Big Obsession

· 6 min read
Why Island Hob You'll Use As Your Next Big Obsession

Including a Hob to Your Kitchen Island

Having a hob in your island includes an intriguing centerpiece to the room and works truly well with open-plan kitchen concepts. It also enables you to see what is cooking and motivates social interaction whilst food is being prepared.

It is necessary to guarantee that you adhere to gas guidelines by having a clear area of 30cm or 15cm on either side of the hob for security and work area. You'll also require to think about ventilation and extraction.
1. Area

A hob on an island can include an extra level of function and make the kitchen a main center for your home. It can likewise assist you produce a more liveable area and conserve space that might have been used up by sinks or cabinets.

Selecting to position your hob on an island can likewise open up a range of storage options and give you a work surface area that is versatile, versatile, and easy to tidy. However, it's crucial to bear in mind that a hob will use up important counter top space. This can restrict the quantity of area you have for other activities like meal preparation and serving. In addition, a hob on an island can lead to more visible splatters and mess, making it more difficult to keep the area looking pristine.

It's crucial to bear in mind that when you set up a hob on your island, you may require to consider ventilation and extraction systems. This can include aspirating hoods linked to the ceiling, downdraft extractors that rise out of the island when not in usage, and filters developed into the hob itself. This can add to the expense and complexity of setting up an island hob, but it's crucial for making sure sufficient ventilation to avoid harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide gas, from developing in the kitchen.

One of the biggest benefits of having a hob on an island is that you can separate it from the sink. By doing so, you can centre your sink and develop outwards from either side of it to attain symmetry and balance in the total style. This can assist to remove a few of the visual clutter from the area that can sometimes be brought on by having a sink on an island, consisting of dishcloths, washing-up liquid, tea towels, and so forth.

It's likewise worth remembering that you will need to guarantee that your hob is a safe distance away from completion of your system run and any tall systems for security and policies purposes. Conrad suggests a minimum of 60cm from completion of your island to a tall cabinet.
2. Social

A main hob in your kitchen island can make for a social center, encouraging guests and relative to communicate while the cook prepares meals. This can work specifically well if you have an open-plan home and kitchen. In regards to functionality, placing your hob in the island can also make meal prep more structured and efficient, permitting you to keep other areas of the kitchen free from mess.

Another benefit of an island hob is that it can offer you more presence of what you're doing, making it much easier to watch on your cooking and prevent spills or splashes. However, this can be a drawback for some people as it can expose the cook to a great deal of diversions and noise.

For this factor, many people choose to have their sink in the island separate from the hob, reducing the amount of devices they have on screen and producing a more streamlined kitchen layout. This is especially popular with Belfast sinks, which can be a stylish addition to your kitchen and help you keep filthy dispense of sight.

One thing to remember when planning a kitchen island with a hob is that you'll require to leave adequate area either side of the cooking area to adhere to gas policies. In order to avoid inadvertently touching the flame or the hot surface, you'll need a minimum of 30cm on each side for gas hobs and 15cm for induction hobs.

In the case of kitchen islands with a hob, you'll also need to consider your kitchen ventilation alternatives, as it's essential to have appropriate ventilation in an open-plan kitchen. For this, it's normally advised that you set up a cooker hood straight above the hob, which will offer more reliable ventilation and avoid the build-up of smoke, steam and cooking smells. These hoods can either vent directly to the exterior through a window or recirculate filtered air back into the room. A downdraft system is also a good option for kitchens with an island hob, as it offers more effective ventilation than basic extractor fans.
3. Storage

A kitchen island can be a table or food preparation surface however likewise plays host to your hob and sink. This creates a social hub to amuse visitors and household whilst you prepare and clean, and is a terrific way to optimise space by getting rid of the requirement for base cabinets against walls.

However, this does involve the added obstacle of guaranteeing sufficient ventilation and extraction for cooking fumes. An island hob needs to be fitted with a hood that effectively records smoke and odours at the source, and is created with sleek and integrated performance to fit in seamlessly with your island design.

Depending on your kitchen design and personal preference, you can go with a vented hob that requires a separate extractor hood or surface-based options like a glass draft hood that sits flush with the induction hob to form an elegant and inconspicuous installation. Make sure that you select a venting hob with the correct size and ventilation power to fit your island cooktop, taking into consideration design compatibility with your kitchen layout, electrical or gas connections, and any structural modifications required.

Alternatively, you might consider an open shelving service that's tucked into the island overhang, as this can be a beautiful centerpiece for your kitchen design. This can be a great method to showcase gorgeous wooden boards, reactive glaze-ware crockery or artisanal glasses and includes charm to your homely kitchen. This design of storage works especially well for smaller kitchen areas, as it doesn't need a great deal of area and is easy to keep neat with a couple of thoroughly curated bits and pieces on show instead of a clutter of utensils in a cabinet. If  cooker hood island 't a total minimalist, install some hooks under the overhang of your island to dangle mugs and prized cooking utensils from to give the space a personalised touch.
4. Security

A hob put on an island is ideal for creating a dedicated cooking location while keeping your kitchen open and social. It can likewise be utilized to increase effectiveness by allowing the cook to connect with visitors or family seated around the table while food is being prepared.

As with all kitchen home appliances, security is an essential issue when installing an island hob. The hob ought to be placed at a proper height to avoid mishaps and ensure that it is not too near other flammable materials. For added peace of mind, choose a hob with security functions such as hot-plate signs and a power cut off switch. If you are using your island for seating, ensure that there is enough space behind the hob so that anyone sitting down does not get too near to any hot pans.


Ventilation is likewise a crucial factor to consider when preparing an island hob, and there are a variety of alternatives available to meet your needs. For example, a venting hob integrates ventilation straight into the cooktop for a streamlined and unobtrusive design. This choice is ideal for minimizing steam and odours while cooking, making your kitchen more comfortable and practical to utilize.

There are also wall mounted extractors that can be incorporated into a wall above the hob, supplying reliable ventilation without impacting on your kitchen's decoration or obscuring the view of your island. You might even select a downdraft extractor, which is installed underneath the surface of the hob and pulls air down through ducting in the ceiling.

If you pick to set up a gas hob on your island, it's important that it is effectively set up by a Gas Safe engineer. In addition, you must make sure that there is adequate clearance space on either side of the hob to avoid tripping or unintentional spills. Lastly, when picking your countertop, choose for a resilient product that can withstand heat and moisture.