It is safe to say that most kitchens have a counter and that the counter is one of the most prominent features of most kitchens.  Often the kitchen counter is the focal point of the kitchen or even the entire home, a place for the family to gather for meals or have important discussions.

With any kitchen design project, the type of kitchen counter installation depends on a number of factors including the size of the kitchen, the intended function of the counter, budget, and personal style preferences. Here are three basic counter installations for you to consider.

Basic island

Islands are freestanding counters that are usually placed in the center of the kitchen. They liven up a kitchen inviting family members and guests to gather around them. Chairs or stools are placed around the island to allow for eating meals or doing homework. Islands work best in large kitchens with sufficient floor space. The island can either be either fixed or mobile. The base of a kitchen island can have cabinets, shelves, and wine racks to provide the kitchen with extra storage.

Multi-level island

A multi-level island is a great way to make a kitchen counter multi-functional. With multi-level islands, the base countertop is used for food preparation; it is equipped with amenities such as a stove top, sink, and dishwasher. The elevated, “bar height” countertop on the other hand is used for serving and eating meals. It can also be used for other tasks like writing grocery lists or sorting through mail or as a place to set down flower vases and fruit bowls. Multi-level islands are a good way to get the most out of your kitchen counter.

Wall mounted countertop

Wall mounted countertops are countertop shelves mounted to a kitchen wall with brackets. They do not have a base or cabinets underneath them, and some are designed to fold up when not in use. Wall mounted countertops are usually small and thus best suited to small kitchens. They can be a minimalist dinning surface for one or two people, and can also be used for food preparation.