A kitchen island is often the heart of a home’s kitchen, offering both functionality and style. Whether you’re preparing meals, entertaining guests, or gathering for family activities, a well-designed kitchen island can significantly improve your cooking space. However, creating a functional and stylish kitchen island involves thoughtful planning and design. Today, we at Tarzia Development would like to explain some key considerations to help you achieve the perfect balance between utility and aesthetics.

1) Determine the Purpose of Your Island

Before diving into design, it’s crucial to decide what you want your kitchen island to accomplish. The purpose of your island will guide its size, shape, and features. Some of the most common uses for a kitchen island include:
Food Preparation: If you do a lot of cooking, your island should include plenty of counter space. Consider incorporating features like a butcher block, marble, or quartz countertop, which can make food prep both easier and more enjoyable.
Seating Area: Islands can also double as a dining space, perfect for quick meals, homework, or socializing. If this is a priority, ensure that the island has enough room for seating. A good rule of thumb is to allow at least 24 inches of width per person.
Storage: Additional storage is always a bonus in any kitchen. Opt for cabinets, drawers, and even pull-out shelves in your island to store cookware, utensils, and kitchen gadgets.

2) Consider the Size and Shape

The size and shape of your kitchen island will largely depend on the space available in your kitchen. Ideally, you should leave at least 42-48 inches of clearance around the island to allow for easy movement and access to surrounding work areas.
Rectangular or Oval: The most common shapes, rectangular or oval islands, work well in most kitchens. Rectangular islands offer ample space for both cooking and seating, while oval islands create a softer, more inviting look.
L-Shaped or U-Shaped: If you have a larger kitchen, L-shaped or U-shaped islands offer more counter space and are ideal for multiple activities happening at once.

3) Choose the Right Materials

The materials you choose for your kitchen island can significantly impact both its functionality and style. Here are some material options to consider:
Countertop Materials: Popular materials for kitchen islands include granite, quartz, marble, and butcher block. Quartz is a durable, low-maintenance option, while marble offers elegance. Butcher block is perfect for food prep, providing a warm, rustic feel to the kitchen.
Cabinet Materials: For the base, cabinets can be constructed from wood, stainless steel, or even repurposed furniture. Wood cabinets add warmth and are versatile in style, while stainless steel offers a modern, industrial look.
Flooring: Don’t forget to consider the flooring around the island. Hardwood, tile, or even cork can complement your island design, providing both durability and aesthetic appeal.

4) Incorporate Stylish Lighting

Lighting is essential for both functionality and ambiance in a kitchen. Pendant lights above the island create a striking visual statement and provide focused light for tasks like cooking or eating. Choose lighting fixtures that align with the overall style of your kitchen, modern, industrial, or even vintage-inspired. Make sure the lights are hung at the right height, typically around 30 inches above the countertop, to avoid obstruction and provide ample illumination.

5) Add Functional Features

To make your island even more functional, consider adding specialized features that suit your needs:
Sink or Cooktop: If you have the space, incorporating a sink or cooktop into your island can create a more efficient kitchen workflow. This is particularly helpful for those who like to entertain and cook simultaneously.
Pull-Out Trash or Recycling Bins: To keep your kitchen neat and organized, add pull-out bins in your island for waste and recycling.
Wine Cooler or Refrigerator Drawers: If you entertain frequently, adding a wine cooler or refrigerator drawers to your island can be a game-changer, providing easy access to drinks and snacks.

6) Final Touches and Style

The final step in creating a stylish kitchen island is choosing finishes and décor that match your overall design vision. Whether you go for a sleek, contemporary look or a more rustic, farmhouse aesthetic, the style of your island should complement the rest of your kitchen. Consider adding decorative elements like cabinet hardware, a colorful rug beneath the island, or even plants to create a cohesive and inviting space.

Kitchen Remodeling & More in Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Southbury, Stamford, CT & Fairfield County, Connecticut

A functional and stylish kitchen island is a blend of practicality and design. By considering its purpose, size, materials, and special features, you can create an island that enhances your kitchen’s workflow and visual appeal. Whether you’re preparing meals, entertaining guests, or simply relaxing with family, a well-designed island will become a central hub of your kitchen, offering both style and efficiency for years to come. Call Tarzia Development if you are interested in a kitchen remodeling service.

Most people take time to pick a house that they really love and want to live in. When you look for a home you most likely have a list of must haves and things that you are hoping for. When you find a home that fits the bill most people will pull the trigger and place an offer. The house that you choose may be perfect for what you want but as time goes on there can be issues that come up. Over time you will need to upgrade and update areas of the house. Another problem that you might come across is when you realize that you might need more room that the house has to offer. Families will grow and the space that is needed can change as the family does. The need for more space can be a time that people feel like they need to move but you can stay in the house you love. The best option that you have is to do a room addition on your home. Tarzia Construction outlines when you might need to add a room to your home.

Baby Nursery

When you move in a house you may not know how large your family is going to get. When you start to grow your family and you know that a new baby is coming home you may need more space. Adding a baby to your home is a great way to expand a family. You want to make sure that you are prepared for their arrival and that could mean that you need to add a room. A room addition on a home can be to make space for a new baby. You can have a room added that can be made into a nursery for your newest bundle of joy. The great thing is that over time you can renovate the space and create a toddler, teen or even a guest room out of the space.

Room Addition for More Living Space

Have you turned into the house that your kids love to hang out. Do you have guests over for dinners and other activities? These types of lifestyles usually require more space in your living quarters. One of the additions that some people make are a space that will expand the living space. This might be the living room, kitchen or a new room that can be made into a theater or game room. This addition is a great way to make sure that you are the best host for your guests.

Home Office Addition

More and more people are doing work from home or staring their own business. Having a home business means you need to have a home office. Some homes do not have space that can be used to make a home office so adding a room that will be used as an office can be a great addition. A home office can be used for personal needs such as paying bills as well as business needs that you might have.

Room Additions in Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Southbury, Stamford, CT & Fairfield County, Connecticut

Tarzia Construction can come out to add a room to your home to give you the space that you need. Call us today!

A rather rewarding experience is remodeling your Fairfield County, CT home’s bathrooms. Generally, there are a couple of reasons as to why you opt to remodel the bathroom. One, the bathroom is older or poorly maintained and requires fresh materials, or the other reason being that the bathroom desperately needs to be updated to better suit your style and daily life’s dynamic. There are many aspects, in any case, that should not be overlooked when completing the bathroom remodel, and the budget is the primary element. The bathroom can be glamorous, yet practical as you consider the bathroom is likely the room you spend a great deal of your day while at home. To transform your bathroom and maximize its potential, we at Tarzia Development would like to share a few tips.

1) Bathroom Wall & Floor Storage Cabinets

Many people regret the lack of storage options when remodeling the bathrooms. Without sacrificing the aesthetics in your bathroom, there are plenty of options that can be incorporated in a bathroom that can offer substantial storage space. If you convey what you are looking for, contractors can help you find some really creative storage solutions for your bathroom.

2) Bathroom Countertops Options

If young children are using the bathroom on a routine basis especially, many homeowners opt to have cheaper countertops. Even with kids, quality matters. Selecting low-quality countertops will only mean you have to replace sooner rather than later. Choose countertops that are a high quality, even if you on a tight budget, you can look for the deals.

3) Bathroom Fixtures

Avoid the generic, standard fixtures, but you do not have to get the pricey fixtures. You can still offer function, benefits, and beauty to your bathrooms new style as there is a wide margin when it comes to cost. To help save on water use and give you the opportunity to see a return in a year or two from the savings, consider eco-friendly options. Even on a budget, you can indulge in steamers, pulsing showerheads and other luxury options.

4) Bathroom Tile Designs

White is a traditional use of the tile in bathrooms that people always use, that you do not have to stick with unless it is your preference. Installing colored tile accents can bring color to the bathroom while remodeling your bathroom to add some spice and style. Select a pattern for a backsplash or an elegant pattern frame around the tub.

5) Bathroom Toilets

Like countertops, low quality toilets will result in needing to be replaced. To complete your bathroom’s remodel, select eco-friendly toilets that matches the style of the bathroom.

Bathroom Remodeling & More in Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Southbury, Stamford, CT & Fairfield County, Connecticut

With so many options, the bathrooms can be equipped heated floors, lighting, as mentioned, storage, various options for the showers, and tiles, countertops, and so much more. With a little direction, you can find the design and build the bathroom of your dreams. When it comes to remodeling your bathroom, call Tarzia Development and let our specialists ensure your bathroom remodeling is done right. We can help you stay on budget, get the features you are looking for, and get it done in a timely manner.

The kitchen in any home is one of the most important and widely used areas in your residence. An uninviting or inefficient kitchen may prevent you from enjoying quality time with friends and family. However, an inviting kitchen that is functional and works for your lifestyle will be an enjoyable place to gather family and friends, prepare healthy meals together, and spend many hours prepping, cooking and serving food. When you are planning a kitchen remodel, there are some important considerations to consider. Tarzia Development presents a quick guide to help ensure you are on the right track.

Things to Consider when Remodeling Your Kitchen

1. Wide walkways in kitchen. Kitchen pathways should be at least 36″ wide and paths within the cooking zone should be 42″ side for a one-cook kitchen and 48″ wide for a two-cook kitchen.

2. Kid friendly kitchen – Keep the cooktop out of high traffic areas so kids don’t catch handles and cause spills and even burns when running through. You may also want to consider a below the counter microwave to give kids easy access and a lower countertop height in one or more areas.

3. Allow for clearance around kitchen appliances and cabinets – Be mindful of corners and plan space for cabinet and appliance doors clearance and swing direction. It’s best to keep appliances away from corners and to make sure doors won’t bang into each other when opened.

4. Multiple electrical outlets; kitchen countertop, under cabinet, island & more – Have multiple electrical outlets installed along the backsplash and island so you’ll have electricity whenever you need it.

Kitchen Remodeling & More in Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Southbury, Stamford, CT & Fairfield County, Connecticut

Custom features make your kitchen unique to you and your home. From soft close cabinet doors and drawers to the kitchen island that was missing before, all the bells and whistles are available to you when you choose us to design and build your dream kitchen. Tarzia Development can help you design and build the kitchen of your dreams. Contact us today!