“Architecture is rigid, our lives are not,” says Paul Scardina, owner of Paolo Design Group of Portland, OR. For the past decade, Scardina has been creating custom islands for loft owners in the Pearl District and in the city’s old-style homes.
Photo courtesy of Paolo Design Group
“Space needs to be fluid, like our lives,” he adds, noting that space is getting smaller and more expensive simultaneously. “There is a compelling need to address the problem.” That is why his designs are modular, with an all-purpose stainless steel top, wooden legs, and locking wheels.
In his quest to re-invent the kitchen island, Scardina incorporates modular design. His concoctions nest, one below the other, creating a tiered effect. The rolling tables can double as a cooking surface or a dining set, providing ample storage for cutlery and glassware.
Like cabinets, island surfaces range from granite, to ceramic tile, to stainless steel. Popular finishes for the legs and accent pieces include cherry, walnut and maple, with a move towards ebonized wood.
It is also common to mix and match wood finishes, notes John Nisbet, of Bristol Woodworking & Design in Portland, OR. “I’ve seen painted cabinets and fir islands.”
Island-Living — a Modern Convention
According to Scardina, the up-tick in island popularity is a reflection of our culture. Since World War II mealtime has shifted away from a formal presentation of food in a separate dining room to clusters of people eating in informal settings. The need for extra seating or a food preparation station causes many homeowners to ask if an island is the right choice for them.
Photo courtesy of Skandia Design & Remodeling
Islands should be designed to complement the flow of kitchen traffic. They work best when there is ample clearance on all sides. The dishwasher, refrigerator, oven doors, and chairs should all function without impeding the flow of traffic. A rule of thumb is 36” clearance all the way around.
Older homes often have small kitchens. It’s hard to fit an island into a U-shaped or galley-style kitchen. However, many homeowners are removing non-load-bearing walls to open up the space between kitchen and living area, creating a modern-day great room, explains Scardina.
Custom-built islands allow storage of hard-to-stow pieces like oversized pots and tall bottles filled with gourmet cooking oils, Nisbet points out.
Islands vary widely in price, but depending on size and usage, a custom piece starts at $2,700 and can go as high as $15,000.
“People remodel once every ten to fifteen years, those dollars are an investment but some people sell themselves short,” Scardina says.
Already have an island? It can be refurbished, Nisbet explains, “but that’s as expensive as having a new one made.”
Homeowners with limited space don’t have to give up on the island idea completely. Various companies, such as IKEA, offer ready-made solutions that help manage day-to-day clutter.
Photo courtesy of Arciform LLC
Mini-islands, about as large as a grocery cart, offer an extra food prep station, with wire racks and shallow drawers to boost storage. Recycling stations, with separate bins for cans, bottles, paper and trash, can be ordered as a standalone unit on wheels. These roll-aways can be stored in laundry rooms or on the porch.
Regardless of budget, kitchen size, or whether island living is in your future, Scardina urges homeowners to skimp on style, not function.
“You can take the minimalist approach — which does not mean austere or sparse,” he explains. Minimalist means “nothing less and nothing more than what is needed to satisfy function. It is the thin line between not too much and not too little.”
The idea is to “put the money where it counts the most. It’s not how much you have but how wisely you spend what you have,” Scardina adds.
RESOURCES
Paolo Design Group
Paul Scardina
1031 NW 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97209
503-222-1757
www.paolodesigngroup.com
Bristol Woodworking & Design Inc.
John Nisbet
3925 N Mississippi Ave., Portland, OR 97227
503-284-1232
Arciform LLC
Richard DeWolf
4231 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217
503-493-7344
www.oldhomesnewlife.com
Skandia Design & Remodeling
11933 SE Sunny Way
Clackamas, OR 97015
www.skandiaremodeling.com
