Give Your Kitchen Island the Perfect Finishing Touch with Decorative Posts
Kitchen islands are the heart of many homes, serving as a gathering place for family and friends. While they provide valuable counter space and storage, a basic kitchen island can feel boring. The solution? Incorporate decorative posts to give your island style, support, and the perfect finishing touch.
Decorative posts encompass a wide range of options, from classic turned wood legs to intricate wrought iron brackets. The style you choose can complement your existing kitchen decor or make a bold statement. Whether you want to introduce a rustic, modern or traditional vibe, posts let you put your personal stamp on your kitchen.
Selecting Decorative Posts to Match Your Style
When choosing posts, consider the overall look you want to achieve. Warm wooden corbels give a craftsman appeal, while tapered wood posts with subtle fluting have a traditional elegance. Wrought iron posts in black add an industrial edge, which can be dressed up with gilded brackets for a glam touch. Chunky wood corbels make a rustic statement. For contemporary styling, stainless steel or satin nickel posts have a sleek modern aesthetic.
The shape of posts also impacts their look. Round, square and fluted columns have very different profiles. Corbels come in an array of designs from simple L-brackets to intricate scrollwork. Visually weigh whether chunky posts suit your island or if delicate supports better reflect your style.
Design Elements to Complement Your Decor
Along with the posts themselves, consider complementary elements that enhance their look. For instance, corbels with built-in LED lighting cast a soft glow on kitchen tasks while highlighting architectural details. Decorative hardware like bun feet on wood posts or cast metal finials on iron brackets provide beautiful finishing touches.
The style of surrounding decor also deserves attention. Barstools lined up at a kitchen island should coordinate with post details to tie the look together. For example, cross back stools might complement black iron posts, while tractor seat stools pair well with wood corbels to create a cohesive rustic vibe.
Materials to Combine Form and Function
The materials for posts must provide sturdy support for countertops in addition to aesthetics. Wood, metal, stone and engineered composites are common choices. Solid hardwoods like oak resist warping and wear well in kitchens. Wrought iron has an inherent sturdiness ideal for brackets. Granite columns make a strong statement but need structural reinforcement.
Marble and limestone add elegance but should be used sparingly as decorative accents unless the island framework is reinforced. Engineered quartz composite in a classic fluted column profile offers durability and ornate styling. The material you choose impacts the overall look, so weigh options carefully.
Installing Decorative Posts for a Seamless Look
Installing posts on a new island build is fairly straightforward by securely incorporating them into the underlying framework. For existing islands, installation involves more precision and structural considerations. The overhang length must allow posts like corbels enough support area. Measure carefully to mark post placement in relation to counters, cabinets and seating clearance.
Cutouts for corbels or brackets require careful trimming of the island side panels. Chiseling into stone countertops demands special skill. Structural bracing, anchors and brackets may be needed to retrofit posts if the original island framing is inadequate. Hiring an experienced contractor is advisable for retrofit installations.
DIY Installation Tips and Tricks
Those tackling a DIY decorative post installation on a suitable island can follow some basic tips. Allow corbels to extend at least 4 inches into the side framing for optimal strength. Use sturdy metal brackets to attach posts to framework. Leveling is crucial - shims can help adjust posts that aren't perfectly plum.
Be extremely precise with measuring and cutting to achieve a tight fit against counter edges. A filler like silicone caulk helps mask any small gaps for a finished look. While minor repairs are feasible after installation, taking care during the process prevents problems down the road.
When to Call in a Professional
For extensive structural modifications, unique island designs, heavy stone posts and intricate corbel details, engaging a professional is wise. Unless you have advanced DIY skills, anything beyond basic post installation may be overly complex or require special tools. The financial investment pays off through their experience with fit and finish details.
A qualified contractor also ensures decorative posts are properly load bearing according to building codes. When in doubt, call in an expert rather than compromise the structural integrity of your kitchen island. Peace of mind is invaluable when your family and friends gather around it.
Decorative Post Ideas to Showcase Your Style
Now that you know how to select and install decorative posts, it's time to inspire your inner HGTV design star. As a focal point of kitchen activity, your island deserves special treatment. Decorative posts let you transform the ordinary into extraordinary.
Creative Touches to Complement Decorative Posts
Once your posts are installed, consider fun decor details to highlight them. For wine connoisseurs, glass racking attached to the underside of a countertop overhang becomes a built-in display case.Floating shelves on corbels provide space for cookbooks, barware or baskets. Mini pendant lightshung from metal posts illuminate prep areas.
To maximize seating around your island, build in a banquettewith plush cushions. Rolling kitchen carts tucked into the corbel overhang make moveable side tables for serving appetizers when entertaining. The decorative posts you choose provide the perfect starting point to personalize your island.
Beyond shape and style, the colors and textures of materials like wood, metal and stone add interest. Contrasting finishes help posts stand out. For example, rough iron corbels work with creamy marble counters or smoother hardwood posts compliment granite's speckles.
Don't overlook creative pairings like classic white painted corbels against dark walnut cabinetry. Matching the depth of texture also makes a statement, like rugged wood posts on a butcher block countertop. Whether you prefer subtle or striking combinations, the design options are virtually endless.
With the resurgence of large kitchen islands, decorative posts provide both form and function. As you gather inspiration from designer kitchens and blogs, maintain a vision for your unique space. Bring your island to life with posts that reflect your personality and style.