43 kitchen island ideas (and top tips from the professionals)
‘The kitchen island is a great addition, both aesthetically and ergonomically, in a whole range of spaces,’ says Gail Taylor of TH2 Designs. We see a huge range on our pages, from expansive, showstopping marble islands to slender, practical freestanding tables. Some integrate sinks and appliances, some have recesses or overhangs for bar stools, some even house dog beds, while others just provide much-needed extra worktop space.
Storage is another major consideration. ‘A well-designed island can significantly increase the storage space available,’ explains Gail. Many islands integrate appliances on one side of the island, while leaving the other side open for storage or a recess for seating. ‘I often allow for a shallow run of handleless units on the visible side of the island,’ continues Gail, ‘so that the look remains streamlined while providing extra storage for things like glasses, jugs, mugs and vases.’
Islands can also be a brilliant space for people to gather in an informal way. In her own kitchen, Gail favours a large island and has put in comfortable bar stools for the whole family to gather around for meals. ‘It just feels more relaxed and sociable than sitting at a table,’ she says. In a small kitchen, there may not be enough room to add seating to an island, but a slim table with a rack for storage beneath can be a great solution instead.
You may be tempted to keep the design of the island very similar to the surrounding cabinets, but this can be an opportunity to be more playful. ‘I prefer to give an island a different treatment to the rest of the kitchen to save having acres of the same surface,’ says Rita Konig. ‘You might also choose to have an island higher than your counters to make using it more comfortable.’ Gail agrees: ‘I often choose a different, tonal colour for the island than the rest of the kitchen units to give the island its own visual element,’ she says. ‘If the island is large enough, I combine two finishes for the worktops, too. If there is enough room for an overhang to pull bar stools up, I will use a different worktop to the main part of the island, combining wood with laminate or stone with stainless steel, for example.’
More expert advice from interior designers
‘Kitchen designers will tell you to allow at least 120cm between the island and the wall units, but you can shrink this down to 85cm – though admittedly it does make it hard for two people to work at the same time. Do not forget to add power points. I like to put them inside cupboards or on the internal side of open shelves. When it comes to lighting, it can be best to avoid the usual approach of dropping pendants down from the ceiling, as islands are often positioned next to dining tables, which may have their own pendant light above. To avoid such clashes, I sometimes use a couple of small recessed downlights instead.’ – Brandon Schubert
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