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62 Kitchen Island Ideas You'll Want to Copy

By

Farima Ferguson

Farima Ferguson

Farima Ferguson began her career at HGTV where she worked with designers to write about home design. Her work has appeared in HGTV, Insider Reviews, Travel Channel, and more.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 05/11/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

The kitchen is oftentimes the heart of the home. It's where you and your family fuel up for the day, make memories during the holidays, entertain friends and family, and celebrate life's big moments during get-togethers.

Get Inspired by These Kitchen Island Ideas You'll Want to Copy

At the center of the kitchen is the kitchen island, the part of the room that provides an extra spot for meal prepping, cooking, gathering for casual meals or coffee breaks, and even extra storage space. Aside from all its practical uses, the island can also serve as a decorative focal point of the room. We've gathered our top kitchen island ideas, from big to small and simple to over-the-top to help inspire your kitchen design.

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1

Bold and Beautiful

Thomas Loof

We can’t take our eyes off of this stunning kitchen island in a Chicago home designed by Summer Thornton. Rather than settling for a workaday Carrara slab, she selected stone with swirls of violet and green. Pro tip: Want to bring color to your kitchen? Style your island with heaps of vibrant (and long-lasting) produce such as artichokes, citrus, and mini melons.

2

Modern Lovers

Brian Ferry

If you have the opportunity (not to mention the budget!) why not make your kitchen island a work of architecture? The designers at Home Studios were inspired by the work of Finnish modernist Alvar Aalto while creating this Brooklyn kitchen and dreamed up a custom island featuring ridged white edges and a Paonazzo marble top that nods to his buildings.

3

Sleek Waterfall

Isabel Parra

Waterfall countertops are a classic. We dig how this kitchen island, in the upstate New York home of Perifio designers Matt Bidgoli and Raphael Portet creates a frame around cabinets painted in a pleasing evergreen shade.

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4

Cottage Chic

Haris Kenjar

Everything about this charming Minnesota lake house, designed by interior designer Anne McDonald with Plaad architects, was crafted to evoke the client’s Scandinavian heritage—without going over the top. This sweet custom kitchen island features Scandi-chic turned legs, a detail that cleverly nods to the home’s exterior columns.

5

Salvage Beauty

Paul Raeside

“Reclaim” was the name of the game in this London townhouse designed by local firm Retrouvius. That philosophy extended to the upcycled kitchen island, which began life as a pair of mirrored museum cabinets. It’s topped with a slab of iroko, an African hardwood that Retrouvius salvages from government buildings.

6

Primary Rules

Alanna Hale

Forget white: In this happy Bay Area kitchen, designer Jessica Davis played with punchy primary colors. She painted the island in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue and topped it with a huge walnut slab.

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7

Color Blocked

Ema Peter

If you can’t afford to replace your kitchen island, then work with what you’ve got! In this ultratrendy mother-daughter home in West Vancouver, Canada, PlaidFox worked with the existing island but remixed it with a fresh coat of teal paint, funky lighting, and plush seating.

8

Minty Fresh

Carmel Brantley

With a home just blocks from the beach, designer Caroline Rafferty made sure her Palm Beach home channelled all the good vibes of the tropical climate. In the kitchen, that meant complementing minty kitchen cabinets with a cream-colored island slab and honey-colored walnut cabinets below. Mother Nature knows best, after all!

9

Allover Marble

Douglas Friedman

We are staunch proponents of an allover pattern look, and the kitchen is no exception. In this art-filled San Francisco mansion, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Nicole Hollis clad the custom island, counters, and shelves in the same raspberry ripple-colored stone.

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10

Old-World Glam

Ricardo Labougle

Pass the mustard! We’re obsessed with this custom yellow kitchen island (painted in Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow) in an 18th-century villa on the Spanish island (of course) of Menorca. The look gets further glam, old-world touches via the impressive marble backsplash and the gilt-bronze fringed chandelier, sourced from a palace in Madrid.

11

The Node Knows

Richard Powers

Sure, kitchen islands combine form and function, but we’ve never seen one quite like the sprawling counter in Studio Piet Boon creative director Karin Meyn’s Amsterdam home. Here, the workspace branches off into a dining table for six guests, allowing for easygoing get-togethers.

12

Monolithic Marble

Ye Rin Mok

This Los Angeles bungalow renovation, designed by LAUN, is a study in volumes, from the green lacquered storage block to the sculptural pink stone island. Renovators take note: The latter’s swirling surface makes a chic alternative to its black-and-white cousins.

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13

Terrazzo-Topped

Peter Murdock

The view is everything in this shou sugi ban house in Long Island. Therefore the interiors, designed by Joe Nahem, looked to nature wherever possible. For the custom kitchen island, speckled black countertops add some artful intrigue, while the blue cabinetry picks up the hue of the pool just outside.

14

Patinated Brass Island

Stephen Kent Johnson

This look, also in a Long Island home, is bound to please all of the minimalists out there: Designer Poonam Khanna kept the rest of the kitchen relatively muted with pale timber cabinetry and floors, but she clad the island in patinated brass for visual interest. The finish will wear over time, smudged with the family’s fingerprints. In fact, Khanna has instructed the residents not to polish it, as an ode to family life.

15

Sculptural Island

Anson Smart

This sculptural kitchen island, in the Sydney home of Aussie designer Tamsin Johnson, ranks among the best we’ve ever seen. The bespoke creation, carved from a piece of gray Bianco Gioia stone, is equal parts work of art and family gathering spot.

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16

Rustic yet Refined

Douglas Friedman

This rustic kitchen, in a Sonoma, California, home designed by Ken Fulk, conjures the country simplicity of the surrounding vineyard estate. The weighty central island was a custom design made from dark timber and topped with a curve-edged slab of marble. Brutalist bar stools by Swedish designer Carl Malmsten complete the look.

17

Lacquered Looker

Roger Davies

Oliver M. Furth infused this Beverly Hills home with Hollywood glamour aplenty. The kitchen was no exception with its larger-than-life kitchen island coated in a sexy, high-gloss coat of Benjamin Moore’s Black Satin.

18

All that Brass

Helenio Barbetta/Living Inside

Who said love of the material was ever a bad thing? Here, in a Milan apartment designed by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Hannes Peer, the island got a Midas touch with shiny brass cladding. To give it edge (literally and figuratively), Peer wrapped it in white-veined black marble.

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19

Pepper Granite

Lisa Cohen

A Melbourne, Australia, home makes the most of an open-concept space with a streamlined island crafted of pepper granite.

20

Walnut Veneer Island

Simon Upton

Designers Kelli Wilde and Laurent Champeau gave this 19th-century Paris apartment a modern face-lift with a walnut-paneled kitchen, including a custom walnut-veneer kitchen island.

Anna Fixsen

Deputy Digital Editor

Anna Fixsen, Deputy Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, focuses on how to share the best of the design world through in-depth reportage and online storytelling. Prior to joining the staff, she has held positions at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record magazines. elledecor.com 

Kitchens with an island - interior design ideas, advantages and disadvantages

Close "Khrushchev" and "Brezhnevka" in which the kitchens looked more like matchboxes are finally a thing of the past.

And Western fashion for open spaces has reached the Russian real estate market. Instead of cramped multi-room apartments, spacious studios began to appear, in the open spaces of which several functional areas fit. New trends demanded modern design solutions, so island and peninsular layouts appeared that looked fresh and original. Today we will talk about the features and benefits of the "islands" lost in the open spaces of the kitchen. Is this decision worthy of your attention?

What is an island layout and what are its advantages

Island layout of the kitchen involves placing a separate functional element of the suite in the center of the room. It can be a hob or work surface, a sink, an extractor hood, a bar counter or a cabinet with storage systems. The "island" is completely cut off from the rest of the headset. Typically, the layout is developed taking into account the rule of the "working triangle", two vertices of which are placed near the walls. This option is suitable only for very spacious rooms, where there is enough space for such a maneuver. There is another hybrid solution - a peninsular layout. In this case, the "island" is not sent to free float. On the one hand, it connects to the remaining headset at one of the walls. If the island layout is organized correctly, then such a solution helps to avoid two mistakes in kitchen design:

  • The set huddles along the walls. In the center of the room there is a lot of free space that is not used. There is too much distance between the vertices of the "working triangle". While working in the kitchen, the hostess has to constantly rush between the sink, stove, refrigerator and work surface. This solution not only causes a number of inconveniences, but also does not look the best. Kitchen design does not create a complete picture.
  • Parts of the kitchen set are placed in a spacious room in a chaotic manner. It is inconvenient to move and work. The design looks unattractive.

The island layout was invented by restaurateurs who wanted to make life easier for chefs in the kitchen. They suggested moving the work area to the center of the room to provide access to it from different sides.

The functionality of the kitchen with an island

At home, the island layout has opened up much more opportunities for housewives than in restaurants. If in catering establishments in the center they put only a working area, sometimes with a sink or hob, then in an apartment you have much more options:

  • Bar counter. This is a stylish and luxurious solution that allows you to give the kitchen a gloss. In such a room you can arrange small parties and receive guests. The rack can be divided into two functional areas. One is used for eating instead of the dining table or as an addition to it when there are many people in the kitchen. The second half of the rack serves as a work surface. We must not forget about storage systems that can be placed both at the bottom and at the top.
  • Work area. On the "island" you can place a sink, a countertop for cooking or a hob. If the dimensions of the room allow, then several zones are combined into one and supplemented with built-in household appliances.
  • Dining area. This solution is suitable for kitchens where there is not enough space to install a table and a set of chairs. The option is ideal for combined rooms, where the kitchen flows into the living area.
  • Decorative design. If the kitchen is very large, then the "island" can be used solely as a room decoration. A rack is installed here for storing collectible dishes, indoor plants or decorative items (vases, figurines, lighting fixtures).

Do not forget that the "island" will look organic only in kitchens with an area of ​​at least 25 square meters. m. If the room is smaller, then for the sake of the island layout you will have to sacrifice part of the kitchen set.

Advantages and disadvantages of the "island" solution

The popularity of the "island" layout is constantly growing. This solution is easily integrated into a range of modern design styles and allows you to enliven the interior. We have collected the main advantages of the "island" in the kitchen:

  • Ergonomic. The island layout allows you to competently organize the space in compliance with the "golden" rule of the working triangle. If you place its tops correctly, then it will be very convenient to move around the kitchen, and this will save time while cooking or cleaning up after a meal.
  • Aesthetics. The island layout looks stylish and elegant. Probably everyone has seen similar decisions in Western films. "Island" allows you to create a truly original kitchen design.
  • Functionality. This layout turns the kitchen into a properly organized space that is convenient to use. The hostess will not stumble upon pieces of furniture and she will not have to make a forced march through the kitchen from the refrigerator to the work area or hob.
  • Versatility. "Island" can be organically integrated into the Scandinavian style, hi-tech, minimalism, loft, eclecticism, chalets, Provence, classics and neoclassics. In almost every modern design direction, there are a couple of interesting solutions specifically for the island layout.
  • Space zoning. "Island" can divide the studio into a kitchen and a living room. You do not have to carry out additional zoning with light, color or a combination of textures of finishing materials.
  • Solving the problem with the placement of the dining area. If you have nowhere to put a massive table, then the island layout will help to cope with this problem.

This solution also has several disadvantages:

  • Loss of usable area. The island layout "eats" at least 1-3 square meters. m.
  • The need for additional communication lines. This disadvantage applies only to those options in which a hob, sink, hood or built-in household appliances are installed on the “island”.
  • Not suitable for small kitchens. Alas, the “island” needs a spacious “sea” in which it can organically fit in.

Creating the perfect kitchen with an “island”

Since a kitchen with an island layout must be spacious a priori, there are simply no restrictions on the color palette. Light shades will visually make the room even larger, and dark ones will have the opposite effect. The choice of colors directly depends on the stylistic decision, as well as the choice of materials for the kitchen set. For example, for a chalet-style kitchen, solid wood with a natural pattern in shades of brown is ideal. It can be dark chestnut, rich chocolate color, light beige, soft nut shade. For loft-style kitchens, tones from a rich range of browns are also used, but with the addition of white and dark brick. The interior is complemented by an abundance of chrome surfaces. Shades of blue and green in tandem with white are more suitable for the Scandinavian style. The eccentric eclecticism allows you to combine bright shades according to the contrasting principle. For an island kitchen in a minimalist style, the “golden trio” of white, black and gray colors is suitable, which can be slightly enlivened with bright spots of purple, green, blue, yellow decor.

As for the material for the headset, here, too, you need to focus on the stylistic decision. If this is high-tech, then the kitchen should have an abundance of chrome-plated surfaces, diluted with glass, plastic or even stone. For classic, ethnic, country and eco-style, solid wood is used. In rare cases, you can purchase a set of cheaper materials that mimic natural wood.

Interior Design Tips

We've rounded up some expert tips to make your island layout even more attractive and your kitchen design complete. Try to pay attention to the following aspects:

  • The island needs additional lighting. For modern styles, spotlights are ideal, which will additionally perform a decorative function.
  • To work comfortably in the kitchen, you need to choose the right width of the aisles. It should be at least 80 cm. If chairs are installed around the "island", then they can reduce this distance. Compliance with the requirements for the minimum width of the passage is necessary not only for convenience, but also for safety.
  • Pay attention to the shape of the room. The shape of the "island" should be selected depending on the ratio of the width and length of the kitchen. It can be square, rectangular, oval, L-shaped and even round.
  • If the "island" is used as a dining area, then a ceiling chandelier will have to be installed above it.

Even in a classic design, it is better to avoid pretentious forms and massive decorations. If you really like the classic style, then you should turn to its more modern versions - neoclassical, art deco or art nouveau.

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Island designs are a prime example of this. Such cuisines have become popular in our country. Due to its versatility and unusualness, the kitchen island will help in the proper placement of interior items. It can also become a separating element in the zoning system of the kitchen and dining room. Or it can be an element of decor and a dining table at the same time. Such a modular system is an integral part in trendy houses and apartments. A well-made island will last more than a year. The fashion for such kitchen set systems does not pass.

Features of an island kitchen

The location of this type of kitchen requires a lot of space. Most often, the island is installed in large houses or spacious apartments. Such furniture should not "weight" the life of the household.

The most common island shape is rectangular. The rest of the furniture is arranged in the form of the letter P or L. The size of the space must be at least 16 square meters. On a smaller area, you can also build a similar model.

This could be a bar counter in a combined kitchen-dining room. It will visually serve as a zone boundary, and will also cope with a double load: it will become a work surface during the cooking process and a dining area at a meal. It is better to think over all the details at the start of the concept and design of the object.

Pros and cons

Before you install a kitchen island, you should thoroughly calculate all the nuances. Details that seem small at the beginning of the plan can affect the final result of the idea. Consider all the pros and cons.

Pros:

  1. Outwardly attractive. Unusual and stylish interior will be loved by guests of the house;
  2. Functionality. In this part, you can build whatever you want: from the countertop to the hob;
  3. Possibility to divide the kitchen into zones;
  4. Another work surface. It greatly expands the capabilities and improves the headset. The internal area can also be used for your needs - as a refrigerator, drawers and shelves for storing things and kitchen utensils;

Cons:

  1. The size of the occupied area. To the full extent, such a design solution is suitable only for overall kitchens. At least 16 squares are required, or even more;
  2. Certain difficulties with the withdrawal of the communication system and waterproofing of the flooring. This is not possible in all apartments;
  3. The cost of equipping the exhaust system, the materials from which it is planned to make the island. All installation procedures will cost a round sum;
  4. Inconvenience for families with children and the elderly. Sharp corners can hurt. Then it’s better to order an island with a rounded shape.

Important components and details when planning

When planning an island-type kitchen, designers advise taking measurements of each corner. The ideal kitchen is the right combination of form and space planning. It is important to take into account all the components. The distance from the island to the kitchen must be at least 1 meter. Otherwise, movement will be difficult.

Plan a triangular area: sink, hob and refrigerator. Any detail and object is easy to reach by hand. In this case, harmony and tranquility reign. Convenience and lack of interference is an important criterion when installing the island. There is a standard set of parameters for measuring the structure:

  1. The length should not be less than 120 cm;
  2. Module width min. 60 cm, max. 150 cm;
  3. Construction height 85-95 cm.

Uses

  • Additional work surface

There is never enough space for the housewife in the kitchen. Another free zone where you can do cooking and serving will come in handy. In addition, its equipment does not require effort and cost.

  • With dining table

In the kitchen, you can do without a free-standing table. To the question of how, we answer: the island completely replaces the dining area. Today it is possible to arrange the island part in such a way that it can hardly be distinguished from a full-fledged table. Chairs that match the kitchen furniture and are similar in style will give a finished and well-groomed look to the space.

  • With a bar counter

The complete set of this model looks quite fashionable. It is not possible to create a mini bar in an apartment in all kitchens. And the island just allows you to build a similar design. During the day it replaces the table and work surface, and in the evenings and holidays it turns into an ultra-modern lounge area. A bar counter combined with an island can be implemented in a variety of options: metal, wood, glass. You can seat more guests at such an island-bar than at an ordinary kitchen table.

  • Hob

The island can also be fitted with a built-in hob. Pretty practical and easy. It is important to determine access points to electricity at the very beginning of the layout. The free surface can be used as a cutting board or breakfast area.

  • Sink

The sink can be installed on the island alone or together with the hob. The main plus is the savings in square meters. The countertop area on the opposite side should be increased. Then the dining and cutting surfaces will retain their advantage. The sink, installed on the island, does not interfere with the rest of the interior details. It is located separately and conveniently, first of all, for those who run a household. An important point: the supply of communications. In a house or apartment with a free layout - this is not a problem at all. In a typical apartment, certain difficulties may arise.

  • On wheels and without

A well-chosen island will become an indispensable assistant and the main attribute of the kitchen. A small kitchen is no reason to abandon the island. There are a number of models that were created specifically for small, modest spaces. A possible option is a folding island of a small size. Its table top slides out when needed. The owners have an additional working surface. As unnecessary, it can be easily hidden.

The table can be a mobile element - on wheels. It could be a drawer model. It easily rolls up under the general design.

Stand-alone desktop on wheels is a good option for those who often have guests. Such an island can be attached and rolled up to a sofa or a common table at any convenient time. A mobile island is the dream of any housewife, and with wheels equipped with fixing locks, it will be indispensable in everyday life.

Original shapes, designs

A kitchen island usually follows the shape of the space itself. Square and rectangular models are the most common. But designers and lovers of original solutions offer to look at this issue from a different angle. They believe that round, oval, wavy shapes should also be considered.

The oval shape seems to be a continuation of the flowing lines of the upper wardrobes. The kitchen looks like a harmonious space and does not need a bright color. You can order from the manufacturer an island of the original form. The combination of different materials and colors will cost twice as much. But in the end, the project will amaze the imagination of the guests and become the main decoration of the house.

Make an island with your own hands

Create a kitchen island yourself, plan everything from A to Z without resorting to ready-made standard solutions - only enterprising, creative people can do it. Fantasy, love for vintage items and boundless self-confidence are what the owners are guided by. All used pieces of furniture will fit into the process:

  1. Old wooden chest of drawers. Slightly worn, but still durable. Restoration and finishing materials plus a new countertop is a good addition to the kitchen. This option will add comfort to any space;
  2. Table. An antique or metal frame table with rounded legs, drawers and wood top can be installed as an island in the kitchen. It should be remembered that such a design should be on the same level with the rest of the components of the headset;
  3. Sideboard. A mini sideboard, equipped as an island, will perfectly fit into any style of kitchen. On the glazed shelves under the tabletop, you can arrange cute and dear decor items, dishes;
  4. Two islands. The owners can install two islands in the kitchen at once, identical in style. The main thing is that there is enough space. In this case, the islands serve as a separation between the working area and the dining space. One is used as a cutting surface equipped with a sink or stove. Such an island is equipped with hooks, shelves and drawers for storage and ergonomic placement of textiles, dishes and other kitchen utensils. The second is for gatherings and meals with family and guests.

Style directions

  • Classic

All housewives love the classic version of the kitchen with an island. This kitchen is suitable for any style of apartment and is durable. In the appearance of such a kitchen there are various facades, decorated with stained glass. The island part is equipped with a tabletop made of marble, natural stone or its imitation. The decor is balusters, shelves in the form of arches. A beautiful carved hood will decorate the hob if it is installed in the island area.

  • Provence

There is a lot of natural light here, and the suite and the island structure are made in light, beige, salad, light lilac shades. The abundance of wicker baskets, which can be conveniently located in the lower part of the island, can also become an additional source of inventory storage. The island itself is made in a simple, rectangular shape. The material is wood. The model can be made with open shelves, on which you can also fit ceramic dishes and a romantic porcelain service.

  • Country

Stone and wood work well together in this style. Natural proximity, the presence of only natural materials and simplicity in details. Warm shades that allow for the presence of gray, an abundance of wooden objects, naturalness in the interior create a homely, warm atmosphere.

  • Hi-tech

The design of this kitchen is characterized by an abundance of both natural and artificial light. Light, silvery, metallic tones, precise lines, modern kitchen appliances and communication systems demonstrate the full development and application of high technologies in the kitchen space. The island part is made in a strict form, there are no open shelves and accessories.

  • Minimalism

Kitchen interior in this style is functionality and a high level of comfort. A minimum of furniture, household appliances, protruding objects, the absence of unnecessary parts and accessories, and those little things that do not fulfill their direct functions. The island design copes well with these nuances, it replaces both the table and the workspace at the same time. Shades of white, gray, beige - the main palette for minimalism in the kitchen. The main material is wood.

Color options

With all the variety of colors and shades, designers strongly recommend planning the installation of the island, taking into account the whole gamut of the kitchen. So the kitchen will not be “broken” into small details, and the feeling of a single room will be preserved. You can play on the contrast of the lower part of the island, it looks especially good in a minimalist style, where the main palette is light, gray shades.

Let there be light

The possibilities of illuminating space today can work wonders. A variety of lamps, fixtures, wireless lighting, LED strips can complement and decorate the interior of any room. The kitchen space needs a lot of light. Here they cook, clean, meet guests and have fun. Close attention should be paid to the lighting of the island part. Depending on the style direction and preferences of the owners, you can try pendant glass lamps from the last century, classic stainless steel lamps, or you can adapt a powerful hood with a smooth light output.

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