Kitchen island

A kitchen island is a block of cabinets and worktop that stands free of the walls in the middle of the kitchen, so it can be reached from every side. It can be a prep counter, hold the hob or sink, act as a breakfast and seating spot, or simply provide storage. In open-plan homes it is a favorite way to link the kitchen with the living area.

Why people want one

An island adds work surface and storage and turns the kitchen into a social space. Whoever is cooking can keep working without turning their back on the living room or on guests. With a few bar stools, an island can also replace a separate breakfast table.

Planning points

• Enough room: there has to be space to walk around the island and open cabinet doors and drawers. Squeezed into a narrow kitchen, an island becomes an obstacle.
• Services: if the island holds a sink or hob, water, drainage, power and extraction must be planned through the floor and ceiling from the start.
• Lighting: pendants over the island give task light and also set the focal point of the room.
• Work triangle: the island should support the flow between fridge, sink and hob, not interrupt it.

In visualization, the island is the center of a kitchen scene. Cameras are usually set to bring it forward, and the glow of the pendants and reflections on the countertop define the character of the image. For more unusual examples, see the most unusual kitchen designs.