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Perfectly Personalize Your Kitchen Island
Don't desert your kitchen island's potential. Tailored storage, favorite materials and clever seating design can make it just right for you
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design is collected, not decorated, and that homes should always be as comfortable and functional as they are chic. In addition to writing for Houzz, I work as the Head Copywriter for Layla Grayce and Zinc Door.
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design... More »
Kitchen islands provide additional counter space, storage, seating and other common kitchen features such as sinks and cooktops. They also have the potential to offer much more. Can’t seem to find a spot for your spices? Shelving in your island may be the perfect solution. Want to introduce a dramatic material to your space? Pull it in through your island.
If you’re in the process of renovating your kitchen, adding an island or just collecting ideas, the following photos will show you the many unexpected attributes an island can have. So before you put the stamp of approval on your island design, be sure it’s personalized for you.
If you’re in the process of renovating your kitchen, adding an island or just collecting ideas, the following photos will show you the many unexpected attributes an island can have. So before you put the stamp of approval on your island design, be sure it’s personalized for you.
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| Incorporate wine storage. If you’re always struggling to find a spot for your wine collection, ease your frustration by adding wine storage to your island. |
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by Workshop/apd
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| Build chic shelving. Shelving is by no means a new thought for islands; however, there is an opportunity to make it a much more sophisticated addition. Instead of placing it on the ends of your island, incorporate it around your seating or cabinetry, and stock it with knickknacks and accessories that aren’t exactly kitchen related. This is especially worthwhile for open layouts where your island faces a living space, as in this example. Personal mementos give it a warm and eclectic nature that blends with the aesthetic of its neighboring space. |
Add an actual table to your island. It’s fairly common practice these days to see islands double as seating spaces with the addition of bar stools. However, if you have the space, consider adding an actual table to your island. Not only does this provide extra seating, but you’ll be surprised how grateful you are for the additional counter space during meal preparation.
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Create a spot for your spices. If your spices are taking up valuable space in the pantry, create a place for them in your island. Choose an area that is most accessible to your stove or where you’ll most often be using them, then carve out enough space for thin shelving.
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| Consider going extra wide. If you’ve got a big kitchen, don’t be afraid to go for a big island, especially if it will be used for both cooking and entertaining. There’s rarely too much counter space. (Just be sure you can reach what you need from the cooking zone.) |
| Or go extra long. Don’t let a narrow kitchen stop you from maximizing usable space. Go for an extra long design that still supplies you plenty of counter space and enough seating for the entire family. This one seats eight. |
| Stick the seating on the end. If there’s no room to put seating along the lengthwise side of your island, the end can be a great spot to sneak in one or two chairs. You may not be able to fit the entire dinner party, but you'll have friends or kids to keep you company while you cook. Plus, it's the perfect spot for a quick breakfast. |
Go super skinny. Where there’s a will, there’s a way to make islands possible in smaller kitchen areas. Though much skinnier than most islands, this bar manages to incorporate cabinetry and seating plus the additional counter space that makes islands so great.
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by ThinkGlass
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| Get creative with your countertop. Function is a big part of your island countertop; you’ll likely be using it most often for meal preparation. This doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice aesthetics. Many materials are available today that are as interesting as they are functional, such as this glass option that is heat and scratch resistant, nonporous and low maintenance. |
| Choose an unexpected material for the body of the island. Don’t stop at the countertop: Consider creating a statement with the body of your island through an unexpected material. This designer finished the island body in backlit onyx. |
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by Kenneth Fromme
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| What can you do to make your island unique? It’s not every day you see a backlit banded calcite column accessorizing a kitchen island. Your turn: What special touches have you added to your island? Let us know in the Comments section. More: Take a Seat at the New Kitchen Table Island How to Choose the Right Kitchen Island |
Ideabook published on April 11, 2012.
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