Whether they are required by code or not they are required functionally. What kitchen designer designing a kitchen of this price point doesn’t have several options to present to you?

That pic id useless and I agree this is puzzle for your designer and i cnnot imagine working on a nisland with not plugs to use since mine gets used constantly for prep. I aslo wonder why all stone but to understand that would require real pics posted here and DO NOT start another post.

If you don't have a great designer, an great general contractor, working together for this, in person, it will all end up a hot mess anyway. Electrical or no electrical. But there are TONS of options besides pop ups for ktichen islands. Which is why your designer should be discussing the +- to all of the options. For something with such a strong visual statement, Truefig should be on the table. But there has to be room for wires and boxes in the actual guts of the design. It doesn't get magically pasted on the surface as if it's just wallpaper.

My designer has ideas. I've looked at a ton of different strategies online.

My island hasn't been built yet, so no pictures. Nor do my questions need a picture. I am asking what others have done and how that worked out for them. I want to hear from users who have lived with these ideas and wish to know if the strategy has held up over time, broke, or had to be replaced. Would they do it again.

National Electrical Code 2023 does not permit outlets to be installed on the side of the island, which would eliminate Truefig.

My state has not decided whether to adopt this code or not yet. I am still in the design phase, so I am looking at all options.

Your location has not adopted the 2023 NEC, unless you live in Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota or Wyoming. Most jurisdictions run 3-9 years back on adopting the code cycle. The lack of a rush to adopt allows the NEC to get rid of stupid sections before a jurisdiction jumps on thrm.

They included the junction box inside, because even they knew that was a bad decision that would be reversed in the next code cycle. It promotes the very thing they were trying to eliminate, which is extension cords draped across the aisles.

I'll give an answer on the pop-up question. We have a pop-up outlet about a foot away from our sink. It's also near the stand mixer, so exposed to baking messes as well as liquids. We don't use it very often, but whenever I do extend it, it seems completely clean. No liquid, flour, or other mess seeping in. It's been installed about a year.

mcarroll16, do you know what brand of popup that it is?

I think it's a Hubbel outlet. Going by internet pictures and the "TR" printed on the outlet face.

Thank you, mcarroll16!

I got lost at "stone on all four sides" -- on the face of cabinets and drawers? or are there no cabinets and no access to the plumbing?

you can put an oulet in a drawer, if cutting into the exterior stone is painful. Or upper corner of a cabinet. but both are inconvenient to use, of course, but if it's only occasional, might be ok.

here are a few other things. this appears to be a raised end section, which might prevent passive trickle.

W23rd St. NYC - Apartment Renovation · More Info

This next is the only one I have personal experience of, but I was using it on an island that didn't have a sink, so it was more for a laptop or charging.

Modern on the Prairie · More Info

Here's a solution with a flip-down door, that is invisible and more convenient than a drawer or cabinet...

a symphony of parts - the kitchen · More Info

Here's another one like that:

Island with Hidden Outlet · More Info

I don't know about the code on this next one, but it's novel, anyway -- using an under-cabinet like outlet..

Beaded Inset Cabinets and Hidden Island Outlets · More Info

Here's a pop-out on a vertical surface:

A Modern Kitchen for a Retreat in the Woods · More Info

Anyway, hope this helps.

Have the end panel stop about 1.25" short of the counter and use plugmold there.

Or - as described - a fold down false drawer to hide an outlet.

acm, thank you so much for the examples! I appreciate your help.

The picture below is similar to what my island will look like. Mine will be a different color of stone veneer and will have granite on top.

That is awesome and perplexing both. :) With a wall of stone like that, it's gonna be hard to conceal a seam. Maybe inside an existing drawer will work best.

Outlets inside drawers or false drawers will not meet code for being readily accessible. Truefig is the only real unobtrusive choice. Or a popup that lets you use the stone cutout as the top. Your stone fabricator has to have a waterjet for any of that. For any of this, actually. None of this will be a mail order RTA or DIY type job. Local super high end designers and craftsmen required.

Such a stone cutout should be grooved for an o-ring, and the countertop hole polished. Pop-ups have flanges and a bit of rise to keep liquids out. If the pop-up isn't approved for such a scheme - neat as it is - it might not pass inspection.

Even if one cuts a stepped hole so the flange is lower than the countertop, a thinned stone face may be desirable to not over-weight the pop-up assembly spring.