Eye-Catching Islands: 8 That Are Elegant in Black
Pack a dramatic punch with a black island in the kitchen
Jennifer Ott
October 12, 2016
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
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Black is such a fun color to decorate with, but a little bit definitely goes a long way. Too much of it, especially in a small or poorly lit space, can make a room feel dark, gloomy and cavelike. But it can be the perfect accent color on a kitchen island.
Black is such a fun color to decorate with, but a little bit definitely goes a long way. Too much of it, especially in a small or poorly lit space, can make a room feel dark, gloomy and cavelike. But it can be the perfect accent color on a kitchen island.
That’s because islands, even large ones, are usually not the majority surface area in a kitchen. The walls, floors or main bank of cabinets tends to take up more surface square footage. Because of the limited surface area of an island, you can go big and bold with color.
One suggestion for working in a black island is to pair it with lighter and brighter elements, as well as warm colors or materials — such as wood. These contrasting hues will serve as a nice foil to the dark island, allowing it to stand out. And this move will keep the overall palette from being too dark and oppressive.
One suggestion for working in a black island is to pair it with lighter and brighter elements, as well as warm colors or materials — such as wood. These contrasting hues will serve as a nice foil to the dark island, allowing it to stand out. And this move will keep the overall palette from being too dark and oppressive.
Warm metal accents are another way to add some zing to a black island. Polished metals especially will add a nice sparkling element to the room. And, speaking of sparkle, it’s also important to consider your options for the finish sheen. A glossy black finish, as on this island, will reflect light, whereas a matte black finish will absorb light, making the island feel heavier and denser.
A black island looks stunning in any style of kitchen. In this charming modern-rustic hybrid, it serves as a visual anchor, but your eye can’t help but move around to take in the other interesting surface materials in the room.
Here’s a decidedly more traditional kitchen — and that black island is right at home in it. If you want a softer effect for your black island, try using a black stain or glaze rather than opaque paint.
A black island is a terrific way to add interesting contrast to an otherwise all-white kitchen. It’s dramatic for sure, and helps to break up the monotony of an otherwise singe-hued space.
Most of the kitchens featured thus far have been black and white, with perhaps some wood elements thrown in. But black is a neutral hue, which means you can pair with any other color you like. I love the black island in contrast to the blue-green backsplash here. The only colors I would suggest avoiding with black are bright yellow or orange in large amounts, as the former brings to mind certain stinging insects and the latter can feel Halloween-themed.
This kitchen features a few orange accents, but because they are fairly small, it doesn’t feel Halloween-like. It’s all about paying attention to the proportion of color. Here we have a nice mix of black and white with small bold accent hues that add visual rhythm.
What a fantastic family kitchen. This is a very large island, but because the top is a contrasting light hue and there are stools aplenty with light seats in front of the island, the dark hue is broken up nicely.
Your turn: Do you have a dramatic black kitchen island? Please share a photo in the Comments section below.
See more colored islands: Blue | Green
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Your turn: Do you have a dramatic black kitchen island? Please share a photo in the Comments section below.
See more colored islands: Blue | Green
More
How Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
The Best of My Houzz: 20 Creative Kitchen Islands
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I know this is a nitpick thing, but my eye tends to go right to the transition between the bottom of the island and the flooring material. It bothers me when there is no relationship between the materials, and when the break is too abrupt. Of the featured kitchens, I think only the one marked “Multiform” on the photo achieves this smooth transition gracefully. It has to do with the clean, pure form of the island, the texture of its wood mirroring the grain of the pickled floor boards, the milky-gray color of the floor having an undertone of that same warm-black. The grain of both cabinet and floor is all running in the same direction and is the same size. The recessed kickspace disappears as a shadow line. Beautiful and serene.
Ah yes, more black and white, black and white, black and white.