10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
Design and remodeling professionals say these are the elements every homeowner should consider when planning an island
A kitchen island offers many benefits to homeowners: an extra countertop, more storage, a place where family and guests can sit, improved circulation. But while the advantages of an island may seem straightforward, designing one isn’t. There are countless considerations that go into how an island looks and functions. To narrow down the options a bit, we asked 50 design and remodeling pros what kitchen island detail they always recommend to clients. Here are the 10 features that came up again and again.
In this Orange County, California, kitchen by Sea Pointe Construction, stools on opposite sides allow two people to face each other when at the narrow island. “Seating on two sides is always better for conversation,” designer Mary Jean Cipro of Thomas Sattler Homes says.
How your clients intend to use island seating will affect other elements, such as the length of the overhang. “Our minimum depth is 12 inches, but our ideal is around 16 to 18 inches of overhang on the countertop to give enough knee space with bar stools,” builder Al Kelekci of Hask Custom Homes says.
Designer Jason Thompson of J. THOM Residential Design & Materials likes to leave a bit of an overhang on an island countertop for clamping on accessories like pasta cranks.
How your clients intend to use island seating will affect other elements, such as the length of the overhang. “Our minimum depth is 12 inches, but our ideal is around 16 to 18 inches of overhang on the countertop to give enough knee space with bar stools,” builder Al Kelekci of Hask Custom Homes says.
Designer Jason Thompson of J. THOM Residential Design & Materials likes to leave a bit of an overhang on an island countertop for clamping on accessories like pasta cranks.
While the standard countertop height is 36 inches, you might suggest adding a bar-height portion that’s 42 inches, as seen in this Boston kitchen by LDa Architecture & Interiors.
“Having at least one portion set up as a sit-to with a 42-inch-high surface is a very comfortable place to be,” Klement says. “It’s a height where one can be half sitting, half standing. It is psychologically and physiologically a welcoming, natural place for guests to perch, relaxed and yet engaged.”
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“Having at least one portion set up as a sit-to with a 42-inch-high surface is a very comfortable place to be,” Klement says. “It’s a height where one can be half sitting, half standing. It is psychologically and physiologically a welcoming, natural place for guests to perch, relaxed and yet engaged.”
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2. Double-Sided Storage
If planned right, a kitchen island can add tons of storage. And while you want to focus most of your storage attention on the interior side of the island, don’t forget the back side.
“Whenever possible, we add extra cabinets under the overhang on the back side to maximize storage,” says Chelsea Forse, a design coordinator at King and Society Construction. “It can create a more finished look, and with the latest kitchens moving away from upper cabinets, it helps make up for the storage space that we are now missing.”
Architecture firm Ailtire Studio integrated storage on the back side of the island in the Philadelphia kitchen seen here. The next photo shows a peek at the storage.
If planned right, a kitchen island can add tons of storage. And while you want to focus most of your storage attention on the interior side of the island, don’t forget the back side.
“Whenever possible, we add extra cabinets under the overhang on the back side to maximize storage,” says Chelsea Forse, a design coordinator at King and Society Construction. “It can create a more finished look, and with the latest kitchens moving away from upper cabinets, it helps make up for the storage space that we are now missing.”
Architecture firm Ailtire Studio integrated storage on the back side of the island in the Philadelphia kitchen seen here. The next photo shows a peek at the storage.
To access the storage, the homeowners just move the stools out of the way. “Cabinetry on the back side of the island is a great place to stash the holiday platters and Crock-Pots when you don’t need them,” designer Judith Balis says.
You might also want to consider including cabinets, drawers or shelves at the ends of the island.
You might also want to consider including cabinets, drawers or shelves at the ends of the island.
3. Outlets
Building code requires at least one outlet for an island, and more depending on the size of the island. So you’ll want to discuss the best spot for your clients’ outlet or outlets.
That way homeowners can plug in a blender or mixer right on the prep surface, or use the outlets to charge phones and other devices.
An outlet on the back side of an island, like the one in this Cleveland kitchen by H&H Custom Homes, lets kids charge a laptop while doing homework.
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Building code requires at least one outlet for an island, and more depending on the size of the island. So you’ll want to discuss the best spot for your clients’ outlet or outlets.
That way homeowners can plug in a blender or mixer right on the prep surface, or use the outlets to charge phones and other devices.
An outlet on the back side of an island, like the one in this Cleveland kitchen by H&H Custom Homes, lets kids charge a laptop while doing homework.
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An outlet on the side is another option, as in this Chicago kitchen by Vertical Interior Design. Find out where your clients store their most-used gadgets, so they can take them out of a cabinet and plug them in right on the countertop.
You might also want to suggest an outlet in a drawer for charging devices so they’re not left out on the countertop.
You might also want to suggest an outlet in a drawer for charging devices so they’re not left out on the countertop.
Another thing to keep in mind is the outlet cover style. “A small detail that makes all the difference is having painted or matching wood outlet covers, as opposed to a bright white plastic cover against a dark painted or wood island,” Thompson says.
A good example is seen in this Tuscaloosa, Alabama, kitchen by Toulmin Kitchen & Bath.
A good example is seen in this Tuscaloosa, Alabama, kitchen by Toulmin Kitchen & Bath.
4. Secondary Fridge
Placing a beverage fridge or fridge drawer on an island can be a great way to let people grab a drink or snack without disrupting the main work triangle in your kitchen. A good spot is at or near the island end that’s farthest away from the main action, as in this New York kitchen by Thyme & Place Design.
Placing a beverage fridge or fridge drawer on an island can be a great way to let people grab a drink or snack without disrupting the main work triangle in your kitchen. A good spot is at or near the island end that’s farthest away from the main action, as in this New York kitchen by Thyme & Place Design.
In this Miami kitchen by Dreamstar Custom Homes, a beverage fridge on the outer side of the island lets family members and guests grab drinks without getting in the way in the main traffic area. During parties, the countertop above can serve as a drink-making station while still leaving plenty of work surface on the other side of the island for the cook.
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5. Microwave
A microwave in the island serves a similar purpose as the beverage fridge, allowing kids and other family members to heat up coffee or a snack without getting in the way. If your clients use their island as the main prep area, having a microwave close by can minimize trips back and forth. Plus, tucking the microwave into the island gets it off the countertop, freeing up more work surface, and limits the visual clutter more than if it were, say, above a range. “It’s a feature that all of our clients love,” Stephanie Lindsey of Etch Design Group says.
In this Boston kitchen by J.P. Hoffman Design Build, the microwave drawer’s placement at the outer end of the island lets people use the appliance without entering the main area of the kitchen.
A microwave in the island serves a similar purpose as the beverage fridge, allowing kids and other family members to heat up coffee or a snack without getting in the way. If your clients use their island as the main prep area, having a microwave close by can minimize trips back and forth. Plus, tucking the microwave into the island gets it off the countertop, freeing up more work surface, and limits the visual clutter more than if it were, say, above a range. “It’s a feature that all of our clients love,” Stephanie Lindsey of Etch Design Group says.
In this Boston kitchen by J.P. Hoffman Design Build, the microwave drawer’s placement at the outer end of the island lets people use the appliance without entering the main area of the kitchen.
6. Durable Countertop Material
The right countertop material is key to a high-functioning island. An island typically becomes the main prep space, gathering area, homework center and more. So you want the surface to be as durable as possible.
Many design and remodeling pros swear by engineered quartz for its heat- and stain-resistant qualities. ProPacific Builders used quartz for the island in the San Diego kitchen seen here.
But quartz isn’t the only player in town. Designer Erica Bryen recommends Neolith, a sintered stone product. “It is one of my all-time favorite materials that can resemble Calacatta marble, any natural stones and slate,” she says. “It’s highly resilient and can be used outdoors too.”
The right countertop material is key to a high-functioning island. An island typically becomes the main prep space, gathering area, homework center and more. So you want the surface to be as durable as possible.
Many design and remodeling pros swear by engineered quartz for its heat- and stain-resistant qualities. ProPacific Builders used quartz for the island in the San Diego kitchen seen here.
But quartz isn’t the only player in town. Designer Erica Bryen recommends Neolith, a sintered stone product. “It is one of my all-time favorite materials that can resemble Calacatta marble, any natural stones and slate,” she says. “It’s highly resilient and can be used outdoors too.”
Designer Meghan De Maria of Moss Design likes Nano Glass, which she used for the island in her own kitchen, paired with a marble backsplash. “It’s great because it is virtually indestructible, and from a design perspective, its sleek, modern finish brings a nice balance to the natural marble,” she says.
Keep in mind that the larger an island countertop is, the harder it will be to clean. “I recommend making the island no larger than one [that a person] can comfortably lean across to wipe it clean,” designer Carrie Hayward says.
Where to Find Your Next Client
Keep in mind that the larger an island countertop is, the harder it will be to clean. “I recommend making the island no larger than one [that a person] can comfortably lean across to wipe it clean,” designer Carrie Hayward says.
Where to Find Your Next Client
7. Prep Sink
If your clients don’t want their main sink in the island, consider suggesting a prep sink instead. “It allows two people to prep and cook comfortably,” designer Jamie Roddy of Eden LA Furniture and Interiors says. If they use their island surface as their main prep area, it means they can rinse items right next to where they’re working, rather than rinsing items in the main sink and dripping water on the floor as they transfer them to the island.
One suggestion is to position the prep sink off to one edge of the countertop, preferably near the refrigerator so they can quickly transfer vegetables and other foods right to the basin to rinse. Plus, placing it off to the side keeps a large work surface free on the island that they can use for chopping or as buffet space when entertaining.
The prep sink in the Boston kitchen seen here, by Almar Building and Remodeling, is a good example of how placement at the end of the island looks.
If your clients don’t want their main sink in the island, consider suggesting a prep sink instead. “It allows two people to prep and cook comfortably,” designer Jamie Roddy of Eden LA Furniture and Interiors says. If they use their island surface as their main prep area, it means they can rinse items right next to where they’re working, rather than rinsing items in the main sink and dripping water on the floor as they transfer them to the island.
One suggestion is to position the prep sink off to one edge of the countertop, preferably near the refrigerator so they can quickly transfer vegetables and other foods right to the basin to rinse. Plus, placing it off to the side keeps a large work surface free on the island that they can use for chopping or as buffet space when entertaining.
The prep sink in the Boston kitchen seen here, by Almar Building and Remodeling, is a good example of how placement at the end of the island looks.
8. Pullout Trash and Recycling
The island is likely to become your clients’ main work surface. And that makes it a good spot for a pullout trash-and-recycling center, like the one designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn designed for the suburban New York kitchen seen here. This placement allows the homeowners to wipe food scraps and crumbs right off the surface into a bin.
The island is likely to become your clients’ main work surface. And that makes it a good spot for a pullout trash-and-recycling center, like the one designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn designed for the suburban New York kitchen seen here. This placement allows the homeowners to wipe food scraps and crumbs right off the surface into a bin.
9. Targeted Lighting
Of course, you can’t have an adequate work surface without proper lighting. Pros take a layered approach. “Great overhead lighting is essential for both tasks and aesthetics,” designer Kimball Starr says. “A combination of accurately placed recessed lighting, undercabinet lighting and decorative pendants makes for a space people won’t want to leave.”
H&H Custom Homes directed several light sources toward the island in this Bucyrus, Ohio, kitchen.
Of course, you can’t have an adequate work surface without proper lighting. Pros take a layered approach. “Great overhead lighting is essential for both tasks and aesthetics,” designer Kimball Starr says. “A combination of accurately placed recessed lighting, undercabinet lighting and decorative pendants makes for a space people won’t want to leave.”
H&H Custom Homes directed several light sources toward the island in this Bucyrus, Ohio, kitchen.
Sometimes island pendants can obstruct sightlines and views through a kitchen. For the Baltimore kitchen seen here, designer Gabriela Matuchova skipped pendants in favor of strategically placed recessed lights in the ceiling that bring task lighting right to the work surface.
10. Something Special
Don’t forget about style and flair when it comes to the island. Architect and interior designer Robin McCarthy of Arch Studio suggests that homeowners add a personal touch, “whether it be a shelf for cookbooks or a special drawer for gadgets, a special color or finish, or a wine rack. Kitchen islands are one of the single most requested features for a home by our clients, and we want it to be both functional and fun.”
Many designers recommend adding furniture-style legs or other details to the island to give it a special look. “We’ll add custom leg detailing, or special details on the side panels or underside of the island overhang,” designer Mindy Gayer says.
Designer Megan McKeown of M.S. Design Studio agrees with this approach. “I love it when kitchen islands are designed to look like a freestanding piece of furniture,” she says. “You can get so creative with this type of design. This is a great spot to mix and match different materials to achieve a collected and balanced feel.”
Designer Shelley Morris mixed and matched in the New York kitchen shown here.
Another way to set an island apart is to use a different color or cabinet style. “A kitchen island is like adding icing on a cake,” Sindhu Peruri of Peruri Design says. “Add personality and flair here. Most likely, the footprint of most islands is small, so this is the best place to take a risk. I love making it look different than the rest of the kitchen, either in design, color, texture or in the materials that are used. My favorite is to introduce a different cabinetry style for the island. If the rest of the kitchen is modern and white, having an antiqued island is fun, or change up the cabinetry style into something really dramatic. This is the place to have fun.”
Don’t forget about style and flair when it comes to the island. Architect and interior designer Robin McCarthy of Arch Studio suggests that homeowners add a personal touch, “whether it be a shelf for cookbooks or a special drawer for gadgets, a special color or finish, or a wine rack. Kitchen islands are one of the single most requested features for a home by our clients, and we want it to be both functional and fun.”
Many designers recommend adding furniture-style legs or other details to the island to give it a special look. “We’ll add custom leg detailing, or special details on the side panels or underside of the island overhang,” designer Mindy Gayer says.
Designer Megan McKeown of M.S. Design Studio agrees with this approach. “I love it when kitchen islands are designed to look like a freestanding piece of furniture,” she says. “You can get so creative with this type of design. This is a great spot to mix and match different materials to achieve a collected and balanced feel.”
Designer Shelley Morris mixed and matched in the New York kitchen shown here.
Another way to set an island apart is to use a different color or cabinet style. “A kitchen island is like adding icing on a cake,” Sindhu Peruri of Peruri Design says. “Add personality and flair here. Most likely, the footprint of most islands is small, so this is the best place to take a risk. I love making it look different than the rest of the kitchen, either in design, color, texture or in the materials that are used. My favorite is to introduce a different cabinetry style for the island. If the rest of the kitchen is modern and white, having an antiqued island is fun, or change up the cabinetry style into something really dramatic. This is the place to have fun.”
Even small details can make an island stand out. Designer Thompson always recommends including an integrated cutting board in the island.
Designer Kelly Shepard did that in the Los Angeles kitchen shown here. Check out the two cutting boards tucked away in a vertical slot at the end of the island.
Or if your clients want to pamper themselves and their guests, consider a heated island countertop. “If there’s seating at the island, I often recommend a heated pad under the countertop where people sit,” designer Sarah Armstrong of Studio360 says. “Sometimes tops can be very cold and therefore uninviting to sit or eat at. By adding an integral heated electric panel, controlled by a thermostat, it takes the chill out of an often cold and shocking surface when you sit at it.”
Designer Kelly Shepard did that in the Los Angeles kitchen shown here. Check out the two cutting boards tucked away in a vertical slot at the end of the island.
Or if your clients want to pamper themselves and their guests, consider a heated island countertop. “If there’s seating at the island, I often recommend a heated pad under the countertop where people sit,” designer Sarah Armstrong of Studio360 says. “Sometimes tops can be very cold and therefore uninviting to sit or eat at. By adding an integral heated electric panel, controlled by a thermostat, it takes the chill out of an often cold and shocking surface when you sit at it.”
And don’t pamper just the humans with the design. The end of an island is a great spot for a dedicated pet feeding station, like the one shown here in a Denver kitchen by Studio Dearborn.
“I often recommend a dog bowl water filler and food [storage] built into a kitchen island,” designer Ray Langhammer says. “Why? I love dogs, and any homeowner that is a dog or animal owner loves this feature. It’s a designated area for your animal that is out of the way and doesn’t get kicked by guests.”
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“I often recommend a dog bowl water filler and food [storage] built into a kitchen island,” designer Ray Langhammer says. “Why? I love dogs, and any homeowner that is a dog or animal owner loves this feature. It’s a designated area for your animal that is out of the way and doesn’t get kicked by guests.”
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The most recommended feature by far for a kitchen island is seating. “If possible, we encourage seating at least at a portion of the Island,” architect Michael Klement of Architectural Resource says. “Given our kitchencentric lifestyle, whether our clients like it or not, the island will end up becoming the gathering point.”
There are a lot of ways to approach island seating. If the seating will be used mostly for doing homework or having a quick snack, you might want all the seats facing the same way. If your clients like being able to look at the person next to them, you might want to suggest seating on two sides of the island, as in the Providence, Rhode Island, kitchen by JKB Kitchen & Bath seen here.
You’ll want at least 24 inches of space between each seat for people to feel comfortable.
With the new Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner features, pros can create detailed 2D floor plans and 3D models that include kitchen cabinetry, appliances, sinks, faucets and more. Pros can show, for example, how a new island, cabinet style or countertop material would look in the space, enabling homeowners to more easily imagine the finished design.