As far as kitchen design goes, most of the fuss (and fun) can center on statement-making elements like cabinet colors, backsplashes, and lighting. Kitchen islands, on the other hand, can often get lumped into the boring, functional category. As pragmatic as a kitchen island may be, it’s an essential supporting character amid life’s daily rhythm, as Australian designer Tamsin Johnson points out. “Islands really serve as a family anchor in the home,” she shares. “They seem to magnetize congregation, so they almost create a sort of refuge. In this way they are not just a practical object, but they also become a crossbeam in the family architecture.”
Such importance naturally commands good design. In fact Johnson’s own kitchen island—a cantilevered stone monolith that could have been plucked straight out of OMA’s model shop—was featured front-and-center in our April 2022 issue.
So what makes for scene-stealing kitchen islands? “They need to look solid and permanent, like they were always there and not like an afterthought,” Johnson says. “Stone certainly gives them gravitas, but each kitchen will be different.” And even if you have a slim budget, there are still wallet-friendly ways to create a unique kitchen island. Johnson, for her part, suggests using a hefty antique table instead of something generic and off the shelf.
For more inspiration, peruse the 60 kitchen ideas below to discover how you might begin crafting an island of your own. Go ahead: Get stranded.
1
Bold and Beautiful
We can’t take our eyes off of this stunning kitchen island in a Chicago home designed by Summer Thornton. Rather than settling for a workaday Carrara slab, she selected stone with swirls of violet and green. Pro tip: Want to bring color to your kitchen? Style your island with heaps of vibrant (and long-lasting) produce such as artichokes, citrus, and mini melons.
2
Modern Lovers
If you have the opportunity (not to mention the budget!) why not make your kitchen island a work of architecture? The designers at Home Studios were inspired by the work of Finnish modernist Alvar Aalto while creating this Brooklyn kitchen and dreamed up a custom island featuring ridged white edges and a Paonazzo marble top that nods to his buildings.
3
Sleek Waterfall
Waterfall countertops are a classic. We dig how this kitchen island, in the upstate New York home of Perifio designers Matt Bidgoli and Raphael Portet creates a frame around cabinets painted in a pleasing evergreen shade.
4
Cottage Chic
Everything about this charming Minnesota lake house, designed by interior designer Anne McDonald with Plaad architects, was crafted to evoke the client’s Scandinavian heritage—without going over the top. This sweet custom kitchen island features Scandi-chic turned legs, a detail that cleverly nods to the home’s exterior columns.
5
Salvage Beauty
“Reclaim” was the name of the game in this London townhouse designed by local firm Retrouvius. That philosophy extended to the upcycled kitchen island, which began life as a pair of mirrored museum cabinets. It’s topped with a slab of iroko, an African hardwood that Retrouvius salvages from government buildings.
6
Primary Rules
Forget white: In this happy Bay Area kitchen, designer Jessica Davis played with punchy primary colors. She painted the island in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue and topped it with a huge walnut slab.
7
Color Blocked
If you can’t afford to replace your kitchen island, then work with what you’ve got! In this ultratrendy mother-daughter home in West Vancouver, Canada, PlaidFox worked with the existing island but remixed it with a fresh coat of teal paint, funky lighting, and plush seating.
8
Minty Fresh
With a home just blocks from the beach, designer Caroline Rafferty made sure her Palm Beach home channelled all the good vibes of the tropical climate. In the kitchen, that meant complementing minty kitchen cabinets with a cream-colored island slab and honey-colored walnut cabinets below. Mother Nature knows best, after all!
9
Allover Marble
We are staunch proponents of an allover pattern look, and the kitchen is no exception. In this art-filled San Francisco mansion, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Nicole Hollis clad the custom island, counters, and shelves in the same raspberry ripple-colored stone.
10
Old-World Glam
Pass the mustard! We’re obsessed with this custom yellow kitchen island (painted in Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow) in an 18th-century villa on the Spanish island (of course) of Menorca. The look gets further glam, old-world touches via the impressive marble backsplash and the gilt-bronze fringed chandelier, sourced from a palace in Madrid.
11
The Node Knows
Sure, kitchen islands combine form and function, but we’ve never seen one quite like the sprawling counter in Studio Piet Boon creative director Karin Meyn’s Amsterdam home. Here, the workspace branches off into a dining table for six guests, allowing for easygoing get-togethers.
12
Monolithic Marble
This Los Angeles bungalow renovation, designed by LAUN, is a study in volumes, from the green lacquered storage block to the sculptural pink stone island. Renovators take note: The latter’s swirling surface makes a chic alternative to its black-and-white cousins.
13
Terrazzo-Topped
The view is everything in this shou sugi ban house in Long Island. Therefore the interiors, designed by Joe Nahem, looked to nature wherever possible. For the custom kitchen island, speckled black countertops add some artful intrigue, while the blue cabinetry picks up the hue of the pool just outside.
14
Patinated Brass Island
This look, also in a Long Island home, is bound to please all of the minimalists out there: Designer Poonam Khanna kept the rest of the kitchen relatively muted with pale timber cabinetry and floors, but she clad the island in patinated brass for visual interest. The finish will wear over time, smudged with the family’s fingerprints. In fact, Khanna has instructed the residents not to polish it, as an ode to family life.
15
Sculptural Island
This sculptural kitchen island, in the Sydney home of Aussie designer Tamsin Johnson, ranks among the best we’ve ever seen. The bespoke creation, carved from a piece of gray Bianco Gioia stone, is equal parts work of art and family gathering spot.
16
Rustic yet Refined
This rustic kitchen, in a Sonoma, California, home designed by Ken Fulk, conjures the country simplicity of the surrounding vineyard estate. The weighty central island was a custom design made from dark timber and topped with a curve-edged slab of marble. Brutalist bar stools by Swedish designer Carl Malmsten complete the look.
17
Lacquered Looker
Oliver M. Furth infused this Beverly Hills home with Hollywood glamour aplenty. The kitchen was no exception with its larger-than-life kitchen island coated in a sexy, high-gloss coat of Benjamin Moore’s Black Satin.
18
All that Brass
Who said love of the material was ever a bad thing? Here, in a Milan apartment designed by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Hannes Peer, the island got a Midas touch with shiny brass cladding. To give it edge (literally and figuratively), Peer wrapped it in white-veined black marble.
19
Pepper Granite
A Melbourne, Australia, home makes the most of an open-concept space with a streamlined island crafted of pepper granite.
20
Walnut Veneer Island
Designers Kelli Wilde and Laurent Champeau gave this 19th-century Paris apartment a modern face-lift with a walnut-paneled kitchen, including a custom walnut-veneer kitchen island.
21
Curved Island
In a sprawling TriBeCa apartment, interior designer Richard Mishaan brings the drama with a custom island by Herzog & de Meuron, which features a rounded, black lacquer base.
22
Tile and Marble
Architect Carmel Greer brings the drama to her Washington, D.C. kitchen, with a navy central island clad in black tile and topped with black marble.
23
Butcher Block Island
Architect Elizabeth Roberts fashioned a spacious Brooklyn kitchen with an island covered in a custom oak Tri-Lox butcher block, creating the perfect place for meals to be made and enjoyed.
25
Vintage Table Island
A vintage French artist's table serves as the kitchen island in this breezy Hamptons summer house, bridging the gap between the modern appliances and cozy cottage feel.
26
Gray Marble Kitchen Island
A black and white kitchen in a contemporary Los Angeles home designed by Georgia Tapert Howe is complete with a gray marble island, a refrigerator by Sub-Zero, a range by Wolf, and a Rohl farmhouse sink with fittings by Waterworks. The stools are from Design Within Reach, the counters are in a gray marble, the Roman shades are of a C & C Milano sheer, and the pendants are by RH, Restoration Hardware.
27
Stainless Steel Kitchen Island
In the kitchen of a stunning Alex Papachristidis-designed Manhattan apartment, the custom island is topped with brushed stainless steel. The range is by Wolf, the Saarinen table and chairs are from Knoll, and the Dandelion chandeliers by Tony Duquette are from Remains Lighting; the Roman shade is of a China Seas fabric with velvet trim from Duralee, and the floor tiles are by Paris Ceramics.
28
Sleek, White Marble Kitchen Island
A white marble island adds contrast to a New York condo kitchen that's outfitted with black marble, black stools and cabinets.
29
Steel and Walnut Kitchen Island
In this Long Island beach house kitchen, the island is made of stainless steel and walnut, the sink is by Julien, the fittings are by Dornbracht, and the stool is by BDDW. Both the refrigerator and range are by Thermador, and the cabinetry is lacquered in a Ralph Lauren paint.
30
Double Kitchen Islands
Double marble and Caesarstone-clad islands, which complement pendants by Thomas O'Brien for Visual Comfort, are the highlight of an airy kitchen in Orem, Utah, family home designed by Alice Lane Home Collection.
31
Classic Kitchen Island
Along with a marble and grey island, the kitchen of a Washington, Connecticut, farmhouse includes stools by York Street Studio, a Wolf range, Waterworks sink fittings, and walls painted in Benjamin Moore's White Dove.
32
Salvaged Marble Kitchen Island
In a Sonoma Valley lake house designed by Ken Fulk, the salvaged marble counters are from Exquisite Surfaces, the kitchen range is by La Cornue, the pendants and sconce are by the Urban Electric Co., and the stools are from Sonoma Country Antiques.
33
Wood and Grey Kitchen Island
In a London townhouse, a wood island with grey cabinets adds character to the kitchen. The cabinetry by Plain English is painted in Pure Grey 6 by Papers and Paints, the 1955 pendant lights are by Serge Mouille, the wall tiles are by Neisha Crosland, and the floor is made of three varieties of limestone.
34
Subdued Grey Kitchen Island
In an English country estate, a marble-topped island by Plain English adds character to the kitchen. The space is open to the living area, which includes a Victorian mahogany table, curtains of a Bennison Fabrics stripe, and walls painted in Tablecloth by Paint & Paper Library; the 2015 artwork above the mantel is by Fred Ingrams.
35
All-White Kitchen Island
The sleek all-white kitchen in a Boston apartment designed by Erin Gates includes a white marble island and wire counter stools by Rove Concepts.
36
Majestic Blue Kitchen Island
The kitchen of Bobby Flay's Hamptons home features custom-made cabinets and an island painted in Benjamin Moore's Majestic Blue. The brass pendants are by Thomas O'Brien for Visual Comfort, and the French bistro chairs are by Beaufurn.
37
Blond Wood Kitchen Island
In hairstylist John Barrett's downtown New York apartment, blond wood and black granite are sleek and sophisticated, without being cold—especially when paired with a vintage French steel chair.
38
Bold Kitchen Island
This island may be big and bold, but it fits perfectly into this white-and-gray kitchen, designed by Chris Barrett.
39
Gray And White Kitchen Island
This stunning 1920s Hollywood home belongs to actors Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, and the gray-topped white island—featuring cabinet supports inspired by hand-turned spindles spotted in an old bakery—meshes perfectly with the red-tiled floor.
40
Rustic Kitchen Island
In Kit and Tim Kemp's 1920s London townhouse, a squat rustic island sits underneath a Kevin Reilly for Holly Hunt light fixture.
41
Custom-Made Kitchen Island
In this California home, we adore this custom-made, marble-topped island, paired with hyper-modern chairs and topped by antique Belgian light fixtures.
42
Oak Kitchen Island
This Kelly Wearstler-designed home in Mercer Island, Washington, combines a brass island with cerused oak cabinetry and marble countertops.
43
Hague Blue Kitchen Island
In this Hollywood Hills home, the kitchen features vintage pendants from Obsolete and BassamFellows stools from Design Within Reach. The island and cabinets are painted in Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue.
44
Swedish Table Hague Blue Kitchen Island
The kitchen at Emma Jane Pilkington's Connecticut home features a Diva de Provence range and antique wood floors from Baba. The circa-1700 Swedish table serves as the central island.
45
Crisp White Kitchen Island
In this Hamptons kitchen, the crisp white kitchen cabinetry and matching island are custom made, the stools are by BassamFellows, and the pendant lights are by Louis Poulsen.
46
Modern Kitchen Island
Pendants from a Czechoslovakian factory and 1940s stools by Warren McArthur accent the island in this NYC kitchen; the oven is by Wolf, the floor is lined with Corten steel tiles and the staircase is suspended from cable supports.
47
Caesarstone Kitchen Island
The kitchen island and counters in this New York penthouse are topped with a Caesarstone surface, the Bertoia barstools are by Knoll and the 1950s pendants are Italian.
48
Cast-Iron Kitchen Island
In the kitchen of this London home, the island is made from a 19th-century cast-iron stove and topped with Carrara marble; the pendant light is early-20th-century French, and the walls are lined with 19th- century Portuguese tiles.
49
Icy Blue Kitchen Island
The cabinets and island in this Beverly Hills cottage are painted a pale icy blue. Circa-1935 pendant lights and a Wolf range round out the space.
50
Marble and Oak Kitchen Island
A 1912 Dutch Colonial home in Philadelphia is an ode to French country chic. The marble-and-oak island is a replica of one at La Mirande hotel in Avignon, and the vintage grape-collecting basket is from the Champagne valley.
51
Sophisticated Kitchen Island
In this railway depot turned home in upstate New York, the cabinetry and marble-top kitchen island are custom made, the nickel display case is 19th century and the pendants are by Urban Archaeology.
52
Wine Refrigerator Kitchen Island
Fashion magnate Robert Duffy's kitchen in his Hudson Valley estate features a chic wine refrigerator and vent hood by GE Monogram. The Regency-style mahogany dining chairs are from the 1940s, and the collection of copper cookware includes antique and vintage pieces.
53
Modern Caesarstone Kitchen Island
This modern Mexican home's kitchen cabinetry, vent hood and table are by Boffi, and the island's countertop is Caesarstone. The sink fittings are by Dornbracht, the range is by Wolf and the ovens are by Miele.
54
Stainless Steel And Walnut Kitchen Island
The kitchen island in this modern bachelor-pad-turned-family home is made of stainless steel and walnut. The sink is by Julien, the fittings are by Dornbracht and the stool is by BDDW. The refrigerator and range are by Thermador and the cabinetry is lacquered in a Ralph Lauren paint.
55
Honed Carrara Marble Kitchen Island
In the kitchen of a midcentury weekend house in Connecticut, the island has a top of honed Carrara marble. The wall tiles are by Waterworks, the stove is Viking and the stools are by York Street Studio. The 19th-century Windsor chair is a family heirloom, and the 1920s English pendants are from BK Antiques.
56
Dark Wood Kitchen Island
This kitchen in a home designed by Celerie Kemble is anchored by a dark wood island. The kitchen chairs are by Palecek, the pot rack is by Urban Archaeology, the vintage tole chandelier is from Etsy and the floors are oak.
57
White Ash Kitchen Island
58
Lush Green Kitchen Island
The kitchen in a Houston home designed by J. Randall Powers has an island and cabinets painted in a lush, grounding green. The sink fittings are by Rohl, the range is by Wolf, the refrigerator is by Sub-Zero, the wall tiles are by Walker Zanger and the stools are by Mecox.
59
Cool Blue Kitchen Island
A serene home in Pacific Palisades flaunts a cool blue kitchen island. The 1920s pendant lights came from Thanks for the Memories, and the barstools are from Organic Modernism.
60
Quartzite Kitchen Island
A sultry home in Lake Tahoe, California has a kitchen island of quartzite and cabinetry by Bulthaup, an oven by Miele, a stove and hood by Gaggenau and a sink by Blanco with Dornbracht fittings. The custom-made stools are covered in an Edelman leather.
Anna Fixsen
Deputy Digital Editor
Anna Fixsen, Deputy Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, focuses on how to share the best of the design world through in-depth reportage and online storytelling.
