There are many reasons why adding a kitchen island to your space is a great idea. They can add extra functionality and storage to the whole of your space, as well as creating a divider between the different areas in an open-plan.
Large kitchens are made for an island, turning them into a great social space. Some kitchens, unfortunately, do not have the space for them.
We have designed many islands across our handmade kitchens from ones that are mobile to ones that are a solid fixed seating area.
- The island can be used to entertain guests, serve drinks, or let them watch you prepare the food and start a conversation.
- Prepare food on a kitchen island. You can feature cooktops and sinks into the design to add functionality to the whole of the kitchen. More worktop space allows you to comfortably prepare food with room to manoeuvre and by having your utensils within easy reach.
- They can act a divider, providing a boundary between the cooking zone and living/dining area.
- Great for the children to do their homework, or help prepare dinner. The children can feel part of the action and also be in close eye view.
- Extra seating for the family at mealtimes
Many of us dream for a statement island, whether they are long and slim running parallel to the work area, or neat and round to fit in a smaller space.
At the Handmade Kitchen Company, we can design and build any shape and sized island to suit your space and requirements. Take a look below at the many different ones we have designed into our client’s spaces.
Handleless Traditional Shaker – London
When speaking with our client and going through the design process their was no compromise in where the table would be situated. With a careful design to not ruin the look of the fludity to the outdoor views we created an island with banquette seating that flowed from the show-stopping table by Timonthy Oulton.
Classic In-Frame Shaker – Little Canfield
The kitchen’s main feature is the big L-shaped island which is hand-painted in F&B’s Down Pipe, creating an extremely effective piece of furniture that looks impressive in this space. It’s met with a Bianco Eclipsia quartz worktop and simple pendants suspended above to illuminate the area. The island acts as the main piece of furniture in this hub of the home… a seating area, a cooking area, a wine chilling area and a storing area.
Classic Shaker – Brentwood
A beauty of a kitchen filled with luxurious features and an island that is as multi-functional as can be.
Modern Shaker – Standon
This is a first for us and we are sure it won’t be our last but for this impressive traditional art home in Hertfordshire, we designed and built two islands for the space each with different purposes.
Island 1 – This first island closest to the outdoors is formed as the cooking area. A Miele induction hob in a sleek black finish with onset controls and 4 PowerFlex cooking areas sits on top, with many storage drawers and cupboards below.
Island 2 – The second island that is closest to the front of the house has been designed and built for prepping. Big chunky legs, a bottom full of wooden slats and convenient storage drawers on either side is what makes this island ready to cook that delicious meal.
Classic Shaker – Stock, Essex
The island in this kitchen seats 6 guests! Ratten style bar stools flow elegantly around the overhang, where nibbles can be tasted and drinks can be sipped on a perfect evening with friends and family. Such an impressive sized space to work with so we had to design in a generous kitchen island!
Traditional Shaker – Saltby
A beautiful transformation for this home with a bespoke handmade kitchen and a large central island offering the homeowners a seating area, additional storage and a large worksurface. The design of the corner seating makes it more social where guests can spark up a conversation with the cook.
Classic Shaker – Hutton
The island in this kitchen is truly unique. It features our popular classic shaker style and a sawn oak breakfast bar/dining table with hidden storage below. It has also been the perfect place to house the Wolf Induction Hob and Downdraft Extractor, working as one of the points of the ‘kitchen triangle’.
Classic Shaker – Potters Bar
The kitchen in this property was designed with Ginger and Mylo, an interior designer. We had a large blank canvas to work with and the island was a great choice to provide a divider to the other areas of the open-plan space. It includes plenty of storage solutions, a sink area, a bespoke pedestal table and a place for the hob.
Classic Shaker – Golders Green, Barnet
As you can see a high attention to detail and a luxurious look was provided in this kitchen space to flow beautifully through to the living space. The island provides our client with extra storage, worktop space and an additional sink area completed with Perrin & Rowe taps.
Traditional Shaker – Winchmore Hill
The island was designed to provide a statement piece in this hub of the home. It has been hand-painted in a darker colour to bring all the design aesthetics together. It provides a space for the sink, a seating area and lots of worktop and storage area. It also features our bespoke chopping boards that are made to fit.
Traditional Shaker – Cuffley
A single galley kitchen sits in this property with an island to add an extra run. A beautiful gas hob sits centrally, with bar stools the other side giving this hub of the home extra seating. It’s the perfect place for guests to start up a conversation while sipping on a fruity cocktail.
Traditional Shaker – Potters Bar
This room was the perfect size to add an elegant island in the middle with a chandelier suspended above! Our client opted for a two-tone colour scheme, so the island provided the room with a bold statement. The sink area was added to the island with enough space for prepping food and a comfy seating area.
Modern Shaker – Chigwell
This moveable kitchen island we designed for our client in Chigwell offers more floor space and a section of the kitchen to prepare on. Once finished with it can be rolled back underneath the kitchen cabinets out of the way. This practical work surface can be positioned wherever our client wants within their space.
Modern Shaker – Peterborough
A large island sits in the middle of this open-plan space, finished with a solid wood top and our modern shaker furniture. The main purpose of this island was to add extra functionality to the room with more storage and worktop space and a striking statement. There was even enough room for a prep sink!
Modern Shaker – London SW12
This large extension provides a multi-functional room for all the family, including the kitchen, dining room, garden room, playroom and office. The grand island sits centrally dividing the space and adding a place for the kitchen sink and an area to entertain. It has been hand-painted in a darker hue to catch the eye of all guests who enter.
Originally written in May 2020 and updated in Nov 22.
