The kitchen island is gaining prominence as the core gathering place for the home, and home designers offer the following tips for making the most of this design element.
Portland, Oregon-based architect and interior designer Risa Boyer Leritz explains that the island is a family hub where parents can make a meal while the kids do homework, and advises to make seating around the island at counter height to help keep the space feeling open. For custom spaces, “fabrication allows for complete control over layout, design, and functionality of an island,” San Francisco-based interior designer Brittany Haines tells Curbed.
Kitchen islands have been rising in popularity over the last decade and for good reason. If the space allows it, an island can be an effective way to add surface area and storage while creating a modern family room of sorts for daily living and entertaining. But an island isn’t exactly an one-size-fits-all solution. There are plenty of factors, not to mention alternatives, to consider when planning for a kitchen island.
