At the intersection of cooking, dining, and socializing, kitchen islands are now the heart of many modern homes. Of course, not all kitchen islands are created equal. A custom-designed island can transform your kitchen into a space that is both beautiful and bespoke—catering to your unique needs and preferences. Which features will optimize your kitchen? Read on for our top seven kitchen island elements and all the reasons why investing in a custom design makes perfect sense!
Why Should I Invest in a Custom Kitchen Island?
Whether you’re the head chef in your home, the self-proclaimed sommelier, the dishwasher who enjoys company while cleaning, or the parent who loves to gather her family for breakfast, a custom island will support the unique ways in which you use your kitchen. Maybe you need more counter space, additional storage, or specialized features like a built-in wine rack or prep sink. No matter your needs, custom kitchen islands optimize every space. If you’re still not convinced, read on for all the reasons why we encourage clients to consider a custom island.
Personalized Design and Added Durability
Working with a design team to create your ideal kitchen island ensures it fits your specific cooking habits, storage needs, and lifestyle. Bespoke islands are often made with higher-quality materials and craftsmanship compared to standard, mass-produced options. From selecting the most durable countertop material to optimizing its construction, the end result is a more durable and attractive piece you’ll love for years to come.
Plus, with the help of professional designers and experienced craftspeople, your island can be tailored to fit the exact dimensions of your kitchen. Who doesn’t want to optimize their kitchen layout?
Excellent ROI and Boosted Resale Value
A well-designed kitchen island can significantly enhance the usability and aesthetic of your kitchen, which is often a primary selling point for potential buyers. This can increase the overall value of your home. However, an inexpensive, ready-made kitchen island might not do the trick.
Quoting real estate flipper Donald Olhausen in an article for Better Homes & Gardens, Mia Taylor writes that “‘You can certainly find prefabricated kitchen islands at big box stores, but I do not recommend this as they do not add any value, are difficult to match to the house, and will probably look out of place.'” A bespoke island not only boosts your enjoyment of your home while you live there, but it also sets your house apart from others once you list it on the market. Make your kitchen island stand out!
Improved Functionality and Efficiency
Of course, few homeowners invest in a custom built island solely for the resale value and aesthetic upgrade. Many are looking for optimized workflow while entertaining, meal prepping, or simply getting out the door each morning.
With dozens of kitchen island ideas, years of experience, and your preferences in mind, an interior designer will create the perfect piece for all your holiday and everyday needs. They can also incorporate appliances like a microwave, dishwasher, cooktop, wine fridge, or even a dog feeding station to help free up surrounding countertops and streamline your cooking experience.
A Surprising Amount of Additional Storage Space and Seating
Who wouldn’t love more storage space and seating in their kitchen? Customizing your island allows for a wide variety of storage solutions—think deep drawers, pull-out shelves, appliance lifts, and built-in cabinets.
This might seem counterintuitive, but custom islands often make the most sense for small spaces that lack additional storage, seating, and surfaces. By adding seating to your kitchen island—think bar stools or dining chairs—you extend your living space for dining, entertaining, or even doing homework. If your kitchen simply is not large enough for a dining table, a multifunctional kitchen island can make a world of difference.
An Optimized Cooking and Hosting Experience
A customized island can also turn your kitchen into a much more social space. Suddenly, there’s space for your guests, partner, or children to gather while you cook. If you love to cook with family and friends, a custom island can provide a dedicated area for meal prep that is separate from other kitchen activities so you can cook together without bumping into anyone else.
Seven Kitchen Island Features to Make Cooking and Entertaining More Seamless
Now that you know why, let’s talk about how to optimize your kitchen island. Below are seven kitchen island elements that instantly upgrade any hosting space. From counter stools to storage that frees up cooking space, let’s get into it!
#1 Kitchen Island Seating
Kitchen island seating helps transform your prep surface into a breakfast bar, desk, or cocktail table. Once a purely functional cooking area, your kitchen is suddenly a dynamic, multi-purpose space in which everyone loves to gather. In the morning, you create a welcoming spot for casual dining or a quick cup of coffee. After school, your family can send those end-of-day emails or start on their homework. In the evening and on weekends, friends can gather for drinks and appetizers.
#2 Charging Stations and Pop-Up Outlets
No kitchen island is complete without charging stations and pop-up outlets. Charging stations provide a dedicated spot for powering up smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices. Pop-up outlets offer additional power sources that can be easily accessed when needed and hidden away when not in use.
These features are particularly useful for following online recipes, streaming cooking videos, or staying in touch with work and family. Plus, you’ll be able to plug in any small appliance needed for your meal—whether it’s an immersion blender or a sous vide station.
#3 A Second Prep Sink with a Touchless Faucet
A kitchen certainly doesn’t have to look stark white and clinical to be hygenic. Integrating a second prep sink with a touchless faucet into your kitchen island boosts both the convenience and cleanliness of your cooking space. The touchless faucet lets you turn the water on and off with a simple wave of your hand, which minimizes contact and reduces the spread of germs and bacteria. A secondary sink in addition to your main sink also allows friends and family to help with food prep.
#4 Custom-Designed Storage
Whether your kitchen is expansive or kind of cramped, there is no substitute for custom-designed storage. Incorporating custom-designed storage solutions into your kitchen island ensures everything you need is within reach while providing sufficient space for working.
Pull-out shelves offer easy access to pots, pans, and small appliances without having to rummage through cluttered cabinets or walk to your butler’s pantry. Whether she opts for a lift-up mixer stand or a tiered lazy Susan, an interior designer will ensure these shelves are customized for family members with varying degrees of mobility.
Beyond shelving, we suggest adding custom spice racks, slots for cutting boards, and more. Integrating hidden trash, composting, and recycling bins seamlessly into the cabinet’s millwork maintains a tidy kitchen by keeping waste out of sight while remaining easily accessible.
#5 Integrated Appliances
Every chef has his or her preferred tools of the trade. For a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing kitchen, consider integrating appliances into the fixture itself. A designer can create space for any appliance you need: warming drawers to keep dishes at the perfect temperature, a built-in grill or griddle for versatile cooking options, a sous vide station for precise, restaurant-quality meal prep. Perhaps you prefer a compact steam oven for healthy meals or a built-in pasta maker for fresh, Tuscan-inspired pappardelle.
For beverages, a champagne or wine chiller and a built-in wine refrigerator ensure your drinks are always served at their ideal temperatures. An induction cooktop provides a sleek, efficient cooking surface with minimal emissions, and a dishwasher drawer offers added convenience. There’s no need to limit yourself to just one!
#6 A Pet-Feeding Station
Our furry friends are family, and updating your kitchen to meet their needs just makes sense. Consider adding a pet-feeding station with a stand for ergonomic eating and a faucet that easily fills your dog’s water bowl.
#7 A Retractable Range Hood
Last but not least, improve your home’s indoor air quality without sacrificing ceiling space or visibility by adding a retractable range hood above the island. When needed, the range hood can be extended to capture smoke, steam, and cooking odors. After you’re done, the hood can be retracted out of sight so that it blends seamlessly with the island’s design. Retractable hoods are ideal for open-concept kitchens that spill into a living or dining area.
Creating a Bespoke Kitchen Island with Laura U Design Collective
Whether custom millwork or added storage spaces draws you to a bespoke kitchen island, our team will help you create the ideal piece for your home. Reach out to our team with your questions or vision for an upcoming project.