When it comes to kitchen design, most of the hassle (and fun) can be focused on statement elements like cabinet colors, backsplashes, and lighting. Kitchen islands, on the other hand, can often fall into the boring, functional category. As pragmatic as a kitchen island can be, it is an important secondary character amidst the daily rhythm of life, as Australian designer Tamsin Johnson points out. “The islands really act as a family anchor in the home,” she shares. “They seem to magnetize the congregation, so they almost create a kind of sanctuary. In this way, they are not only a practical object, but they also become a crossbeam in the family’s architecture.”
Such importance naturally requires good design. In fact, Johnson’s own kitchen island—a cantilevered stone monolith that could have been plucked straight out of OMA’s model store—was featured back and forth in our April 2022 issue.
So what is it to steal kitchen islands? “They need to look solid and permanent, like they were always there and not an afterthought,” says Johnson. “Stone really gives them gravitas, but every kitchen will be different.” And even if you’re on a tight budget, there are still wallet-friendly ways to create a unique kitchen island. Johnson, for his part, suggests using a substantial antique table instead of something generic and off the shelf.
