Kitchen islands are the Swiss army knife of the kitchen - they can provide the tools you need to be the top chef in your own kitchen. I have designed dozens and dozens of kitchen islands and there are some design elements that make that space even more effective - check them out below!

A Prep Sink

A secondary sink is something you don’t know you need until you have it. And then it’s a powerhouse! This sink allows you to move food prep to a specific zone. Since it’s usually a deeper sink, it’s also a great place to fill pots and pans. And it allows you to keep preparation and clean up completely separated.

Task Lighting

Task lighting serves a very specific purpose - to shine light right where you need it when you’re working. I like to use pendants with strong bulbs for this purpose, or canned lights directly over the island. Be sure you’ve specified a lot of good light in this area!

Comfortable Seating

I love to have guests and family in the kitchen with me when I prepare meals! So it’s fantastic to have upholstered stools that are comfortable and inviting. These seats also give you a great informal place for meals, a spot of homework, or even Zoom calls!

Plenty of Power

You want to have as many outlets around the kitchen island as you can, particularly those that have USB ports. You’ll use these more than you think - especially for tech gadgets, charging your phone, small appliances, and so much more.

Use these ideas to create the most efficient and effective kitchen that you can.

Warmly,

Beth