15 Style-Setting Kitchen Islands

An addition to this home made room for a second island and an eating area. The walkway between the islands is aligned with the refrigerator and freezer to make cold storage accessible. Matching light fixtures bring light to the island work areas.

Because the kitchen is open to the dining and living rooms, the homeowners chose a formal look that features painted cabinetry with inset drawers, beaded details, and glass knobs. At the far end, a built-in hutch holds dishware opposite the breakfast table.

Straight-line cabinets with hefty hardware look solid and promise longevity. On the island, a built-in oven and plenty of storage sit below a unique butcher-block top made of maple and walnut in a checkerboard pattern.

Furniture-like cabinetry and natural surfaces bring old-world style to functional design. A dramatic 14-foot-high copper hood rises over a professional cooktop on the kitchen's island. Maple cabinets were stained dark and fitted with antique-look hardware and pulls.

Unusual barn-plank cabinet doors offer a vintage, time-worn appearance to the kitchen. The functional island is newer and topped with practical butcher block.

To maximize function in this odd-shape kitchen, cabinetry starts at the widest point and runs down two opposing walls at angles. With a prep sink, a warming drawer, and storage, the 10-foot-long island narrows at the dining room end to maintain ample traffic paths.

Centered in the room, a large butcher-block-topped island easily seats a crowd and is well lit as well. Warm gold on the walls makes the room feel cozy.

The centerpiece of this kitchen is the 5-1/2-x-5-1/2-foot island which serves as the main food-prep area. Thanks to a generous 15-inch overhang on each side, the island can also seat up to eight guests for casual meals.

Open shelves at one end of this island are a handy place to keep cookbooks. Seating for four was arranged opposite the range with enough overhang so stools can be pushed underneath. The island is lit with three pendant lights overhead.

The hardworking island is 9 1/2 feet long and features a two-level speckled-granite countertop. The upper-level serving and eating bar is higher to accommodate bar stools, while the lower level includes the kitchen's main sink.

Redoing kitchen cabinetry can break a budget unless you rely on budget-friendly choices like pine. Attractive drawer pulls will dress up this utilitarian wood. An added bonus is that saving money in one area may allow splurging on features such as custom tile.

The kitchen cabinetry is a freestyle gathering of recycled pieces, blended under and over a stone-look countertop. The salvaged store display case is home to a changing display of china and collectibles. It has been raised on furniture feet to normal counter height.

A peninsula work area helps set off the baking area from the stove. The assertive color of the cabinets meant that the chartreuse could stand on its own on a fairly straightforward cabinet design.

A two-level island incorporates work areas, seating, wine storage, and display. The higher counter helps hide kitchen clutter from the adjoining room.

A tiled counter tops this island created with painted cabinetry in a soft shade of green. The cooktop was installed flush with the tile to make cleanup a breeze.