Kitchen island ideas

If the burners and the sink were once “hidden” from view, today the most modern kitchen island ideas transform them into the protagonists of the room. This solution is particularly suitable for those who want to create an open space ambience in which the kitchen and the dining room are seamless. This way, while you cook, you can interact with family, friends and guests, creating a cheerful and convivial atmosphere.

Especially when you are dealing with large layouts, the idea of a kitchen with a central island can be an interesting solution providing visual balance, thus avoiding concentrating all the furniture on the walls and leaving an empty and unused space in the center. In such case, it is even more important for the finishes to communicate with the rest of the environment: for example, you can clad a modern kitchen island and table with the same finishes, including the kitchen backsplash to create a more uniform atmosphere.

For some the island is a choice dictated by lack of space for those unable to place a real dining table, however, in making a virtue out of necessity, there are many small kitchen island ideas with an attractive design. For example, instead of covering it with simple, linear finishes, it can be enhanced with porcelain stoneware slabs for a great visual impact, such as Basaltina Volcano, inspired by volcanic basalt and characterized by an extremely sophisticated material feature.

When you have different styles in mind for a kitchen and a living room that share the same space, the choice of finishes can be more complex, but with porcelain stoneware slabs you can mix & match creating new beautiful looks. For example, you can create an island with a double finish: on the kitchen side, marble-effect stoneware that gives a minimal and contemporary look, while on the other side facing the living room, a precious finish in faux wood stoneware, which recalls other elements such as a bookcase or table.

Black is a color that fascinates many, but few people choose to use it in the kitchen. And yet, with great risk come great rewards, like in the case of a modern black kitchen with an island in black Atlantis marble-effect stoneware: elegant and intense in its silk finish, embellished with white and gold veins that add a depth comparable to that of natural marble.

Those who need to furnish a large space can choose a modern kitchen with an island and with seating: this is an excellent idea for your kitchen breakast nook connected to the equipped work surface, making the most of the available square footage and creating a welcoming and functional corner at the same time. To add a sophisticated touch, Kone Gypsum hammered stone-effect porcelain stoneware is the ideal solution: the light ivory color, embellished with pearl and hazelnut-colored details, gives a feeling of timeless elegance.

Contrary to popular belief, with a bit of cunning, the island can become a functional solution even for those with little space: with a careful design, you can in fact use every inch of depth in the space below to create storage compartments, drawers and shelves to store all kitchen utensils.

Even if you have a large dining area, choosing to create a breakfast nook on the kitchen island is always functional: this way you will not only have a comfortable counter for eating quick meals, but a practical additional work space.

Until now, we have analyzed kitchen island ideas from the point of view of functionality, but we must not forget that these elements can become the expression of one's style, thanks to the choice of precious finishes or those with great ornamental value. An example is the Kone Mix porcelain tile slabs inspired by Ceppo di Gré stone, the historic Lombard stone with a strong identity: the light gray background, embellished with the decorative pattern of pebbles, knows how to enhance both the delicate veins of wood and the decisive nuances of metal, transforming the island into the focus point of the whole house and giving it a unique charm.