50 stunning kitchen island designs to get inspired by

Posted on 21st October 2025
Kitchen island design ideas

Is an island top of your dream kitchen wishlist? We’re bringing you 50 stunning ideas to show you how this sought-after piece of furniture can be just as unique as you.

Big ones, little ones, long ones, curved ones. Ones with seating, ones without seating, ones with hobs, with sinks, with both, with bookcases, with wine storage. Fluted, tiled, metallic, freestanding, monolithic, or dining-table inspired ones. The list of kitchen islands and their design potential is endless! Which is why I decided to collate our largest-ever feature on kitchen islands, showcasing 50 totally different designs for you to steal ideas and draw inspiration from.

Screenshot button at the ready? Let’s begin…

A glamorous scheme with panelled cabinetry, a statement hob zone with a single slab splashback, and an island clad in matching stone with a gold pendant above it.
This striking island, recently installed by 202 design for their Chelsea Townhouse project, makes the most of the dramatic veining and colour palette of the Brasillia Grey quartzite, with the stone forming the worktops, side panels, and drawer fronts.
A modern scheme with wood units, topped with green speckled surfaces, a range cooker with a concealed extractor and an island painted in forest green.
Bespoke kitchen designed by A New Day and made by Hølte. A freestanding island maintains a feeling of space while serving as the sociable, functional heart of the house. The green terrazzo work surface unites the main kitchen run and island, with cabinet finishes in contrasting walnut veneer and forest green. Photography: Anna Stathaki.
A classic scheme with a dark blue run of cabinetry, neutral base units and a curved island with a tapered base, and a bullnose countertop in leathered quartzite.
Kitchen by Blakes London. The island is effortlessly chic, with soft curves, a gently tapered base, and a bullnose countertop in leathered quartzite. Its sculptural form serves as a striking counterpoint to the right angles in the rest of the kitchen.
A spacious kitchen with a run of white cabinetry and a central island with storage, a curved bench, dining table and chairs, with a sink zone and a breakfast bar at one end.
With such a large room, the island reflects the scale of the main cooking run. Banquette seating is ideal for weeknight suppers, and counter stools provide a more informal spot to perch. Design by Humphrey Munson.
A Japandi-inspired scheme with modern cabinetry, a stone and wood island, and minimalist decor.
Heath House project by Apron Kitchens. The island suits the Japandi style of the interiors and the homeowners’ love for cooking and entertaining. It’s notable for its clean, simple lines and materiality, blending the warmth of wood with Brazilian quartzite. The style is essentially minimalist, with quarter-cut Shaker doors for a seamless effect.
A retro scheme with fluted wood island and cabinetry, terrazzo surfaces, reeded glass cabinets and natural decor.
With clean lines, hidden features, integrated handles, materials such as fluted glass and warm Sapele timber, this space by Wood Works Brighton balances simplicity with thoughtful detail. A floating island and pops of colour add playful contrast.
An L-shaped kitchen painted in dusty pink, with wood flooring, and a freestanding wood island with white worktop and seating.
The Dairy Table, part of Devol’s Heirloom collection. It is made from richly stained European oak, and features brass detailing, hand-turned legs, hand-cast solid brass handles, and a smooth Carrara marble worktop with a rounded edge.
An island finished in a dark purple shade, with bottle storage, a creamy white worktop, natural oak accents, and brass hardware.
This island brings a bold, sophisticated look to this kitchen by Tom Howley in Stormy Sky shade. It’s offset by a creamy white worktop, natural oak accents, and brass hardware.
An extra large kitchen island with a high breakfast bar seating area and a low circular booth section near a breakfast pantry.
Design by Grid Thirteen, created with its handcrafted range, Darling Maeve. It features a high breakfast bar seating area by the patio doors for scenic dining. A low circular booth section near the breakfast pantry is perfect for cosy meals. Photography: Andy Haslam.
A luxurious scheme with dark wood cabinetry, a central metallic island with a circular sink and two taps, and glamorous pendant lights.
Bespoke Nicky Dobree kitchen design with wenge cabinetry and a bronze island with bronze sink and taps to match. A bespoke marble chopping board which slides along the island adds a natural tone. Photography: Philip Vile.
A modern cooking space with handleless white units and a bookmatched island with veiny surfaces and LED plinth lighting.
This large kitchen island by Chamber Furniture was clad using six sheets of book-matched quartz to create the monolithic effect. Electric drawers, cupboards on touch latches, and a touch-to-open dishwasher allowed the island to be sleek and handleless. Photography: Dillon & Friends.
An L-shaped kitchen design with built-in appliances, ample storage, a central island with an elevated, round breakfast bar with stools and an adjoining dining area.
In this project by Davonport, the breakfast bar features a river-washed timber top and statement stainless-steel drum. Alongside this, the island includes enough space to prepare food, plenty of storage, and a tap that can generate boiling and filtered water. The 2.5 x 1.2m kitchen island, though not central in the room, is at the heart of the design.
A grand open-plan room surrounded by tall wood cabinets with a central stone-clad unit with an induction hob.
This kitchen manufactured by Modulnova, and supplied by Design Space London, is a mix of the MH6 range in Rovere Puro Oak, and the Blade range for the island, which features Laminam Pietra Di Savoia Antracite Bocciardata stone. The stone drawer fronts are achieved using 3 x 3mm porcelain slabs bonded together to give a strong yet light front, matching perfectly with the 20mm worktop in the same material.
Wood drenched kitchen with a matching island with extraction hob and breakfast bar with stools.
Designed by Nina+Co with ROAR Architects, this kitchen island was crafted from a London plane tree felled by Westminster City Council from Soho Square.
A kitchen island design with a gas hob, built-in wine fridge, and breakfast bar seating, with oak-fronted cabinetry topped with a sintered stone worktop and a run of white cabinetry behind it
The island in this Rider Stirland Architects project has a gas hob, built-in wine fridge, and breakfast bar seating for easy hosting. Its oak-fronted cabinetry is topped with a sintered stone worktop. Kitchen by Roundhouse.
A central unit made from wood with closed and open storage, and a run of cabinets with stone surfaces.
Uncommon Projects rarely uses waterfall edges on kitchen islands. Instead, it prefers to integrate diverse storage solutions on each side. This adds visual interest from every angle while offering a mix of drawers, cupboards, and open shelving.
A pale pink kitchen design with a multi-functional island painted in a darker purple with seating and a dining table.
This bespoke kitchen by Thomas James Bespoke includes an L-shaped island and connected banquette seating – perfect for any occasion. Photography: Oliver Kersh.
A light scheme with tall floor-to-ceiling classic cabinetry and a central island with storage, seating a, metallic base and veiny worktops.
For this project, the homeowners wanted John Lewis of Hungerford to create a stylish yet practical island. The design is ideal for both everyday life and hosting, as well as providing a spot for relaxed dining. It has been accented with a specially commissioned brass finish to add a touch of texture and luxury.
A classic scheme with dark green cabinetry, a wall of wood units, and a central multi-functional hub with a sink and tap, curved seat, wood dining table and two green chairs.
This island was handmade and hand-painted by Sculleries Of Stockbridge – who also supplied the table, upholstery, and cabinetry. Worktops by Marlborough Granite using Silestone Eternal Calacatta.
A sophisticated scheme with a dark floor-to-ceiling cabinetry tun, pale grey base units with a wine bar at the end, and a central unit with seating.
A key requirement for this kitchen design by Sola Kitchens was low-level seating in the island, instead of stools. This design creates a comfortable and inviting space for everyday living. Photography: Anna Stathaki.
A modern white kitchen with built-in appliances, a compact island clad in green kitkat tiles with a waterfall edge and seating.
A case of camouflage, this island, designed by Pluck, blends with its surroundings. Homeowner Katharine Maclean, of Century Design Studio, was aware that this is quite a small space to have an island. So, she didn’t want it to visually dominate. The vertical kit-kat tiles, used on the splashback, too, appear to elongate the island.
Neutral cabinetry with slim frames, a cooking zone with a single slab splashback, pot filler tap, open shelving, and a range cooker, with a large island with storage, sink and tap, preparation space, and seating.
Crafted with a 70mm thick natural stone and almost 5.5m long, this stunning centre island by Newcastle Design creates a functional and homely feature that also makes a real statement in the kitchen.
A calm, scandi scheme with green cabinetry, wood worktops and flooring, a freestanding island with seating.
Scandi-inspired and thoughtfully designed for today’s versatile homes, Borough by Neptune is a freestanding island that brings form and function together. It is crafted from natural oak with traditional joinery. Topped with soft-edged Carrara marble, it offers generous storage, seating, and a sense of calm, contemporary character.
Tall glazing flooding an open-plan room with light with wood and black cabinetry, a central unit, with sink and tap, storage and seating, and a wood dining zone next to it.
This kitchen by Owl Design is all about a calm, considered scheme – and the island is at the heart of it. With open shelving for cookbooks, and a sleek, black worktop that keeps things feeling sharp and modern, it’s both practical and beautifully put together.
A bright scheme with tall cabinetry and a sink zone on one wall, a fluted island with coloured stone worktop, oak bar stools, and a gold pendant light.
This fully bespoke island is ideal for hosting and daily family life. Ribbed, painted timber nods to traditional panelling, while inset brass handles offer a refined glint of 1920s glamour. Topped with dramatically veined Fusion Blue Quartzite, the island brings Pfeiffer Design’s vision for a characterful and layered kitchen to life.
A handleless island with a matt lacquer finish, breakfast bar, built-in cooktop appliances with integrated ventilation, and a preparation sink in a luxury kitchen.
This Roundhouse Urbo handleless island has a matt lacquer finish, with a perimeter handrail creating a floating worktop detail. This is emphasised with a subtle chamfered ‘Shark Nose’ edge profile to the leathered quartzite. Gaggenau cooktop appliances with integrated ventilation, coupled with a preparation sink including a Quooker tap, make this the ultimate chef ’s island.
Dusty pink cabinetry topped with dark worktops, with a central unit with open storage, matching dark worktop with a wood breakfast bar and bright green stools.
This workbench-inspired island from Plain English is part of its Osea range, a modular system on short legs, with various widths of cupboards for a variety of possible functions. This island has open shelves and removable, slatted oak trays on one side for vegetable storage, then cupboards, drawers, and a pull- out bin on the other.
An open-plan scheme with exposed beams, a run of wood cabinetry with built-in appliances and a stone-clad island with shelves, sink and tap, and breakfast bar with seating.
The Myers Touch felt it was important for the homeowners to have a venting hob on the island, due to the high vaulted ceiling, and so they could keep an eye on the children while cooking. Meanwhile, Neolith’s 12mm Abu Dhabi worktops and splashback have a delicate texture with soft, golden veining and flecks of flinty grey. Photography: Mark Hard.
A statement kitchen design with a central island with an extra-long dining table style extension, luxurious burgundy chairs, herringbone flooring, and exposed wood beams.
The colours and materials in this kitchen in a historic former winery in Zurich were deliberately muted, in homage to the antiquity of the building. That said, this room forms the hub of an entertaining space, with the island designed to seat seven comfortably. Design by Martin Moore.
A luxury kitchen design with a striking island made from wood with green marble and seating.
The statement island in Langstaff’s Eaton Square project, crafted with Milano ribbed smoked oak, antique brass, features stunning Irish green marble.
One wall cabinetry painted in a vibrant blue with an island with booth seating, sink and tap, and panelled ceiling and wall.
With its iconic oak panelling and striking blue cabinetry, this kitchen by Krantz Designs is a real showstopper. Designed with the homeowners’ love of teppanyaki in mind, the bespoke island has encouraged a renewed passion for cooking side by side. But it’s so much more than that. Whether preparing meals or working from home, the thoughtful layout allows function and flow. The integrated seating options mak it easy to spend time together without ever feeling in the way. Photography: Paul Craig.
A wood scheme with modern cabinetry, black hardware, stainless steel splashback and range cooker and a multi-functional central unit with seating and a sink and tap.
This island, by The Main Company in collaboration with Emulsion Architecture and Giraffe Developments, is made with ash wood. Paired with an onyx-inspired, porcelain countertop, it boasts visual appeal and durability. The front face of the island, adorned with a fluted wood, turns the cabinets into tactile elements. Photography: Chris Snook.
A calm cooking space with a central unit painted in dark green with preparation space, integrated seating, and a statement range cooker.
This beautifully crafted kitchen island is part of House Nine’s York project. It features classic joinery in a warm green that feels both grounded and refined. Designed to support the rhythm of daily life, the island offers generous preparation space, integrated seating, and a statement range cooker, making it as practical as it is elegant. The result is a welcoming space for cooking and gathering.
Black and oak cabinetry with metallic trims, soapstone worktops, sleek lighting, and steel-framed glazing.
The IHP.230. Yakumo island by Inglis Hall The Kitchen Maker. Crafted from blackened band-sawn oak, it features a brass strip and a worktop made of natural soapstone.
Bright scheme flooded with light through steel-framed glazing, dark green cabinetry, stone flooring and white worktops.
This Harvey Jones kitchen is hand-painted in a richly elegant green to connect with the glorious natural beauty outside. Alongside polished White Attica worktops, it reflects the copious amount of light throughout this family room.
An open-plan kitchen with an island and a high table extension, comfortable seating area for casual dining and drinks.
Designed by Hetherington Newman’s design director Mike Fetherston with interior designer Lisa Keates, this kitchen island’s high table extension provides a double-sided, comfortable seating area for casual dining and drinks. The open, natural oak base, finished in a special, light-fumed stain, has a Calacatta Vena Vecchia marble-effect porcelain worktop, making it practical as a work surface when needed.
A blue scheme with modern cabinetry, veiny surfaces, wall lights, and tall ceiling.
On this large island by Kitchen Architecture, a preparation sink with boiling-water tap means family members can prepare food at one end without interrupting those cooking at the hob. Its downdraft ventilation system removing the need for an overhead extractor.
A bright room with floor-to-ceiling white cabinetry, a blue central unit with a bespoke pastry bench and a built-in sink and tap.
Ella Austin designed this island at the maximum size of 320cm, based on a full slab of quartz. To gain a little extra preparation space on top, they made a bespoke pastry bench with vegetable drawers. Photography: Darren Chung.
A classic scheme with timeless white cabinetry, wood accents, pendant lighting and built-in appliances.
This Chiselwood kitchen centres around an impressive island. Balancing culinary functionality and tailored storage with layered materials, the design meets the homeowner’s needs while maintaining continuity across the Grade II listed property.

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