Two pillars could be a nice design feature. One is more difficult. What style are you going after?

(Yeah they'll probably get in your way and drive you crazy, depending on what your intentions are for the island...)

You would probably be happiest with option 1. Spending more than you wanted to get what you want is better than spending slightly less and not having it.

Take a look at this article/photos -- I'm facing a similar issue and considering this for my first floor. (I love the designer's style!) I think it looks beautiful and so functional.

Here is a link that might be useful: Removing Kitchen Walls

I know how you feel, as we were in the same situation. We are now able to afford the steel and it's a bit of relief. However, I did see some nice solutions for putting a support column at the island. I'll try to attach a few later.

I've seen a really cool kitchen where the columns were put at each end of the island in such a way that they each housed bookcases for books or display. Not sure I can find a pic though...

{{!gwi}}

Sticking the posts on a raised bar area like the ones Annie posted would keep them out of the work area, but I do like the cabinet posts!

This is our basement bar. The left column houses a support column. The right one does not and is just there for symmetry. This was done by Brookhaven.

I can see how something like this might work in a kitchen.

That article about the white kitchen redo was amazing.

{{gwi:1382520}}

Did you get a quote on the steel beam or were you just told it was expensive? We ran into this as well as Mom & Dad when we each did our builds. 'Expensive' is a relative term. Yes, it's more expensive than support columns, but in our cases the extra wasn't really that much more and it meant no column placement/workaround issues. Something to think about...

Our architect specified a support beam pretty much in the middle of the kitchen. After some GW research, I learned about LBL beams. I won't try to define, becauseI am sure I would get it wrong. We have an open attic, so put one in. No support columns.

The thread below has several photos that might be helpful.

HTH,
tmy

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread: Pictures of Islands with support columns

When pricing, determine the total cost to put in two pillars (for symmetry)...include not only materials and labor, but also the cost of "decorating" them with panels/doors/whatever. You may find the beam isn't that much more expensive!

Also, get a quote, don't accept a comment to the effect that it's expensive/too expensive.

One piece of advice: Many contractors will quote an outrageous price for something if they don't want to do it. They figure the high cost will force you into doing what they want to do, not necessarily what you want to do. If you still insist on what you want, they figure they'll make a killing off of it. Our contractor tried to pull this on us when we insisted we wanted to vent our range hood outside and it required moving the upstairs shower drain pipe. I balked at both their insistence that it could not be done and their follow up with a price of $5,000 to do it. I got estimates from 3 other reputable plumbers in our area and received quotes of $550, $900, and $1,500. We went with the $900 bid.

So, if you receive what appears to be a high price, get estimates from others to see if the price is in the right ballpark or if it's inflated.

We wound up with 2 support columns on an island in our last kitchen:

{{!gwi}}

I have a kitchen that is complicated by load-bearing walls and have spent forever trying to figure out a way to deal with them. (Still really haven't succeeded, but that's mostly because of the weird position of our kitchen in the house.) I've bookmarked ideas that seemed interesting - here's one that shows a kitchen with structural columns that were built into cabinetry; it looks fantastic.

Here is a link that might be useful: Posts disguised as cabinets

We're also thinking of taking out a section of load-bearing wall, but haven't hired a contractor yet. We're working w/ an architect & are exploring steel beam vs. engineered wood & need for columns or other supports. It's approx. a 22' open span. YellowBeast, how wide a span are you trying to deal with? We also have 2 bathrms above w/ cast iron tubs & lots of tile - architect notes that those loads have to be calculated in overall solution. We haven't gotten to costs yet! Would you share relative cost comparison for your job (i.e. would steel beam be twice as much as wood w/ columns?) - I know each job is unique, but any data would be helpful! Also, oldbat2be mentioned "LBL" beams & we will investigate those. Would love to hear about your decision - & so many of the photos posted are proof that columns can work if floorplan allows - not sure ours will.

I had a 23 ft by 18 inch deep steel beam installed. The cost of the steel beam as well as the cost of having the beam lifted, on a crane over my house to get around back, and fully installed was $2,500 - on Long Island, NY. In addition, my GC's crew of six worked on the installation as well for one day. I think in the scheme of things, it was worth the money to get the nice open look.