I was thinking something like this, minus the price tag.

If I had that space in my kitchen I'd twirl around like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music!

No, it will only create a barrier.

I very much agree. You would be cursing that island every time you bump into it, which would be pretty often! Enjoy your beautiful space.

Lol, mimipadv! It's like your spying on me. ;)

Maybe I've just been watching too much Fixer Upper. Joanna Gaines adds an island to every kitchen. I almost feel inadequate without one.

Too funny- you need to turn off HGTV ;)

rebecca-the room has great presence. Good Feng Shui and that "negative" space is a big part of it.

I like the line from the kitchen to dining room. Do not break up that visual flow!

Step away from HGTV! Too funny.

Is 11.5' the total width, or the amount of floor space available? At 11.5' - 50" (perimeter counters 25" x 2), that leaves 7' 4" of floor space. Subtract 42" x 2 (minimum recommended for aisles), which leaves you 4" for an island or table. I agree with everyone above.

My kitchen is 12' wide with a similar set-up as yours. I read all the "warnings" about aisle width and barrier islands yet went ahead with an island anyway and I am so glad I did....I love it!! Mine is a moveable island, 24" wide, and I have it positioned with 39" (cabinet to cabinet) on the range side and 33" on the other side. I have never had to scoot it over for more aisle space on either side, but I am glad I could if I needed to. You could try mocking something up with boxes and see if a narrow island would work for you.

My kitchen is approximately 12' across. We really wanted an island but the space just wasn't there. Now that it's done the floor space is huge. It took a few weeks to get used to all the extra walking, compared to the old, more compact kitchen layout. I've thought about an island also but agree that it would just be in the way. We put in butcher block counters in our walk in pantry to satisfy the desire for some wood counters.

If your sink and stove were not going to be a problem with any sort of island (and they WILL BE), then I would suggest the Ikea Forhoja kitchen cart <http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80035920/>;

My kitchen is 11 ft wide, and it is perfect in it. But I can walk between my stove and sink and not have it in the way. It is in the way between my sink and refrigerator, but I just remove what I need from the refrigerator before I start preparing food, and I put it on the island cart. Then I can easily reach it from all three other walls. At $109, it might be worth trying - you won't have invested much. I painted the base of mine black to make it disappear, and I've oiled the top multiple times. It's very well-made - solid wood. It could certainly be stained if you are wanting "wood".

Anglophilia, beautiful space! I love how you integrated the island in, but I can't deny the unanimous vote that it would disturb the negative space and get in the way of cross traffic. With three young kids running around, it's not worth the risk of an accident. Thanks for all the great feedback!

Happy to give feedback, and your kitchen is truly one of the nicest I've seen here. Really lovely.

No an island won't work well as anything other than a barrier and thing to be cleaned. Also, since you have already established a good workflow in your kitchen, you really wouldn't use it.

Not every kitchen must have an island. I agree with the others who said it will just be in the way. You have a beautiful kitchen just as it is.

How about adding a beautiful oriental runner on the sink side of the kitchen to add some color/pattern to the kitchen? Something in wool, with a pattern, will be durable enough to handle the activities in a kitchen.

If you were to put one in, it looks like you would be moving it every time you opened one or two of your freezer door, oven door or dishwasher door. Especially with someone standing in front of said door and sticking their butts out into the middle of the room to put in/take out whatever.